Comment

Comment by Bob Campbell on November 30, 2012 at 10:18am

@Vlad - I just got this ballast and bulb a couple days ago.  I will probably make a reflector, but by running it vertically I shine most of the light out and down  I looked at the way the light comes off the bulb and very little shines upward.  Besides this is more light than I need for this small area.   At night I raise a shutter with Mylar coating.  This reflects extra light into the room during the day and back through the window at night.  Inside I pull down a shade with Mylar, so the grow bed gets a lot of reflected light.

I bought this as a matched ballast and bulb from http://advancedtechlighting.com/cdmed18.htm

Comment by Vlad Jovanovic on November 30, 2012 at 9:54am

Bob, what kind of ballast and ignitor are you using...out of curiosity...and is there a reason you went with a vertical mount bulb, over a horizontal mount bulb with a reflector? A good reflector can be a powerfully efficient tool (so I was wondering)...

Comment by Bob Campbell on November 30, 2012 at 9:45am

@David - Yes I got a 400W.  I installed it and it worked a few times but now it does this.   I'm waiting for Thomas at ATS to return my call.

Comment by David Schwinghamer on November 30, 2012 at 9:18am

Hey Bob, have you got a ceramic metal halide light yet and what wattage did you get?

Comment by Robert Rowe on November 30, 2012 at 7:31am

4 x 4 Bed - 1/2 sheet of 4 x 8 x 3/4 particle Board - 2 2x4x8s - 2 2x12x8s - 1/6 sheet of pond liner from Lowes. - some deck nails 1" Bulkhead connector.

 

Comment by Bob Campbell on November 29, 2012 at 9:38pm

Matt I made a fiberglass tank when I was a teenager.  It looked like crap, but it held water.  I had absolutely no instruction, I just bought the materials and did it.  It's extremely forgiving.  If you make a mistake just give it another coat.  With all the YouTube videos available I'm sure you will do a fine job. 

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on November 29, 2012 at 9:07pm

wow, thanks for the links, I was always curious about fiberglass but have never worked with it.  I was surprised that the wood wasn't covered in some type of tarp or liner.  it's nice to see that wood that is waterproofed can be used with no problem, I've always been a little scared to try.

Comment by Ted Ansink on November 29, 2012 at 6:48pm

Here are instructions from Friendly Aquaponics for building a plywood and fiberglass tank. They will soon have a manual with pictures that you can purchase from them, but the instructions that they have in this piece have an awful lot of information.  http://www.friendlyaquaponics.com/free-diy-stuff/free-downloads/    There are also more areas on DIY aquaponics that are interesting.

Comment by Bob Campbell on November 29, 2012 at 6:12pm

@Matt - Have you looked into fiberglass?

I recently visited a fish farm with plywood tanks built 30 years ago.  They still look good.  Fiberglass was applied only at the seams.  The wood was waterproofed with epoxy.

This is not from the fish farm but it is a good example from Larry Reinhardt.

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on November 29, 2012 at 5:13pm

Oh, I should mention if anyone wants the measurements for building the grow bed I can post them, I was able to figure out all the boards and cut lengths needed and had the lumber cut up at home depot so it was just a matter of piecing it together when I got home.  it took me about 2 days all together to put it together and paint it  I miss having my tools, seemed to have lost a lot of them from to many moves - hey Christmas is coming "honey I need a miter saw!"

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