METAL HALIDE LIGHTING ON DAS TANK UPDATED WITH PICS 6-12

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simon944

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A 500W MH BALLAST WITH 2 MOGUL SOCKETS WONDERING IF ANY HAS SET ONE UP ON A DAS TANK BECAUSE IT DOESNT REALLY HAVE THE NORMAL TYPE OF CANOPY TO INSTALL THE LIGHTS. SO JUST TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SET IT UP. ALSO I REALIZED HOW HOT THE MH LIGHTS AND HOW CLOSE TO THE WATER CAN I GET IT TO THE WATER WITHOUT AFFECTING THE TEMP TOO MUCH. SORRY KINDA NEW TO THIS SO I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTION. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE HELPFUL. THANKS.
 
Hey Simon. Good luck.

I have a DAS corner tank to which I added 2 175W MH.

The real hard part when dealing with a DAS is that you need access to your protein skimmer. You'll need an access panel cut out to access it (an oversight on my part).

Below is an exhaustive description of my top build of a corner das tank.

It is like a triangle with the acute angles clipped, so it actually had 5 edges.

Anyway, the trim around the top of the tank sits about 3/4" above the top of the glass. So I bought some 1x2 trim pieces (less than $1 each) and cut them to fit to sit on the lip. I sat the wood so that the pieces would sit tall. THat left about 1 1/2" of my pieces exposed up over the top of the existing trim.

I used some addition 1x2 to secure the frame.

Now I have a frame that I can take out of the tank and work on in the garage.

I purchase a 4'x8' sheet of 5 layer plywood with an oak veneer to match the existing wood.

My is 1 foot tall, so I ripped two 1' x 8' rips. THen I just used my frame for length and cut the 1x8 into the appropriate lengths.

I used a brad nailer and glue to attach the plywood panels to the frame and at the corners.

After glue was set, I just removed my reinforcements on the template (now attached to the final product) , added a bit more reinforcement on the inside and I have a pretty nice looking lid to hide my new MH.

I made sure that I left 1/2" of my template to coming out of my frame. This overhang ensures a nice snug fit with the tank. No worries about the top sliding off of the tank.

I also ended up cutting out an access door so that I could add water, chemicals, and feed. Attached some hinges.

I finished it of with some matching stain (pretty close, not quite perfect) and two coats of poly.

The real trick (hack) was building support for the lights. I used more 1x2 and build a ledge on the inside of the new top. I then used some 4" wide wood to hold my lights. The wood is cut to fit in the ledges (snuggly). THis was complicated by the fact that my lights sit across an on an angle.

Anyway, it took me several days to get this done, but I'm quite happy with it.

The only problem is that it is a bit heavy and my tank is tall. It is a real PITA if I need to get into the tank.

Curtis
 
Curtis,

Thanks for the detailed info. Im in the process of trying to make the halides work. I ran into a heating problem. The water with the halides on get to about 85 degrees. Did you experience the same problem???

BTW your tank looks good.

Thanks,

Tim
 
I purchased a small honeywell vortex from walmart and I have it just flowing down into the tank and I'm sitting right at about 81 degrees.

Everything is on timers. The fan turns on with the VHOs and stays on for about 30 minutes after all the lights have turned off. I do see ALOT of evaporation.

I hope to get a rubbermaid sump built this weekend...that might help drop the temp another couple of degrees.

Thanks for the compliment about the tank. Right now, it is in a bit of disarray. Cyno problem combined with poor flow (2 Seio 6x0s and 1 Seio 8x0) have created some dead spots where I getting brown diatom build up.
 
Hey Simon, you saw my tank...also a DAS. I bought a 250w MH but Im in the process of build the canopy up so it can accomidate the lights. My plan it to make one approx. 9" high which will give me about 12" from the buld to the water surface.
 
ha! Will do as soon as I get to it! Summer school started and it seems as if I don't even have time to breath!

I will try to build on the weekends when i get a small amount of free time.
 
Here are some pictures of the canopy Ive been working on.

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Hey Simon,

Canopy looks good. If you need I have plenty of red mahogany stain that would match the rest of your tank. Just let me know if you need some. I have a build project too, maybe you can help me out :D anyways, hope the rest of the build goes well.

Kris
 
Here are some more pictures of the canopy. Im almost finished just need to make the canopy doors. The ones that are on in the picture are just temporary doors to block the lights for now. What do you think??? Its not the best looking canopy but it works. Not too bad for a first try right????

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Hey Tim,

Looks good, if i get you a bottle of Cuervo 1800 could you build me one :wink: jk. i noticed some light leaking out the top...is it open on the top?

kris
 
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