T5 Frame

[hiimsean]

I'm looking for ideas of mounting T5s over a tank. I've got a retrofit 4x24w T5 mounted to a small wood frame but want something nicer that's not going to be super expensive or complicated to make. I will also be mounting a Reefbite to it.

 

[hzheng33]

maybe 80/20 or just simply a hybrid from AquaticLife. at the end of the day, once you consider the material to build it yourself (since you want it nice looking etc), it's half of the cost of the hybrid.

 

[hiimsean]

I'm looking at 80/20 now and that might be my best bet. I've already have the retrofit so the hybrid isn't necessary.

Do you have any experience with 80/20? I'm trying to find places that do precut as I don't have the tools to do any cutting myself.

 

[hzheng33]

@anit77 what is the material that you are using? i forgot the name of it. maybe sean can look into that as well.

 

[Adam]

This is where I got mine from. I sent them a diagram of what I wanted to build and they made the parts list for me.
https://eztube.com/

 

[hiimsean]

Are you able to drill into it?

 

[Adam]

Yea, it's aluminum tube. I ran all the wiring for the T5 retro kit through the tubes. I even put rubber grommets in the holes I drilled to protect the wires.

The parts list they sent me included all the tube pieces cut to size and all the fittings.