redfishblewfish
06/10/2010, 08:11 PM
I’ve got to believe someone has done this, but I can’t find it.
I have T5’s (IceCap Retros), that run the width of my tank, and sit maybe three inches from the water. If you want to get your hands into the tank, you currently slide the lights back a few inches, and you can now reach in. The lights are supported by brackets that sit on the shorter sides of the tank.
I want to build a canopy to hold the lights – totally enclosed. The problem is that the enclosed canopy would not allow you to slide the lights back. So what I want to do is build the canopy roughly twice as high, where the lower half would lift up into the upper portion, allowing you to reach into the tank. The lower portion would, more or less, be nested into the upper portion. The light portion would lift straight up, always remaining parallel to the water, and maybe lift six to twelve inches up.
I've got to believe someone has already successfully done this. If not, here is where I need ideas and input:
Guides – What can I use as tracks to guide the light unit portion up and down? My first thought were draw slides mounted vertically, but then I thought of the salt effect on standard steel.
Counterweight - How can I counter weight the light portion so that it lifts easily? It would need to lift a slab of plywood, two IceCap ballasts, eight 4 foot bulbs and associated hardware, five computer fans and bracket.
Any input would be appreciated.
I have T5’s (IceCap Retros), that run the width of my tank, and sit maybe three inches from the water. If you want to get your hands into the tank, you currently slide the lights back a few inches, and you can now reach in. The lights are supported by brackets that sit on the shorter sides of the tank.
I want to build a canopy to hold the lights – totally enclosed. The problem is that the enclosed canopy would not allow you to slide the lights back. So what I want to do is build the canopy roughly twice as high, where the lower half would lift up into the upper portion, allowing you to reach into the tank. The lower portion would, more or less, be nested into the upper portion. The light portion would lift straight up, always remaining parallel to the water, and maybe lift six to twelve inches up.
I've got to believe someone has already successfully done this. If not, here is where I need ideas and input:
Guides – What can I use as tracks to guide the light unit portion up and down? My first thought were draw slides mounted vertically, but then I thought of the salt effect on standard steel.
Counterweight - How can I counter weight the light portion so that it lifts easily? It would need to lift a slab of plywood, two IceCap ballasts, eight 4 foot bulbs and associated hardware, five computer fans and bracket.
Any input would be appreciated.