Guidance On Flourescent Light Building

[R0ADK1ll88]

I am looking to perform a lighiting upgrade to my tank for live plants and believe that it would be possible to modify a standard fluorescent light to fit over my tank. Has anyone tried this?

I have a 36" fixture with 4 bulbs and I would like to extend the leads to 48" and make my own hood with the lights built it. I have a general idea in my head as to how to perform the changes. I would like to install the ballasts and wiring into a custom hood (not built) using some styrofoam and thin sheetmetal to insulate from heat and reflect the light to the tank. I think a small fan will be necessary so I don't bake the fish too but this will be determined after the build and I can perform some test (not on the tank of course).

Any comments/guidance would be appreciate.

Tanks is a 55 gallon low tech tropical which currently only has 40W. I want to get to 2.5WPG.

 

[Rooster]

I light ALL my tanks with "florry fittings".... they are the same as LFS, but half the price

Only recently (5 years) swapped over to electronic ballasts... they run cooler, and use less electricity.

Fish shop does get my cash for tube ends though.... better safe than sorry.

 

[R0ADK1ll88]

I light ALL my tanks with "florry fittings".... they are the same as LFS, but half the price

Only recently (5 years) swapped over to electronic ballasts... they run cooler, and use less electricity.

Fish shop does get my cash for tube ends though.... better safe than sorry.

Thanks I will update when all is done. I have begun the build of the hood and expect to install the lights tomorrow.

 

[WoodenChair]

Fish shop does get my cash for tube ends though.... better safe than sorry.

Sage advice right there. Don't cut corners on good waterproof caps / leads / ect.


-ChairmanWood

 

[R0ADK1ll88]

The build is going according to plan however I made some changes. I went with a T5 fixture I picked up at the hardware store instead of modifying the one I had. It was a T12 and I want the extra output of a T5 and for the price I couldn't resist.

I am going to be following the advice and investing in some waterproof end caps. The build is taking longer then expected due to the little one at home (9 weeks). The hood is built and sanded now and ready for varnish and paint. I'm going to varnish the exterior to match my stand and paint the interior of the hood white until I can find some means of a DIY reflector that I like.

Another question I had was in the event of a water splash will the water on the hot bulb cause it to shatter??? If so I will need to invest in a way to cover the bulb.

It is looking pretty good now too. I posted my plans on another topic awhile back. Thanks for the help.

 

[Rooster]

The build is going according to plan however I made some changes. I went with a T5 fixture I picked up at the hardware store instead of modifying the one I had. It was a T12 and I want the extra output of a T5 and for the price I couldn't resist.

I am going to be following the advice and investing in some waterproof end caps. The build is taking longer then expected due to the little one at home (9 weeks). The hood is built and sanded now and ready for varnish and paint. I'm going to varnish the exterior to match my stand and paint the interior of the hood white until I can find some means of a DIY reflector that I like.

Another question I had was in the event of a water splash will the water on the hot bulb cause it to shatter??? If so I will need to invest in a way to cover the bulb.

It is looking pretty good now too. I posted my plans on another topic awhile back. Thanks for the help.

NO the lamp wont pop... mine gets a soak VERY often ! easy reflector would be a length of gutter + tinfoil, but to be honest, is the faffing about really worth a fiver ? (for a commercial one)

 

[R0ADK1ll88]

When your broke The lights on the hood are easy to take off so I may just end up putting them on for now and get a reflector later. Money is tight right now. Especially with how much I keep putting into the tank. The wife is getting a bit annoyed at my new found obsession. Still new and learning.

EDIT:
There is alot of debate about tinfoil which is why I decided not to use it. I read that flat white paint is close to a reflector which seems to make sense to me. There was a post on here somewhere where someone used a gauge on all the DIY methods.

 

[Rooster]

When your broke The lights on the hood are easy to take off so I may just end up putting them on for now and get a reflector later. Money is tight right now. Especially with how much I keep putting into the tank. The wife is getting a bit annoyed at my new found obsession. Still new and learning.

EDIT:
There is alot of debate about tinfoil which is why I decided not to use it. I read that flat white paint is close to a reflector which seems to make sense to me. There was a post on here somewhere where someone used a gauge on all the DIY methods.

foil vs white paint.... well, common sense doesnt seem common in THAT thread !!!! When is the last time you shaved, or combed your hair whilst looking at a white wall ? Thats right, you use a MIRROR.... which is POLISHED ALUMINIUM

Also accounts for why astronomers dont use a sheet of paper in telescopes....

Got a torch ? whats the reflector look like ?

...need I go on ?

 

[Truck]

When your broke The lights on the hood are easy to take off so I may just end up putting them on for now and get a reflector later. Money is tight right now. Especially with how much I keep putting into the tank. The wife is getting a bit annoyed at my new found obsession. Still new and learning.

EDIT:
There is alot of debate about tinfoil which is why I decided not to use it. I read that flat white paint is close to a reflector which seems to make sense to me. There was a post on here somewhere where someone used a gauge on all the DIY methods.

foil vs white paint.... well, common sense doesnt seem common in THAT thread !!!! When is the last time you shaved, or combed your hair whilst looking at a white wall ? Thats right, you use a MIRROR.... which is POLISHED ALUMINIUM

Also accounts for why astronomers dont use a sheet of paper in telescopes....

Got a torch ? whats the reflector look like ?

...need I go on ?

white reflectors are the most effective. light comes to this earth as white light (all 7 colours of the spectrum merged together to create white! when they hit a red surface all the colours apart from red are absorbed, and red is reflected into our eyes an thats why we see it. shine white light onto white paper and guess what...you see white! because all of the light is reflected!

you get a PAR meter and measure the out put from the same lamp, at the same distance but with different reflectors, and the best will soon become apparent

read

http/www.thekrib.com/Lights/reflectors.html#12

 

[R0ADK1ll88]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=195332 Post #15

A little food for thought

aluminum foil is about 60% to 70% reflective
gloss white paint is about 70% to 75% reflective
flat white paint is about 75% to 80% reflective
white plastic is about 70% to 80% reflective
mylar is about 95% reflective

Above is the quote from the forum I was talking about. Now I can't say where those numbers came from. When I said that it makes sense that white paint would work is that it would be better then nothing, I believe the shaving comment was made in that forum too I agree that it may be better just to fork out the cash for a decent reflector and I will when $$$ allows, but for now I think I am gonna use the painting method.

When your broke The lights on the hood are easy to take off so I may just end up putting them on for now and get a reflector later. Money is tight right now. Especially with how much I keep putting into the tank. The wife is getting a bit annoyed at my new found obsession. Still new and learning.

EDIT:
There is alot of debate about tinfoil which is why I decided not to use it. I read that flat white paint is close to a reflector which seems to make sense to me. There was a post on here somewhere where someone used a gauge on all the DIY methods.

foil vs white paint.... well, common sense doesnt seem common in THAT thread !!!! When is the last time you shaved, or combed your hair whilst looking at a white wall ? Thats right, you use a MIRROR.... which is POLISHED ALUMINIUM

Also accounts for why astronomers dont use a sheet of paper in telescopes....

Got a torch ? whats the reflector look like ?

...need I go on ?

white reflectors are the most effective. light comes to this earth as white light (all 7 colours of the spectrum merged together to create white! when they hit a red surface all the colours apart from red are absorbed, and red is reflected into our eyes an thats why we see it. shine white light onto white paper and guess what...you see white! because all of the light is reflected!

you get a PAR meter and measure the out put from the same lamp, at the same distance but with different reflectors, and the best will soon become apparent

read

[URL="http/www.thekrib.com/Lights/reflectors.html#12"]http/www.thekrib.com/Lights/reflectors.html#12[/URL]

Nice article