Started my 9g hex stand and hood! what light to use?## painted 4/18 pics

[customdrumfinishes]

Hello
i have aquaried a 9 gallon hex with no hood or base so i decided to make one today! turning out good but unsure what color or finish i want on it. im thinking a laquer crackle finish might look neat but still undecided! all my other hoods are black so i want to try somethng different. 1st pic is of a snare drum i did last year in antique white and white crackle on top that i leaning towards on this hood and base; but maybe red and blk or maybe even yellow with blk since im puttin some tiger shrimp in it in a week! the other pics is what i got done today, took about an hour and cost me around 15.00 so far. used 7 ply birch plywood scraps and cut them 30 degree on the miter saw took awhile lol. the moulding at bottom is called base cap, its mounted upside down, its in most houses with big moundings on baseboard. used a router on the top to round the edge.the top and bottom have been made alittle larger than the tank so it fits over the tank some so no worries of falling off! still need help on a light for this tank but im thinking a compact florescent spiral bulb thats 50 watts might be ok. anyone have a light idea? i will put some small plants in and alittle moss tied to driftwood so i need a few watts on it.

[customdrumfinishes]

well not really a stand but its light enough for my dresser top lol.

[BiscuitSlayer]

CDF-

I like your design. That came out looking pretty good and the finish is going to look good as well.

What are the dimentions of the tank (especially the width from side to side)?

[customdrumfinishes]

the hex is 16" tall and 12" on top flat to flat. each sides measures about 7" with 6 sides. total height tank, top and base is 28". i put the size in hex calulator and says 8.82 gallons.
the more i look at it i think a dome top would look great, but be hard to build.

[BiscuitSlayer]

How about something like this:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...iaqualight2x9w

You would just need something for the fixture to sit on inside of your canopy. If you planned on closing the top, you might need a fan in there to vent the heat out as well. That is probably going to be the case for just about anything though since all sides of your canopy are closed.

[customdrumfinishes]

thanks for the link! gave me a easy idea.i have some of those compact florescent bulbs and fixtures i probably can use! i got several ceiling lights with a single compact flo. in them and can see 2 fitting in there if removed from the frame. or a fixture with 2 lights modified to fit. im mr chepo when it comes to lighting for aqariums lol. i wont close the top off, figure its enough air space without a fan.

[BiscuitSlayer]

Originally Posted by customdrumfinishes

thanks for the link! gave me a easy idea.i have some of those compact florescent bulbs and fixtures i probably can use! i got several ceiling lights with a single compact flo. in them and can see 2 fitting in there if removed from the frame. or a fixture with 2 lights modified to fit. im mr chepo when it comes to lighting for aqariums lol. i wont close the top off, figure its enough air space without a fan.

Thats OK. Sometimes just seeing something like the link I showed you is enough to get the wheels turning and figure out a DIY alternative. I am very interested to see what you come up with. Thats going to be a cool little setup.

[customdrumfinishes]

since im workin on this tank, 2-10 gallon cheapo wood hoods and 2- 29 gallon cheapo wood hoods i have my hands full lol.i just finishes a 55 g hood and small base last week, ill post pics of my room full of hood projects on here later lol , i cant stop myself plastic hoods suck.

[customdrumfinishes]

got a coat of laquer white and black crackle on today, looks good to me!

[customdrumfinishes]

finally done with the paintin and building! gotta go paint the light fixture i found and install it today and ill will be 100% done!
only have around 45.00 in the tank, stand, and paint. to cheap for most fish gurus on here im sure lol.

[Archerofthemoon]

Is that a snare drum in one of those photos?! Lol. As for lighting you can looking into retro fitting 2 compact fluorescents and or you might be able to fit coralifes mini lighting system into that canopy.

[customdrumfinishes]

Originally Posted by Archerofthemoon

Is that a snare drum in one of those photos?! Lol. As for lighting you can looking into retro fitting 2 compact fluorescents and or you might be able to fit coralifes mini lighting system into that canopy.

yes i do drum sets in wierd finishes and wraps. i want to do the compact fluoresents but not sure what watt to use on the hex, want to do it on some 10g and 30g tanks but not sure which watt to use.

[BiscuitSlayer]

CDF -

How is this tank working for you? You set it up yet? One thing that I am very interested in is heat buildup in your canopy or the water temps from the light.

[customdrumfinishes]

hi biscut, the 2 16watt spirals i used are working fine, no heat build up as the temp stays the same with them off or on, i think there about 6"away from water so no problems so far! i have had it setup now for 3 weeks with yelllows and tiger shrimp and plants, and eco complete with blk rock mixture. i leave it on about 8-10 hrs a day with no problems with algae yet. i only dose it once a week with trace iron and flourish,low doses though!! have an aquaclear 10 filter to, working good so far!

[ColeMan]

Hey man - you're canopies and stands are wild...very unique, and something I've definitely never seen before...I think I said it in one of your other posts, but they remind me of castles...in combination with your stand (with those arches! crazy), the hex looks totally like a castle...far out!