DIY Hoods

cich · 02-11-2004, 11:10 PM

I'm currently doing a 2nd DIY hood setup, in which I am cramming 2 t12's into one of those standard lighting hoods made for 1 t12.... Once completed, I can't directly see too much relector surface at all when the tubes are in, but it will of course reflect light back onto the tubes if not. Is this... OK, or is it a really bad idea to do this. I know idealy it would be best to give space, but 4-6 tubes over a 33gal long is a tight squeeze hehehe.... Thanks for any input,

--cich

Wasserpest · 02-11-2004, 11:34 PM

I think it's a really bad idea :lol:

I think you would be better off to have one lamp with an excellent reflector, which directs most of the light down into your tank, than two bulbs without reflector...

But that's just me, trying to save some electricity :mrgreen:

cich · 02-11-2004, 11:40 PM

ok I'll try to do something about it....
not sure what though :cry:
--cich

Wasserpest · 02-11-2004, 11:59 PM

Well, six tubes over a 12" (?) deep tank is ... interesting.

If you want that much light, how about a few 55W PC kits?

loachman · 02-12-2004, 12:27 AM

what would you suggest as an adequate reflector... is white paint enough?

Wasserpest · 02-12-2004, 12:41 AM

A white painted hood is better than one that is say, wood color. A dedicated reflector shape will be better than a flat back. An optimized highly reflective material will be best.

Using a good reflector, compared to no reflector, can easily triple the amount of light that goes into the tank.

loachman · 02-12-2004, 12:43 AM

yeah I overdrove my lights 2 X and I noticed that the light isn't really getting down to the bottom very well, but the plants love it.... I will paint the hood white this weekend and see if it's any better....

p.s. I apologize about the hijacking

cich · 02-12-2004, 12:44 AM

I do plan to get a PC kit(s) as soon as I have the money. But for now I'm screwing around making junk, heh.

--cich

cich · 02-12-2004, 01:53 AM

WELL.... after about 5 hours of jimmy-ing around, my tank has gone from 2wpg to about 1.3wpg... it will be a while to get that fixture back up and going. There is mercury and phosphur(?) all over my room from a broken tube. Yes, I threw something as to say "**** it!" but it deflected off my desk, straight into a tube.....

Wondering if plants are really worth it for a moron like me...

--cich

02-11-2004, 11:34 PM	#2
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	I think it's a really bad idea :lol: I think you would be better off to have one lamp with an excellent reflector, which directs most of the light down into your tank, than two bulbs without reflector... But that's just me, trying to save some electricity :mrgreen: __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

02-11-2004, 11:59 PM	#4
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	Well, six tubes over a 12" (?) deep tank is ... interesting. If you want that much light, how about a few 55W PC kits? __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

02-12-2004, 12:41 AM	#6
Wasserpest Are these real? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (140/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 14,643	A white painted hood is better than one that is say, wood color. A dedicated reflector shape will be better than a flat back. An optimized highly reflective material will be best. Using a good reflector, compared to no reflector, can easily triple the amount of light that goes into the tank. __________________ All my tanks Autodosing Water Change Temperature Monitoring Cheap Filter The Wasser-Controller

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02-11-2004, 11:10 PM	#1
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	I'm currently doing a 2nd DIY hood setup, in which I am cramming 2 t12's into one of those standard lighting hoods made for 1 t12.... Once completed, I can't directly see too much relector surface at all when the tubes are in, but it will of course reflect light back onto the tubes if not. Is this... OK, or is it a really bad idea to do this. I know idealy it would be best to give space, but 4-6 tubes over a 33gal long is a tight squeeze hehehe.... Thanks for any input, --cich

02-11-2004, 11:40 PM	#3
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	ok I'll try to do something about it.... not sure what though :cry: --cich

02-12-2004, 12:27 AM	#5
loachman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 90	what would you suggest as an adequate reflector... is white paint enough?

02-12-2004, 12:43 AM	#7
loachman Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 90	yeah I overdrove my lights 2 X and I noticed that the light isn't really getting down to the bottom very well, but the plants love it.... I will paint the hood white this weekend and see if it's any better.... p.s. I apologize about the hijacking

02-12-2004, 12:44 AM	#8
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	I do plan to get a PC kit(s) as soon as I have the money. But for now I'm screwing around making junk, heh. --cich

02-12-2004, 01:53 AM	#9
cich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 1,062	WELL.... after about 5 hours of jimmy-ing around, my tank has gone from 2wpg to about 1.3wpg... it will be a while to get that fixture back up and going. There is mercury and phosphur(?) all over my room from a broken tube. Yes, I threw something as to say "**** it!" but it deflected off my desk, straight into a tube..... Wondering if plants are really worth it for a moron like me... --cich