Light Rack for my T5's

[BIGBIRD123]

Since I'm going all T5's on my tank. I need to build a light rack. I need one that will put the lights about 3-1/2' to 4" off the water and swing away for access. So, I figured I take pix along the way for your enjoyment...I am using aluminum "C" channels.

Parts
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01373.jpg

Main Frame
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01375.jpg


Holes for the endcaps
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01377.jpg

Hand-made clips and screws at corners
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/clips.jpg


Steve

[BIGBIRD123]

Lights mounted and "roughed-in" to see working
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01378.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01381.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01383.jpg

[BIGBIRD123]

I decided to use swing arms to move rack that will be 3"-4" off the water back for easy access to the tank.

Swing Arms
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01386.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01387.jpg

Canopy void of the 4-250w pendants and /vho
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01385.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01384.jpg

[BIGBIRD123]

Canopy upside down so swing arm operation is opposite mode but here is their operation.

Lights in forward position and operating from front
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01391.jpg

Lights back from front
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01392.jpg

forward from side
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01394.jpg

back from side
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j20/onebrickstrait/DSC01393.jpg

Hope you enjoyed this as much as I. I will build one double this size for my upcoming 280g build. The 280g is 72" x 30" x 30" and will be a Peninsula

[yrema]

very nice. :)

[Esquare]

Great build! I got excited (I know, I have no life) when I saw the aluminum as I thought you were going to weld it. I have been trying to weld aluminum for some time now with no positive results.

How sturdy are the joints with just the screws?

Again, Great Build!

[sikpupy]

Amen, very nice.

[BIGBIRD123]

I used SS self-tapping drywall screws that are used to screw 16g studs together. It is surprisingly very sturdy and very lightweight. I'm looking forward to the one for my 280g. I'm also working on a plley system that raises the rack when the canopy door is rasied.

Thanks for the comments...

Steve

[TheMcs]

Looks great! I build something similar, only with wood. I have a 185 peninsula. The canopy goes up to the ceiling. I used drawer slides on a pulley system so I can raise & lower the lights within the canopy. That way I can access the tank when I open one of the doors, or, I can acclimate new corals to the light. I also oversized my rack a bit to accomodate cooling fans.

[GrayJ]

That looks great! Could you tell me where you got your bulb socketts and reflectors? I've been wanting to build a light similiar to yours. Thanks.

[BIGBIRD123]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12999035#post12999035 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GrayJ
That looks great! Could you tell me where you got your bulb socketts and reflectors? I've been wanting to build a light similiar to yours. Thanks.

I got them from a friend on a trade. We have a LFS that sells them for $6.95 per pair. The cheapest I've seen.

Steve

[SWINGRRRR]

Very nice. Wish you lived closer tp help me. I am going to try this, but I plan to use Rivets instead of screws.

Does Lowes have that C channel metal? Or was it somewhere special?

[BIGBIRD123]

I got it from my window contractor on the job. You can purchase it at most metal suppliers. It is "pricey". I did another project using rivets and went thru 3 rivet guns. Believe me the screws work better.

Steve

[Mache62]

Do you have doors for the front? Also, are you running fans in there?

I have been wanting to gut my canopy to replace my MH's with T5s too.

What length bulbs do you have there?

[BIGBIRD123]

I'm using 80w 60" for now but when I add more for the 280g, I will go with the 36" and double rows across the 6' tank. There is a canopy door.

Steve

[shelburn61]

Is a special blade required to cut the aluminum?

[BIGBIRD123]

No I used a standard crosscut blade.


Steve

[wardworld]

Steve, where did you get the swing arms???

[BIGBIRD123]

I built them myself from the same aluminum.

Steve