My cheap but functional DIY lighting

harold · 04-17-2008, 11:19 AM

Got most of the idea from another member's DIY project here on this forum. Just added my own japanese style design to the canopy. Simple but effective (I think). At least it looks better than an oversized aquarium light sitting on top of the tank.

I was orignally using a used aquarium light which had an AquaGlo bulb at 20W@10,000K. I'm now using two simple spiral bulbs at 9W@5500K.

Enjoy.

**Craigthor** · 04-17-2008, 11:27 AM

cool, how long did that take to build?

hectorjohn · 04-17-2008, 12:55 PM

solid work, looks very nice! could you share your materials?

kornphlake · 04-17-2008, 02:48 PM

How about a picture with the room lights on so we can actually see the hood?

honor · 04-17-2008, 04:55 PM

hey, that looks pretty nice, kudos.

harold · 04-17-2008, 08:18 PM

Here is where I got the idea for a quick and easy lighting solution in the first place...

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...iring-diy.html

I put this together pretty quick. No fine joinery just scrap wood, brads, and dowels. I didn't even fill in the brad holes (partly because I just forgot) and the stain job isn't anything to write home about. Took me a couple hours total but I do have all the necessary equipment to make this project easy. The lighting is esentially the same as the link above except I used two 9 watt bulbs and added a switch. As the link above states, no wiring! I also added three pieces of aluminum flashing above as a reflector. I doubt it does much of anything but I like the looks of it. Being a low-tech tank I don't think it matters.

Anyway, despite putting this together quickly I think it turned out well. It looks alot better in person than what is shown in these new pictures. My other hobby is woodworking so it was tough to resist the urge to spend endless hours on this project to make it really nice.

**NeonShrimp** · 04-17-2008, 09:12 PM

Thank you for sharing with us. Take care

04-17-2008, 09:12 PM	#7 (permalink)
NeonShrimp Wannabe Me (View User Tanks) PTrader: (120) Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 1,466	Thank you for sharing with us. Take care __________________ A little kindness goes a long way!

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04-17-2008, 11:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
Craigthor wannabe plant guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 764	cool, how long did that take to build?

04-17-2008, 12:55 PM	#3 (permalink)
hectorjohn Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Philippines Posts: 52	solid work, looks very nice! could you share your materials?

04-17-2008, 02:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
kornphlake Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Portland Posts: 270	How about a picture with the room lights on so we can actually see the hood?

04-17-2008, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
honor Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 379	hey, that looks pretty nice, kudos.