DIY upgrade for basic hood w/ lights.

asil · 03-31-2009, 05:08 AM

Sorry no link from me. i know you can get 23 watt bulbs from lowes. Thats the highest I saw there last week that would fit in my crappy plastic tank cover. Maybe HD?

gmccreedy · 03-31-2009, 12:13 PM

Here is the money shot.

And Home Depot and Lowes both carry these.

khs2424 · 04-01-2009, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmccreedy

Here is the money shot.

And Home Depot and Lowes both carry these.

Ahh, Thanks gmc!

mr. clown loach · 04-06-2009, 03:22 AM

how do you rewire the lights to work

aschaal03 · 06-10-2009, 09:15 PM

Sorry to drudge up a semi-old thread, but I'm going to use your idea tomorrow and put together a light fixture with an existing hood. Does this setup not need any ventilation? The hood I'm using has small vents in the top, I'm wondering if these will let out much light or if I should cover them up. Thanks!

**dbosman@msu.edu** · 06-11-2009, 03:29 AM

Light goes.
A spiral compact can't be made to direct all its light in one direction and heat rises. Some heat is good. It improves the ionization of the gases inside the tube. Too much heat shortens the useful life of the bulb. Try it with the existing vents. If it warms up on top, fine. If it never warms up, cover some of the vents. Warm but not hot will be your goal.

The 23 watt, 6500K bulb is perfect on my son's 5.5 gallon tank. Six species of plants thrive without over growing.

aschaal03 · 06-11-2009, 07:13 AM

Alright, will do what you suggest. Thanks for the info.

Luichenwai · 06-11-2009, 02:19 PM

So from what the OP said for the materials... Thats all I need right? no other little thing or anything like that yeah?

I have the tools...

So I just need the bulbs
outdoor bulb sockets
1.5" pvc tube brackets
aluminum foil

and thats it correct?

Thanks!

aschaal03 · 06-11-2009, 06:14 PM

And some wire nuts. He/She didn't include those in the post.

Luichenwai · 06-11-2009, 06:51 PM

So I just tried doing this during my lunch break... I noticed that the wires are not long enough if I position the sockets/brackets into the original holes...

I guess I can get longer wire from home depot and extend the wires and wrap them with electrical tape... Anyone have this problem?

I'm doing it inside a 20 gal long fixture... I wired everything up and it works.. but just doesn't fit properly in the stock holes...

Also. I bought different CFLs... they are daylights.. 14watts(60watt equal).. 5500K and it doesn't make the tank brighter.. I still have to line the housing with foil first..

Where can I get the 26W CFLs?? Home Depot did not have them.

aschaal03 · 06-11-2009, 11:12 PM

The Home Depot near me had the 27W Daylight CFL's. They say 100W with 27W equivalent. Blue packaging.

Wasserpest · 06-12-2009, 12:21 AM

Check Walmart or Lowes or hardware stores. Alu foil is a really bad choice when it comes to reflectors by the way.

Luichenwai · 06-12-2009, 12:22 AM

Well I just picked up the lights from Lowes.. and finished up with the aluminum foil.. wow the tank is bright....

I know it might not be the best reflector but I just have Java Fern and moss in the the shrimp tank...

Thanks all!

aschaal03 · 06-12-2009, 03:51 AM

I bought this and painted the inside with it
http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...atalogId=10051

Will that be good enough?

CardBoardBoxProcessor · 06-12-2009, 10:05 PM

I did that once. It works pretty well. But real fluorescent bulbs ended up being better. but more Watts. 48" T8s.

03-31-2009, 12:13 PM	#32 (permalink)
gmccreedy Likes the Kool-Aid (View User Tanks) PTrader: (64/100%) Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 3,893	Here is the money shot. And Home Depot and Lowes both carry these. __________________ ~Glenn

06-11-2009, 02:19 PM	#38 (permalink)
Luichenwai Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: May 2006 Location: VA/DC/MD Posts: 440	So from what the OP said for the materials... Thats all I need right? no other little thing or anything like that yeah? I have the tools... So I just need the bulbs outdoor bulb sockets 1.5" pvc tube brackets aluminum foil and thats it correct? Thanks! __________________ *20gal Long CRS Farm

06-11-2009, 06:51 PM	#40 (permalink)
Luichenwai Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: May 2006 Location: VA/DC/MD Posts: 440	So I just tried doing this during my lunch break... I noticed that the wires are not long enough if I position the sockets/brackets into the original holes... I guess I can get longer wire from home depot and extend the wires and wrap them with electrical tape... Anyone have this problem? I'm doing it inside a 20 gal long fixture... I wired everything up and it works.. but just doesn't fit properly in the stock holes... Also. I bought different CFLs... they are daylights.. 14watts(60watt equal).. 5500K and it doesn't make the tank brighter.. I still have to line the housing with foil first.. Where can I get the 26W CFLs?? Home Depot did not have them. __________________ *20gal Long CRS Farm

06-12-2009, 12:21 AM	#42 (permalink)
Wasserpest Born to be mild (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 10,578	Check Walmart or Lowes or hardware stores. Alu foil is a really bad choice when it comes to reflectors by the way. __________________ All my tanks Cheap Autodosing Cheap Water Change Cheap Filter Acrylic Filter Pipes The Wasser-Controller

06-12-2009, 12:22 AM	#43 (permalink)
Luichenwai Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: May 2006 Location: VA/DC/MD Posts: 440	Well I just picked up the lights from Lowes.. and finished up with the aluminum foil.. wow the tank is bright.... I know it might not be the best reflector but I just have Java Fern and moss in the the shrimp tank... Thanks all! __________________ *20gal Long CRS Farm

03-31-2009, 05:08 AM	#31 (permalink)
asil Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: avondale AZ Posts: 69	Sorry no link from me. i know you can get 23 watt bulbs from lowes. Thats the highest I saw there last week that would fit in my crappy plastic tank cover. Maybe HD?

04-06-2009, 03:22 AM	#34 (permalink)
mr. clown loach Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston texas Posts: 1	how do you rewire the lights to work

06-10-2009, 09:15 PM	#35 (permalink)
aschaal03 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Plainfield(Chicago), IL Posts: 326	Sorry to drudge up a semi-old thread, but I'm going to use your idea tomorrow and put together a light fixture with an existing hood. Does this setup not need any ventilation? The hood I'm using has small vents in the top, I'm wondering if these will let out much light or if I should cover them up. Thanks!

06-11-2009, 03:29 AM	#36 (permalink)
dbosman@msu.edu Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: East Lansing, MI, USA Posts: 600	Light goes. A spiral compact can't be made to direct all its light in one direction and heat rises. Some heat is good. It improves the ionization of the gases inside the tube. Too much heat shortens the useful life of the bulb. Try it with the existing vents. If it warms up on top, fine. If it never warms up, cover some of the vents. Warm but not hot will be your goal. The 23 watt, 6500K bulb is perfect on my son's 5.5 gallon tank. Six species of plants thrive without over growing.

06-11-2009, 07:13 AM	#37 (permalink)
aschaal03 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Plainfield(Chicago), IL Posts: 326	Alright, will do what you suggest. Thanks for the info.

06-11-2009, 06:14 PM	#39 (permalink)
aschaal03 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Plainfield(Chicago), IL Posts: 326	And some wire nuts. He/She didn't include those in the post.

06-11-2009, 11:12 PM	#41 (permalink)
aschaal03 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Plainfield(Chicago), IL Posts: 326	The Home Depot near me had the 27W Daylight CFL's. They say 100W with 27W equivalent. Blue packaging.

06-12-2009, 03:51 AM	#44 (permalink)
aschaal03 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Plainfield(Chicago), IL Posts: 326	I bought this and painted the inside with it http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...atalogId=10051 Will that be good enough?

06-12-2009, 10:05 PM	#45 (permalink)
CardBoardBoxProcessor Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 951	I did that once. It works pretty well. But real fluorescent bulbs ended up being better. but more Watts. 48" T8s.

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