View Full Version : Lighting installation help.
Hi! I recently completed my tank stand and am now ready to make the canopy, construction to start this weekend. I am wonder however, what size (length) will the VHO flourescent tubes be? The tank is a 125 and 72" long.
When I make the canopy how should I design it to allow for the inevitable mounting of the ballasts?
OrionGirl
03-19-2004, 10:40 PM
Check with a lighting supply place--hellolights.com has good specs for the bulbs. You can actually get bulbs that are 72 inches. Remember to add in space for the end caps, too--I don't know numbers, since I had the bulbs and caps, and just measured as I was building. For 36 inc bulbs, the Corallife end caps add 1/4 inch to each side of the bulb.
For mounting the ballast--mount it on the outside of the canopy. You don't want it exposed to the high humidty inside the canopy. Also make sure it is above any potentail overflows! Learned that one the hard way. I put them on the back, to the side that's most easily accessed when the tank is in place.
frosty
03-20-2004, 8:23 AM
My VH0s are about 70.5" from the back of one socket to the back of the other.
johnnyxxl
04-04-2004, 7:31 PM
I have an antique tank from the 50's or earlier made of stainless with a matching hood. The electronics in the hood have since corroded as the hood had no glass to protect the flourscent lights. I was wondering where I could find a very small set of caps for a tank thats that small. The measurments are not on hand but the caps for the flourscent bulbs were very small i have taken the fixture apart as its all just screwed in and want to just restore it to working order and maybe make a glass or plexi shield for the light.