Heh. I was just finishing up the designing of my canopy, when I came across a question.

Right now I'll only be using one MH 175w. I'll locate it in the canopy so that its in the middle of the tank. However, the middle of my tank has a plastic centerbrace. Will the MH cause any problems to the centerbrace? I would think it would be around 5-6" above it.

Yet another question. Whats the best way to wire up the fans in the canopy? Can they be run of the WH7?

Wow, was nov the last post?

My canopy has been done for the longest time, just waiting for the cabinet maker to laminate it to match my stand. He finally comes around to it, and tells me now he doesn't have enough leftover (argg). So instead of spending $130 for a sheet I don't need about 90% of, I figure i'd hit some DIY. I'm gonna plug up all the gaps and stuff, sand it down, prime, and hit it with a couple of coats of paint that matches the stand. I found some car paint at Canadiantire that matches perfectly.

So with that project this weekend, I'm back at looking at wiring again. I'll be running 2 36" vho from the WH7. I know its recommended to run only one bulb, but until I get another ballast i'll have to run them both off this one.

So from the various threads, this is what i've figured. I should run 2 red wires to one endcap. Now do i still need to jumper it, or can i just wire one red to each clip on the end of the endcap? Then just split the yellow wire in two, and connect to each endcap on the other end?

Today was a nice day, so I pulled out the canopy, and filled it up with poly instafil.

Prior to poly:
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6377.JPG

After poly:
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6382.JPG

Jobmate Sander: my trusty sander that I picked up at Canadian Tire for $9.99. Score!! Worked wonders:
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6383.JPG

After sanding: After letting it dry for a few hours and then sanding (60grit/150grit)
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6384.JPG
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6385.JPG

Nice and smooth now. I'll leave it overnight just to let the poly really dry, then tomorrow i'll start priming, then painting it.

Damn, from last year, I don't feel that bad now on the amount or lack of time I have had in the last month :mrgreen:

Steve

:question:

Okay, it is late, and I just got home, but I really don't understand that sentence.

just the fact I have been building 2 skimmers, 2 Ca reactors and 1 Kalk reactor for over a month now and I am not done yet and feeling like I was going to slow :mrgreen:

Steve

Ahhh... shall I even start on my skimmer which I started, months ago as well? lol....

Work sucks that way I guess. Oh well. I'm a slacker, what can you say? hehe...

Actually, I think you both started your skimmers last year... :)

Like all my work, it may take longer, but it does get done ;)

Finished priming the canopy today. This awesome weather totally helps ;)

Canopy Primed: 4-5 coats of primer
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6387.JPG
http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6388.JPG

And my next Canadian Tire special, the Duplicolor Import Spray. I picked up two cans of these, as you can see they are much smaller than the usual type of cans. This was the best match that I could find to the laminate on my stand. Hopefully it won't be that different once its painted on the canopy.

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6391.JPG

thats not the one I am talking about.. I am making a skimmer extension right now LOL, but ya I do have to finnish the other one also :confused:

Steve