High tech 40b progression

[F1 VET]

Here are the shots with the DIY canopy on.

Materials bought: 2x stainless steel hinges-3.50$, 50 pack 8x2" brass pocket screws-5$, miscellaneous wiring hardware-5$, 7"Lx3xW fiberglass mesh-9$, various zip ties 4$ = about 30$ after tax.

Materials used laying around the house: 1 stainless decorative drawer handle, free oak brewery cabinet that I found while working, high power 12volt aftermarket cpu fan with blue leds and switch, stainless steel mesh wire for mounting lights, random marineland 18-24" led light used for moonlighting only, 24 or so staples to secure wiring along canopy. All this was useless junk I wasn't using around the house thus less clutter!

The most expensive part of a DIY canopy is usually the wood but my find was luck as the width of the cabinet was almost spot on with the tank but obviously much taller, so some modifications were needed to make it suitable. Lighting consists of 2x 65watt florescent floodlights (8600lumens @ 6500k)

Tools used: drill/square drive bit, wood saw, jigsaw, staple gun, hammer, electrical pliers, sander, angle grinder, 90° T and of COURSE a tape measure!

Hope you like my hillbilly DIY! Wish I could have centered the wording but to make it happen I couldn't cuz the dimensions weren't right for the tank.

Hood up, quick easy access to tank with little effort 2x hinged:

Moonlighting:

Ac110:

Creative mounting:

Cooling fan with hood up:

Cooling fan runs on same timer as main lights:

Night shoot, I don't like overkill on moonlighting especially on a planted tank, therefore I mounted mine in a certain way to where you can see just a tad of blue making it look natural! Picture didn't do it justice but in person imo its perfect, you can see the silhouettes and shadows!

Fan is very high rpm and does a great job on keeping lighting cool, doesn't look bad imo either!

Hope you appreciated the build for a creative yet basic 30$ canopy! Tank used to be setup like this with lights .5" from the water line:

Enjoy!

Cheers! :beer::beer::beer:

×Go S Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 8 wins in a row going on 9, see you in Brazil boys!×
__________________________________________________________________

Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[Cookie*]

Wow, man, looks good. I like the print on the canopy. It would drive me nuts being off-center, but if it's a matter of not using the piece because it wasn't long enough to center it, I think you made the right choice. It adds good character to it, while being green . Good choice on not-so-bright moonlights as well. It doesn't look good blasting thru all bright neon blue, in my opinion. My moonlights were too bright also, so I just bought a blue led automotive strip and wired it to an adapter. Much less bright and looks tons better at night, dimly lit. I like the fan idea too.

How has the growth of the plants been under those lights? I'm curious to see what raising them higher above the surface does, if anything.

 

[Fat Homer]

Great work and idea... although i'm with cookie and the off-center part would drive me nuts, but for that price, one definitely can't complain...

 

[F1 VET]

Wow, man, looks good. I like the print on the canopy. It would drive me nuts being off-center, but if it's a matter of not using the piece because it wasn't long enough to center it, I think you made the right choice. It adds good character to it, while being green . Good choice on not-so-bright moonlights as well. It doesn't look good blasting thru all bright neon blue, in my opinion. My moonlights were too bright also, so I just bought a blue led automotive strip and wired it to an adapter. Much less bright and looks tons better at night, dimly lit. I like the fan idea too.

How has the growth of the plants been under those lights? I'm curious to see what raising them higher above the surface does, if anything.

Great work and idea... although i'm with cookie and the off-center part would drive me nuts, but for that price, one definitely can't complain...

Yea it bugs my girlfriend but hey I look at the plants more the the canopy. It just gives it a Retro recycle new age vibe which I dig. As for the plants they are growing mad! One of my reds has already flowered although for the life of me I can't remember the name of this plant but the flowers are a beautiful neon purple to white.

My lace leaf is blocking a few plants, I may prune it up a tad along with the Java moss.

×Go S. Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 9 wins back to back in 1 season (record!) See you next year in Australia boys!×
__________________________________________________________________

Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[F1 VET]

My Striolatus Piranha is really having a rough time in the tank. Not sure if its ph swings or high lighting and or stress but he was in rough shape today during a normal WC and about 25 min after I was done he could barely stay afloat and balance, even had to give him a small nudge to keep him breathing.....and incoming water was treated properly and temp matched, guess ill have to keep testing day time ph vs night time. I run my co2 for about 6 hours per day and lights about 7. He's fine at night.....

Anyways did a little pruning on my Java moss, swords and some dead leaves.

Moss ball and lace leaf letting out oxygen!

Beautiful flowers:

So I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place, love the plants hate my P stressing. Could try a ph controller or even run my co2 24/7? Idk


×Go S. Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 9 wins back to back in 1 season (record!) See you next year in Australia boys!×
__________________________________________________________________

Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[joel]

That's a great set up you have. I don't think I have ever saw a striolatus available. How does it tolerate the tank mates


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[Cookie*]

The plants look great, but I'm sorry to hear about the fish.

 

[F1 VET]

That's a great set up you have. I don't think I have ever saw a striolatus available. How does it tolerate the tank mates


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

He eats them when he can catch them lol but there's always new fry from the guppies so that's mainly what he goes after. The sae's and Otto's he doesn't mess with but everything else is fair game. He still eats NLS daily as well. Bought him as a baby black and a year later it turns out to be a strio which I'm happy about!

The plants look great, but I'm sorry to hear about the fish.

Thanks! He's fine now. When the lights go off he turns back to normal. I may end up setting up another 40b and making it Amazon themed low light for him so he's more comfortable!

This piranha species has huge eyes compared to its body so I think the light throws him off a bit but most the plants are med/high lighting and need co2 so I can't sacrifice the lighting.



I'm trying to figure out a way where I can make a dimmer switch turn the lights on in small increments instead of just full blast so its like a sun rise!


×Go S. Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 9 wins back to back in 1 season (record!) See you next year in Australia boys!×
__________________________________________________________________

Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763

 

[LS2012]

switching to dry fertz soon, anyone have a good site?

I still have a ton to learn but much thanks goes out to Fat Homer, LS, JP and all the others mods/members whom have contributed to the planted section!

Thanks for the mention

Hope your fish is better very soon
Two thoughts re dry ferts,

Greenleaf Aquariums http://greenleafaquariums.com/ theyre very helpful via email customer service.
Plantedtank.net Nilocg also very helpful. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/member.php?u=37819

I use this one, 'PPS-Pro style liquid fertilizer-2x 500ml dosing bottles -Pre-measured micros and macros, enough to dose 5000 gallons of tank water.' Buy a few refills with it, saves on shipping later. It comes as dry ferts, add r/o water in bottle and refrigerate. Pps pro with Micro/Macro on alternate days

Your tank looks awesome! Love it, esp your Madagascar Lace plant. Clearly your care regimen is better than mine was for the lace :thumbup:

Btw, Check out CurrentUSA's ramp timers, http://www.current-usa.com/product-sneak-peek


Cheers to you,
Laurie



Sent from my Nexus 10 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[F1 VET]

Thanks for the mention

Hope your fish is better very soon
Two thoughts re dry ferts,

Greenleaf Aquariums http://greenleafaquariums.com/ theyre very helpful via email customer service.
Plantedtank.net Nilocg also very helpful. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/member.php?u=37819

I use this one, 'PPS-Pro style liquid fertilizer-2x 500ml dosing bottles -Pre-measured micros and macros, enough to dose 5000 gallons of tank water.' Buy a few refills with it, saves on shipping later. It comes as dry ferts, add r/o water in bottle and refrigerate. Pps pro with Micro/Macro on alternate days

Your tank looks awesome! Love it, esp your Madagascar Lace plant. Clearly your care regimen is better than mine was for the lace :thumbup:

Btw, Check out CurrentUSA's ramp timers, http://www.current-usa.com/product-sneak-peek


Cheers to you,
Laurie

Sent from my Nexus 10 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

Thanks! Currently I use a starter kit of dry fertz from greenleafaquariums, came with macros & plantex mirco bsm. I use EI dosing method currently.

As for the fish I think its just the intensity of the light all at once puts him in a trance and that ramp timer is great but its for led's not florescents thanks for the advice tho

:beer::beer:


×Go S. Vettel #1 Infiniti Redbull! 4x WDC!!! Congrats on another flawless title and 9 wins back to back in 1 season (record!) See you next year in Australia boys!×
__________________________________________________________________

Cheap way to decrease nitrates and keep your fish healthy: http://monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=504763