DIY 5ft MH Lighting System

[May&Bruce]

I used to have an Atman 5 ft light for my reef tank. It only had two 150w MH and three silly little stumpy PL blue fluoro's. Unfortunately, over a period of 6 months two of the PLs died and I can not buy replacements in Singapore.

So, I decided to DIY a complete new 5ft lighting system, with 3 x 150w MH and 2 x T5 actinics. So, here it is......... completed system in wooden surround that matches the tank cabinet.

[May&Bruce]

The lighting system hangs from the ceiling by chains...

[May&Bruce]

I fabricated the chassis out of 2mm aluminium sheet and mounted the three MH housings, ballasts, etc., onto this. The wooden facade is 6 mm marine plywood.

[May&Bruce]

I did not want to pay lots for MH housings so I DIY'd these buy buying 1000 w halogen housings from Homely hardware (S$18), pulling out the halogen lamp and holder and fitting a 150 DE MH holder from Dr Evil (S$12). Total price of DIY 150 w MH housing S$40!

[May&Bruce]

...

[May&Bruce]

I used the two MH ballasts out of the old Atman system....

[May&Bruce]

i got the 3rd MH ballast from Dr Evil @ DE Lightings

[May&Bruce]

The lights are on three separate timer circuits - the timers are all up in the lighting system.

1. T5 blues

2. Two end MH's

3. Middle MH

[May&Bruce]

System in operation (cheap camera, no filter, etc., so pic does not truly reflect colour or brightness)...

[May&Bruce]

Yo can see the complete tank here...

http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?...ic=42697&st=45&

[c0ol]

its very nice bro..

what a DIY guru you are

[Creetin]

i especially liked the housing...at that price, its unbeatable!

so wat u do with the halogen lamp?

[May&Bruce]

hahaha, thanks cool. Yeah, I was happy with the housings too Now I have 3 x 1000w halogen bulbs, but you can buy them new for only a couple of dollars.

[May&Bruce]

...oops, the total price of the converted halogen to MH housing is only S$30 per housing, not S$40 as I said earlier.... So, with the price of a MH ballast at around S$70, that means an entire 150W MH light for S$100 (excluding bulb).

[flying carpet]

What can I say. You got good hands.

[dkk08]

nice one bruce!

Oh yeah I sms ya abt the cowrie snail but no reply leh

[May&Bruce]

That's what my wife says.....

[taylapong]

woah... you're quite inspiring man! good work there...

[May&Bruce]

hey, thanks taylapong

[dreamzcape]

That's what my wife says.....

haha i'm not sure if i'm the only who caught that but...to be more politically correct (haha) great job man!

[May&Bruce]

dreamz...you probably were

[dreamzcape]

oops i meant great job on the lighthood

[cityofangels]

That is such an awesome job! You should seriously consider taking in orders.. I'll be your 1st customer!

I am considering to have my MH lights hang from the walls. I.e. get those metal brackets which allows you to hang from the adjacent walls. I can't get them to hang from the ceiling because my ceiling is really high up (ceiling leads up to the 2nd floor).

[nakazoru]

Good job and very cost effective DIY.

[May&Bruce]

cityofangels.....that a good idea (hang from the walls). If you paint them the same colour as the walls, they won't be too unsightly.

IMHO hanging the lights is far better than having them standing from brackets on the top of the tank. Its far easier to work around and in the tank. If you use a chain like I did you can also temporarily lift the lights up higher out of the way when you want to do serious work in the tank, just by hooking onto another link.