fishly Posted May 5, 2004 Share Posted May 5, 2004 Hi Guys, I just bought a metal halide light, but I don't know how to install it. It is normally installed on the ceiling, but I don't want to make a hole on the ceiling. Or it could be installed on a high hood, but my hood is too low . So my question is do you have any great ideas on how to make a nice looking stand for it as the tank is sitting on my living room? By the way, here is the picture of the MH. Thanks, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mbuna Posted May 5, 2004 Share Posted May 5, 2004 i would be worried about puting a halide under a hood as they produce ALOT of heat. i reckon they look really good hung from the ceiling with stainless steel cable. hth Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hph Posted May 5, 2004 Share Posted May 5, 2004 I've seen someone getting one of those standing floor lamps and attached the MH shoplight to it. The floor lamp can then be place behind the tank. Alternatively make a woodden lightbox for it and sit it on top of your tank. Make sure there's a sufficient gap as it will crack the centre brace on your tank if there's not enough distance between the lamp and glass. I just bought a taller hood with no lid to accommodate the MH as u can see in the pic. tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishly Posted May 6, 2004 Author Share Posted May 6, 2004 Thanks Harry and HPH. How much you pay for the hood hph? Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phatoscarlover Posted May 6, 2004 Share Posted May 6, 2004 Hey, you could ask TSMill (troy) as i know he has just started to build somethin to house his MH cause he had same problem didnt want to drill into the roof, his email is t_millen@hotmail.com HTH Cheers Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishly Posted May 6, 2004 Author Share Posted May 6, 2004 Thanks Andy, I've PM troy already. Hopefully he built it already . Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 7, 2004 Share Posted May 7, 2004 mbuna is right, that kind of fitting is normally hung from the ceiling. Whatever you choose to do, keep it 6-8 inches from the top of your centre brace, and if you buy or build a hood be prepared to cool your tank in summer I have a 250W metal halide which I planned to put over my square display tank but have never bothered due to these risks/hassles. Good luck with it, let us know how you go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gigitt Posted May 9, 2004 Share Posted May 9, 2004 Build a light box to house the NMH light, so that you suspend the whole light box from the roof - the box is only needed to conceal the light itself, balast and wiring from view - so you can leave the top open for the heat to escape. Build it light with 3 or 5 ply and paint it with whatever colour you want. The other thing you can do is make a Light Stand for it... the stand will have to elevate the NMH light above the tank as mentioned before ~8 inches. What I mean by stand is that it only attaches to the tank sides so the font and back are open for you to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMill Posted May 10, 2004 Share Posted May 10, 2004 Hey Tony and others, A rather crappy graphic of what i am planning to build: 2 brackets at the back will be attached to my stand, and the wooden frame of the canopy will be either bolted or screwed in with a small block of wood behind the bracket. The front of the canopy will have a wire cable attached, and again screwed or bolted to the upper part of the metal bracket. The brackets will be those used to attach cheapo shelves to the wall, the canopy will be open at the top and will not use fans. Cheers all troy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishly Posted May 10, 2004 Author Share Posted May 10, 2004 Hi Troy and others, Thanks for your suggestion. I might give it a go like troy's design after I have some days off. Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EcHo2134 Posted May 13, 2004 Share Posted May 13, 2004 Hi my halides are exactly the same as yours, i just cut a hole in the hood and put them in. its only 150watt halide, the heat isn't THAT bad. just makes sure u have enough ventilation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted May 16, 2004 Share Posted May 16, 2004 Gday EcHo2134, How high have you placed the fixture above the top of your tank? Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EcHo2134 Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi Dave my halides are placed 3 inches from the water surface in a standard flat top hood. Been using them for about a month now...no dramas... - Ernie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nornicle Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 ooh halides AND in the eastern suburbs!! tell me you're doing a planted tank!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMill Posted May 17, 2004 Share Posted May 17, 2004 Hi Fishly, I built my canopy on the weekend and finished painting it last night. The lights I have are the same as yours, and I found the best way to mount them is to swivel the light so that you have clear access to the hole on the side, and then push a 2 inch, 1/4" diameter hex bolt out each side. I then bolted this to strips of 42x19mm dressed pine running front to back in the canopy, and swung the lights back to normal position. I can take a pic tonight if you like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishly Posted May 18, 2004 Author Share Posted May 18, 2004 Hi TSMill, Good on you. How much did you spend overall? and would be very interested in seeing your picture. Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMill Posted May 19, 2004 Share Posted May 19, 2004 Hi Tony, Probably spent 20 bucks on timber for the canopy, plus a couple for 4 bolts. I already had the screws and black paint thogh, which was probably the most expensive item. All up probably $100 for the cabinet and the canopy combined. Will endeavour to take some pics tonight when I attach the hood to the cabinet. I didnt end up attaching the wiring as the hood is quite light and I thing a couple of screws will be sufficient. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMill Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 Ok Tony, the pics are here.... 1. The cabinet, built of pine with MDF sheets: 2. Cabinet with canopy attached. Canopy is made of 140x19mm dressed pine, and attached with metal shelving brackets. 3. Inside the canopy, lights attached to strips of 42x19mm pine: 4. Close up of MH light attachment using 2 inch, 1/4" hex bolts: 5. Because I'm impatient...artist's inpression: Cheers and I hope this helps a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishly Posted May 20, 2004 Author Share Posted May 20, 2004 Hi Troy, You've done a really good job there. By the way, is that 4ft tank? Where did you buy the metal shelving bracket? Thanks for the great pictures Troy. Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TSMill Posted May 20, 2004 Share Posted May 20, 2004 Hi Tony, I stole the metal brackets from my sisters garage, they can also be purchased at any hardware store, they are the type used for shelving. Oh yeah, and the tank is 4' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishly Posted May 21, 2004 Author Share Posted May 21, 2004 Hi Troy, Thanks for your great info, and thank you for sharring the pictures with us. Regards, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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