reply
 

Well? Don't just leave us hanging, lets see the end product! :mrgreen:

Re: reply
 

Coating is all done, and I've just been applying the clear coat on top of it, over the last few days. This way if there is any water/salt spray on the outside, I can easily wipe it off without the paint coming off.

I'm not 100% happy with the polyfil job I did. I couldn't really see any of the small indents with the primer, but after a few coats of the paint, it really started to show. Maybe its just me, and i'll probably be the only one to notice it anyways. The actual canopy will be slightly above eye level when done, so most won't notice it.

Tomorrow I should have the clear coat done, and i'll run some high grit sandpaper over it, just to smoothin' it out. Then comes the task to install everything inside, and also the griplock system as well.

I picked up some SS Wood Inserts (Tee Nuts) from Mcmaster:

http://www.mcmaster.com/param/images...uts4pronga.gif

I'll be putting 4 of these in the top of the canopy, which the grip lock system will screw into. This way, there is almost no chance of the canopy coming off the grip lock. They will be screwed in pretty well into these.

Pics coming soon...

Bleh, bad ISO setting, oh well, here's an update:

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6579.JPG

Since my tank is only 12" wide, and the canopy is 16", i gotta offset one side of the VHO bulbs at least 2" to get the light inside the tank, so I've got some DIY to do before hooking everything up.

I ended up milling out some delrin blocks at work to use as custom standoff's for the endcaps. Time has come to install everything inside the canopy. I had one question regarding the placement of the MH bulb.

My tank has a plastic crossbeam in the middle. Which placement method would be better?

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...cs/mountmh.jpg

Jack said it would be a good idea to get some SS sheet metal, and place it across it, to keep the heat away from the plastic beam, which I've done. I actually created a bit of a triangle shape peice so its not laying directly against the plastic.

Finished installing the griplock system on the ceiling.

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...l_DSCF6612.JPG

http://www.ditchmond.com/gallery/alb...s/DSCF6615.JPG

I do like how clean these cables look. Can't wait to get the canopy up. except....

I went to install the TeeNuts in the canopy. The ones pictured above. So I drilled the hole, put them in, and then hammered them lightly so the 4 teeth would grab into the wood. Well that great job I did of painting cracked at the seams (argggggggg). Specially in the noticable areas. I should of done this before, but I guess that goes along with the learning curve.

So not only do I need to reseal some of the cracks again, but prime, paint, and clear coat all over again. Argggggggggggg.