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My light rack

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by blackx-runner, Apr 14, 2012.

  1. Apr 14, 2012 #1
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    I posted in another thread that I was working on a light rack for my 250DD. I got it all together and hung over the tank yesterday. I think it ended up working out very well.
    It's made from aluminum C-channel and aluminum angle. Bolted together with stainless steel hardware. The AIs are actually not attached to anything, but are "captured" by the C channel, this allows left and right movement, but no way for them to get accidentally knocked loose from the fixture. Its hanging from pocket door tracks and can be slid out from over the tank. This really doesn't give me any access to the tank except from the front, but it does allow very nice access to the rack itself for working on it and moving things around. Right now its suspended from chain, but in the future I want to try and change that to a cable and pulley system so that I can raise and lower the complete rack much easier. I will also be looking to add some more lighting down the road, either T5s, or DIY Led modules, get a little more coverage and a little broader color spectrum, with some different bulbs combos. I also discovered that my MH pendents will sit right on the fixture perfectly, I don't think I will go that route, but that leaves me another option for lighting as well.
    [​IMG]
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  2. Apr 14, 2012 #2
    gravattj

    gravattj Inactive User

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    nice work...
     
  3. Apr 14, 2012 #3
    Big John

    Big John Inactive User

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    How sweet is that! Nice job David.
     
  4. Apr 14, 2012 #4
    phishcrazee Riverside

    phishcrazee Experienced Reefkeeper

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    I like how neat and un-messy it looks! Sometimes the DIY lights can get so full of random wires everywhere.......now we need to see what the tank looks like with these spiffy new lights on /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/biggrin.gif
     
  5. Apr 14, 2012 #5
    Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

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    Looks good man!  I just built an aluminum rack myself.
    I'm gonna trim the 1" square tubing flush with the lights and install some back square inserts to give it a more finished look. 
    [​IMG]
    So now the cat's out of the bag.  Yup.  I put LED's on my tank.  Not completely sold on them but it has been fun messing with all the color profiles and options they have.
    Sorry to hi-jack your thread.  /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/cool.gif
     
  6. Apr 14, 2012 #6
    Reeferforlyfe

    Reeferforlyfe Inactive User

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    Have you thought about using a different degree of optics?
     
  7. Apr 15, 2012 #7
    Waverz

    Waverz Expert Reefkeeper

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    I actually replaced all the 70 degree optics with the 40 degree for some extra punch and less spread.  I get 350-400 PAR at the top and around 200 on the bottom running blues at 100% and whites at 24%.
     
  8. Apr 15, 2012 #8
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    I am thinking of taking my optics and interchanging them so every other one is 40 and the next is 70.
     
  9. Apr 15, 2012 #9
    Tholton33

    Tholton33 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    wow that looks good!
     
  10. Apr 15, 2012 #10
    Tholton33

    Tholton33 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    i always wanted to see what it would look like when you staggered. keep us posted
     
  11. Apr 15, 2012 #11
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Since we are showing off our DIY AI light racks....
    [​IMG]
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    [​IMG]
     
  12. Apr 15, 2012 #12
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    Cleaned up the wiring a little bit. Don't pay attention to how crooked it "appears" to be sitting. Its actually pretty even above the tank. The wall just happens to be running downhill LOL.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  13. Apr 15, 2012 #13
    PotRoast

    PotRoast Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Nice looking tank. It seems you have enough light and you have eliminated a lot of shadowing I see in other LED tanks. Nice work!

    Hey if you want to make your light rack fully adjustable buy those light yo' yo's you can see on my light rack. You can buy them at Premium Aquatics if I remember right. They make adjusting the height of your rack a breeze, up or down, anytime you want.
     
  14. Apr 15, 2012 #14
    Andy The Reef Guy

    Andy The Reef Guy Inactive User

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    aha! Nice man!
     
  15. Apr 15, 2012 #15
    blackx-runner Cedar Rapids, IA

    blackx-runner Administrator Website Team Leadership Team

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    I thought about those, but wasn't sure how well they would handle the weight. Or how easy it would be to bring the entire thing up and down at once.
     I was planning on some type of pulley system and a single cable I could pull to raise and lower the rack. Either way its not something I am in a hurry to get done. The rack is hung and functional, and that's good enough for now.
     

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