Temp solution, and then ...

Picture 147,
originally uploaded by Hongyee.

yet another snag.

While Miss Engineer has been WONDERFUL in giving me the direct dimensions of the new hood (which, incidentally, should turn out even prettier than the bone-bare one I designed. Girls and their aesthetics.), I'll have to wait out 4-5 days before that one can materialise. Which, of course, will kill my poor photosynthetic corals.

And so for now, I placed the back piece on the tank, and have already attached the actinic bulb just to kick it off. Will attach metal halides tomorrow morning. And of course the glare from the open front will really kill (and give a really good tan), so I decided to just plonk the front piece on anyway, just to shut out the glare.

And now for the caveat - I only have 1 functional halide bulb, while the tank needs 2.

One of those fricking days when I'm FORCED to spend money. And GREAT. I have 2 spider reflectors, 1 is hooked up to the old hood with the bloody Radium bulb that broke, I can't find my other 250W magnetic ballast to fire up the 2nd spider reflector, and of course I can't find my other Radium bulb to stand in, in the meantime. FRICK.

2 x Radiums = $290
250W ballast set = $100

I'm going to have to suck on my own fats to survive this month. F*. and double F***. Really thinking of begging my dad for his contribution to this lovely dining room centrepiece, muahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Oh, and did I mention that the entire thing is now held together by only glue?!? No screws yet. Oh please please please, my dear Murphy, you've done enough damage today already. Please please please do not come visiting tonight. PLEASE!!!!

p.s. I'm talking about Murphy's Law, in case you think I'm going bonkers.