CW`s Saltwater Reef

DIY MH Unit

Hi there PPL

As most of you know me and one of my friends started our own DIY MH units.
Ive started a while ago with the power unit.

Ive used 1.6 mild steel to do the box.
Some pics.


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I would have used a 120mm 12v pc fan but decided against it.
After i got the basalts i saw that my unit is a bit small and didn't wanted to waist more space with a 12v transformer and also don't want hassles with a 12v fan.
So i decided to go for a 220v.
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First i sprayed the unit with a black spray but this spray rubbed off.
So i just decided im gona sand it down slightly and then paint it black.
Now its looks a lot better that this.


Phase one complete.
Next post, the building phase......


to be continued.....hehe
 
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DIY MH Unit Phase 2

Hi again.

Ok so ive painted the unit and waited for it to dry.
Lets put it all together.
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First test run of cabling. This sucked so i used another cable which is not so hard to bend and is still a solid strand.

Now to put everything into place. hehe. Cant wait.
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Ok both basalts and 1 x 120mm 220v fan in the unit with a steel grid over the fan.
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Both caps, power cable and switches fitted.
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All the wiring done. Now to get it closed up. oops
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Almost there
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And im done.
The switch in the middle is to give the unit power and switch on the fan.
The left and right switches is light 1 and light 2.
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Ill be using normal pc screen plugs for connecting my MH lights to my power unit.
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And there we are. DIY MH Unit done.

Ive already got the bulbs, just need the FC2 Fittings and waiting for the reflector unit.
Our good friend Mandarin is building the reflector unit. I saw the unit last week. Great stuff. Ill post pics as soon as i can.

Thanx Mandarin.
I owe you big time.

So what do you think PPL?

Cw out:thumbup::lol:;):)
 
You get a undercoat that activated when in contact with rust its made by i think polycell or something, so when painted it counteracts the rust try it;)
 
Max said:
You get a undercoat that activated when in contact with rust its made by i think polycell or something, so when painted it counteracts the rust try it;)
Click to expand...
Ja i do have some of it but didn't use it.
I just sanded it slightly and then sprayed it.
But that sprayed i used is crap, so i sanded it down again and painted. Painting is better that spray ill say. Its thicker that spray.
 
Francois said:
CW dude that DIY MH unit looks cool, how much is it setting you back on cost?
Click to expand...
Hi Francois.

If im not mistaken its about R2000 for the 2x250w bulbs, everything used for the power unit and the reflector material.

Ill do a brake down later on everything.
But so far it looks like just over R2000 for everything.

Cw out:thumbup:
 
new Fish added

Hi there ppl.

Ive added a new Blue cheak gobie a while ago but havent taken pics yet.
I took pics with my cell this morning so the quality aren't that great.
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As you see the substrate has changed a bit after i added the gobie. hehe
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Just some pics of the tank.
I know i know. Get a beter camera. hehe
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And thats it
 
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CW said:
Hi there ppl.

Ive added a new Blue cheak gobie a while ago but havent taken pics yet.
I took pics with my cell this morning so the quality aren't that great.
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As you see the substrate has changed a bit after i added the gobie. hehe
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Just some pics of the tank.
I know i know. Get a beter camera. hehe
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And thats it
Click to expand...

I must say. These pics looks crap man. hehe
I really need a camera
 
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Xereo said:
wow dodgy images :) but nice tank :)
Click to expand...
hehe.

I know.
I just remembered my father in law took some nice pics the other day.
Ill post them know.
Atleast he has n nice cam
 
Beter pics

Hey there ppl.
I remembered my father in law took some pics with his cam the other day.
Have a look.
Just some pics.
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Theirs more to come...
 
more pics

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More to come...
 
more pics

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And thats it.

Cw Out:thumbup:
 
DIY MH almost done. JEEEHAAA

.wysiwyg { FONT: 10pt verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; BACKGROUND: url(../../images/back1.gif) #ffffff fixed no-repeat center center; COLOR: #000000 } P { MARGIN: 0px } .inlineimg { VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle } Hey PPL.

My DIY MH is almost done.
Here is some more pics.

I made a simple little shelf for the power unit.
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And a BIG, no wait. A HUGE thanx to Mandarin for the reflectors. And Goby.
Thanx u 2.
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Now i only need to fit the lamp holders and bulbs then that's it. JEEEHAAA.
Im gona try to do it tonight.
I only painted the frame. When all seems fine im gona send the frame for powder coating.


Then whalha. hehe.


Cw out:thumbup::tt2::1:
 
Need help please

Hi there ppl.

My DIY MH setup didn’t go that well tonight.
My one DE 250w HQI bulb broke.
The fittings on the bulb was so skew when i put it in it broke.

Ok so then at least i had the one left.
I finished the wiring on the one reflector and then when i tried to start the light it did nothing.
Finally it started after i turned the power on and of and played with the switches.

I got very happy but then the next problem.
When the light starts its yellow at first, then it goes white then a very bright grips white light.
And very sharp light.

That takes about 5min or so.
Then the problem. The cap starts to smoke.

Ive tried both ballasts cos i have a unit that can run two bulbs.


PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS.
IM REALY DEPRO.

Bulb: 250w Purple Blue HQI MH DE bulb from Aqua Lighting.
Cap: Afcap Electrolytic Motor start 30 - 40 MicroF, 275v RMS, 50MHZ, intermittent,
max 20-3 sec starts per hour, -25 to +55 deg Celsius, 06 257

Thats the label on the cap.

Ive got a pic of the bulb as well.

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Chris that really sucks man!

Just to clarify,you are saying that when you put the bulb in the other ballast then the same cap still smokes or is it a dual globe ballast?
 
Falcon said:
Chris that really sucks man!

Just to clarify,you are saying that when you put the bulb in the other ballast then the same cap still smokes or is it a dual globe ballast?
Click to expand...
Ja i know man.
It does hey.

Ja it seems like we have the wrong caps. There motor starting and they dont work for long.

Getting other caps tonight.

Any other advice?
 
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