[RestlessCrow]

Good going! Looking forward to seeing the "entire" project.

FYI - about my link - just wanted you to see how low my light was to the water and that the lights are ok without a splash guard. Also you can see the big brace I have in the center.

Hey Tex... I've got the same type of brace in the center... As promised... Here's a few pics of the "entire" project. (Scan all the way back to the original post to see where I started.)

My "Camouflage" wall:

The new Wall Hanging thingy: (and yes... that is a 55gal under the cloth not being used.... That's another project....)

And what I plan on doing with the beams that some idjit painted:

 

[RestlessCrow]

FINALLY... something worth posting.

So uh.... I started working on the hood tonight. Due to a "Civil" domestic dispute, I decided that I'd tuck my tail between my legs and head for the garage and wait for things to calm down a bit.....

Once I hit the garage.... the creative juices took over.

Here's the first pics of the new hood for the tank: (the brown bottle is the glue that seems to hold projects such as this together.)

The hood sitting in place... glue still wet, and clamped together:

The TOP of the hood... glued up and clamped together:

Whilst I was working on this... I was also working on the lighting. I purchased three 48" T8 fixtures that came from the store painted black, inside and out. No reflectors or anything. I've researched using Mylar... Aluminum.... Just about everything.. I was going to make reflectors at my buddy's Metal shop (He has a sheet metal brake he'll let me use) when at approx: 4:30 am I sat up straight in bed with an idea!

"I'll use Hillbilly chrome!!!!"

Well.... Hillbilly chrome goes by a NUMBER of names.... Jewish chrome, Mexican Chrome, Polish Chrome, or ANY Ethnic group you want to mention, as long as you put the word "Chrome" after it. I choose not to discriminate against ANY group, so if you send me an email I would gladly add your ethnic group to this list. I happen to be a *******/hillbilly sort, so I chose that name, but I'm Polish too (or at least half Polish). So I just took TWO shots at myself so I don't wanna hear ANYONE griping about me making ethnic jokes....

So here is what I bought:

I had to dissassemble the light fixtures anyway to mount them properly... so while I had them apart, I painted the reflectors. Here's a good before and after:

Glue is still drying... Paint is still drying.... I SHOULD have it mostly assembled by tomorrow and I will post more pictures then. Just figured I'd post an update so you guys don't get bored...

 

[Bunnie1978]

That's so awesome! Looks great, and that is a great idea! I hope it's going to work well. Can't wait to see it finished! Giddy-up Hillbilly!

 

[RestlessCrow]

Bunnie.... Sometimes... (if not MOST times...) my BEST ideas arrive just before the waking hour.... I'm just lucky to remember the good ones.... (and unlucky to have forgotten the others...)

 

[Bunnie1978]

That's funny. My best ideas seem to be as I'm going to sleep, or when I have a problem, JUST before I give up!

 

[RestlessCrow]

That's funny. My best ideas seem to be as I'm going to sleep, or when I have a problem, JUST before I give up!

Bunnie.......Keep a notebook beside the bed.... WRITE IT ALL DOWN! And NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!

 

[Tex Gal]

I thought after such good work in px number one you'd be anywhere but the garage. Well.... at least you made good use of your time in there. Nice chrome idea. Lookin' good!

 

[mudboots]

Very nice so far. I look forward to peeking in to see your progess. I dig the hood project, and completely agree about the "glue".

 

[RestlessCrow]

Daily update:

Ok... so all mornin' there's been sawdust flying... screws turning, zipties zipping.... Made some good progress this morning!

First thing this morning.... I glued everything into it's final resting position. My Dad always said "Son.... you can NEVER have too many clamps...." If you look at the ones on the wall.... well... they didn't do me any good. I scrounged all I could to come up with the ones seen in this photo:

While the glue was drying, I put the light fixtures in place...

I put the painted reflectors in.... screwed everything together, and added the bulbs.

When I plugged them in.... I think the rest of the lights in the house dimmed.... eace:

I then busted out the trusty router and flush trimmed all the overhangs, and rounded all the corners to make it match the existing stand. I also cut the spaces for filter intakes, outputs, and electrical cords.....

Started staining to match the existing stand....

And plopped it on top to see how well the lights worked!!!!

I still need to put another coat of stain on it to get it to match the tank stand..... but you get the idea.... The "heated discussion" from last night has blown over. (Yes... I apologized like a good boy...) I was the cranky one and realized it. :sorry:

So.... aside from another coat of stain.... and a fancy cantileivered lid lift mechanism.... I'm almost ready for substrate.... But then again.....[smilie=f: there IS that little matter of having to put the new carpet down before I can move the tank to it's final spot. (carpet donations anyone?)

 

[Tex Gal]

WOW! That was fast! Looking good!

 

[RestlessCrow]

Hey Tex... Just got an email from my aunt who is watching this project from where I'm hosting my pictures... She mentioned a "Family trait" of going like the devil on a project and then burning out... LOL Well.... I'm still in the "Go like the devil" phase.

I'm pretty much hitting a stopping point very soon until I can get the dang carpet down, so hopefully that will give me a break without the burnout part.

Although.... I've got this lift mechanism idea and spent an hour at the welding shop this morning pickin' my buddy's brain to see what size materials I'll need. He might swing by after he's off work to take a peek at what I'm doing.

 

[RestlessCrow]

Ok... I SWEAR this is the last photos for the day. Really!!!!!!! Here's a before and after. The before, is with the cheap hoods that came with the tank. I don't believe that they were the original ones, because there was a ballast installed under the stand. (But again.... it's what it came with.)

Two, 17 watt generic lamps that would come with a walmart package. (.41wpg)

And AFTER.... with the new custom hood, stained to match.... 6x32w T8's (2.31wpg)

I'm DONE for the day dangit!

 

[Bunnie1978]

THAT is awesome! You're quite the handy manny!!

 

[RestlessCrow]

THAT is awesome! You're quite the handy manny!!

Bunnie..... <evil grin> You don't know the HALF of it.... LOL

 

[RestlessCrow]

Well.... if you've been reading this journal so far.... you might have read about me being "transportationally challenged".... Well.... $750 later, and jumping over hurdles and through hoops.... I am no longer "transportationally challenged."

I arrived home about noon today clutching a little card that contained my regained freedom. After seven MONTHS of being on foot.... I get home.... and want to go for a ride.... But get this.... I don't have anywhere to go. Bummer. Soooo..... I did what any guy would do. I threw the dog in the car and went out for a cup of coffee... BECAUSE I COULD.

(Really.... this kinda DOES relate to the aquarium build...)

Well.... the other day I headed over to the fabricator's shop. I explained my whole "hood lift system" to him.... and he threw in his two (TEN) cents.... I also made the mistake of mentioning that I would LOVE a LED moonlight system... (I figured he just worked with METAL!) Well... I found out that he tinkers with electronics.... 45 min later after viewing two hundred electrical diagrams.... I walked out of the shop with four, eighteen inch pieces of steel, and four, twelve inch pieces, and one helluva earful about LED wiring.

Here's where the whole transportation issue comes into play.... I had NO where to go and was itching to drive... ANYWHERE.... and I saw the pieces of steel sitting on the work bench. And then it hit me! I need machine screws! So I fired up the 7.3L Turbo Diesel pickup, and drove one mile.... Yes.... One mile to the store and back.... Just to get eight screws, and nuts to match for this project.

Here's what I've come up with for the hood lift. There's a LOT left to do... countersink the screws so they sit flush.... and I still need to nail down the way I'm going to attach it to the tank.... but without further adieu, here is my new lid lift.

It doesn't look like it, but this is ten feet of 1"x 1/4" hot rolled steel:

The concept:

Bolted together:

Half extended:

And fully extended:

I MIGHT have it together and working by the weekend, but I have to drive down to Timonium Md. this weekend for work.... If I get it done before the weekend, I'll put pics up.... but if not.... you'll have to wait till Monday or Tuesday. Thanks again for reading, and remember.... I welcome questions, comments, and advice.... I'm bluffing my way through this, pretending to know what I'm doing. Like most things I do.... "I did it because no one told me I COULDN'T do it".

 

[Bunnie1978]

You could have saved alot of time.. I don't know about money.. with a piano hinge and prop. Hm.

Looks good though.

 

[RestlessCrow]

You could have saved alot of time.. I don't know about money.. with a piano hinge and prop. Hm.

Looks good though.

Hmmmmm.... Somehow earlier today... I responded to your comment.... but must've hit some wrong button or something because it never posted!

I could have used a Piano Hinge, but that would have been too boring, and I would've been blasted in the face with light when I flipped the hood up. I decided for the parallel arms so the light would still be directed down, and so that if I do have anything on top.... it won't fall off. Plus there's also that whole "Cool factor" when it lifts up that way....



And then there's the "I can't do anything with the tank until I get the carpet down" factor.... so I need something to putter with.... so I might as well make it the way I want it! (Carpet donations anyone? LOL)

 

[giypsy]

Thanks for posting the blow-by-blow of the hood build.
That project is still in my distant future.
Back to the fish-rack, have wood to sink.
Keep us posted.

 

[Bunnie1978]

That is neat how it lifts it up and over instead of out.

@giypsy - I installed a fish rack on my wall for 3 ten gallon tanks. It's so awesome! I got the parts to make the rack at Lowe's. Two pieces that install vertically on the wall into studs, one 6 ft shelf that they cut into three pieces for me, and the brackets to hold them. All together about $100. I couldn't buy 3 stands or the space for that, so I'm really happy with it.

 

[RestlessCrow]

Sorry for the lack of updates guys! The finance department has been in a pickle, and unable to procure financing for the carpet that must go down before 85 gal of water goes in, and I have been on the road for the last three weekends in a row repairing glass at antique shows. (Morristown, NJ Timonium, Maryland, and Syracuse NY.) (and I have GOT to get the radio in my truck fixed! Too much driving in silence) And oh..... Yeah. I'm no longer "transportationally challenged." eace:

The only thing holding me up from installing the hood lift is gettin' my sorry butt over to pick up some longer screws for the tank attachment part...

The tank is set up and running in the garage and has a few Bluegill Sunfish occupying it until it is ready to be moved upstairs. (Figured I wouldn't waste any time so I'll use them to cycle the filters) I have topsoil out in my greenhouse mineralizing away..... and I SHOULD get my butt out and get some sand before it all freezes.... Things are progressing.... just very slowly.

I'll keep ya'wl updated.