So, I got back in to the swing lately and wanted to start out with some relatively affordable LED but wanted more features than budget allowed.
I was fortunately able to pick up a quad of very lightly used SOL BLUES and Hydra Gen2, with remotes.
Problem was, my new tank has a gorgeous canopy. With a roll top.
I didn't want to drill into it, and removing the toll top for maintenance meant that cable mounting them wasn't feasible.
The rail kids are pricey for what they are, but after buying $600 worth of lights I should have just spent the $70 and called it a day.
ENTER: Lowe's at "10 minutes til close"
They have this nifty channel aluminum in 4' sections (as luck would have it :grin
It's light
Corrosion resistant
Non magnetic
Heat dissipating
And it not only fits between the fins of the heat sink just like the AI product, but I can cut, bend, and rivet it to my custom design.
So here's what I ended up with ...
Perusing my many options
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Settled on this. It's mean to fit over the edge of 3/4" plywood. I will be using it for other purposes.
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Drilled and test fit.
My "Splurge" was for 1-1/2" 10-32 SS cap head bolts with lock washers. I put a little bit of vegetable oil on the threads, to prevent the SS threads and aluminum heat sink from bonding together over time.
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Nice solid mount, didn't overnighter cuz /aluminum and also there's a circuit board inside
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All bolted up and ready to go.
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The aluminum c channel is rigid enough for about 10-12 lbs of lights and also light enough that it doesn't sag. My tank is a 100G which is right at 47-3/4" inside dimension. But I went ahead and drilled holes in those outside pieces in 3/4" steps so I can fit it to really any size tank.
I plan to go ahead and put some drawer slides inside my canopy so I can roll it back and forth. I just half azz wrapped some felt around it today, so I could test fit and it slides back and forth easily.
I just lightly screwed in some Sheetrock screw so I could test fit the rail. And get the height set where I want it. Practical limits are 2" - 7" above water and I could conceivably stagger if I wanted.
Also to note, I have (2) reefbrite strips that I may just keep on there. 1 blue and 1 50/50 which supplements nicely ...
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I was fortunately able to pick up a quad of very lightly used SOL BLUES and Hydra Gen2, with remotes.
Problem was, my new tank has a gorgeous canopy. With a roll top.
I didn't want to drill into it, and removing the toll top for maintenance meant that cable mounting them wasn't feasible.
The rail kids are pricey for what they are, but after buying $600 worth of lights I should have just spent the $70 and called it a day.
ENTER: Lowe's at "10 minutes til close"
They have this nifty channel aluminum in 4' sections (as luck would have it :grin
It's light
Corrosion resistant
Non magnetic
Heat dissipating
And it not only fits between the fins of the heat sink just like the AI product, but I can cut, bend, and rivet it to my custom design.
So here's what I ended up with ...
Perusing my many options
Settled on this. It's mean to fit over the edge of 3/4" plywood. I will be using it for other purposes.
Drilled and test fit.
My "Splurge" was for 1-1/2" 10-32 SS cap head bolts with lock washers. I put a little bit of vegetable oil on the threads, to prevent the SS threads and aluminum heat sink from bonding together over time.
Nice solid mount, didn't overnighter cuz /aluminum and also there's a circuit board inside
All bolted up and ready to go.
The aluminum c channel is rigid enough for about 10-12 lbs of lights and also light enough that it doesn't sag. My tank is a 100G which is right at 47-3/4" inside dimension. But I went ahead and drilled holes in those outside pieces in 3/4" steps so I can fit it to really any size tank.
I plan to go ahead and put some drawer slides inside my canopy so I can roll it back and forth. I just half azz wrapped some felt around it today, so I could test fit and it slides back and forth easily.
I just lightly screwed in some Sheetrock screw so I could test fit the rail. And get the height set where I want it. Practical limits are 2" - 7" above water and I could conceivably stagger if I wanted.
Also to note, I have (2) reefbrite strips that I may just keep on there. 1 blue and 1 50/50 which supplements nicely ...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk