canopy idea

It may be tight trying to get 6 t5's under a 55 gallon hood with individual reflectors. I have 4 with reflectors fits perfect. I also have workhorse ballast and they work great and are inexpensive.

 

but the thing is i dont want to paint wood i was going to wrap the inside in coil stock like they do for windows this way there will be no rotting but reflectors i will get majority rules this is going to be a really great canopy so i want to know all the best things the lfs is getting me to buy a vortec ballest

 

If you don't paint the wood with at least a polyurethane based stain, your wood will absorb the moisture, which is where wood rot will happen. We have all learned the hard way, and if you don't coat the wood chemically in some way, it will rot down the road.