Plastic hood

Blight · 02-23-2004, 02:23 PM

Hello

I'm new to this forum, and although i haven't managed to read more posts, still, i can say this forum is great and really very useful

I saw that very many people make they're hoods of wood...

But has anybody tried to make it of some sort of plastic ? Like plexiglass or some other sort of plastic... ? If someone has done something like that...share your ideas please

Thanks :=]

Vinlo · 02-23-2004, 04:40 PM

People make hoods (more lights) out of plastic eavestroughs. Just turn them upside down and put put the bulbs in them. Maybe add some reflective mylar to the inside.

I can't seem to find a link at the moment..

malkore · 02-23-2004, 06:36 PM

and for those of you in the U.S....and eavestrough is a rain gutter...you can get them in vinyl for ease of use.

the problem with plex-glass is that it's soft... try using it as a clear canopy on the top of the tank, and within a month you'll visible see that it's bowed already. Even thick plexi will do this. You can try lucite...but that's expensive as all get out... $50 to make a clear top for a 20gallon long

Fat Guy · 02-23-2004, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malkore

and for those of you in the U.S....and eavestrough is a rain gutter...you can get them in vinyl for ease of use.

Those of us from the US know that it's two words, not one.
Eaves trough

arisk · 02-23-2004, 08:04 PM

I'm not sure if you mean a full hood covering the entire top or just a lamp housing.
I made a lamp housing with black plastic. If you search under my username for an ODNO thread I posted some pictures.

I found some quarter inch thick sheeting at a surplus store. New material was unreasonably expensive and if I didn't get the surplus plastic, it would have been wooden.

The plastic appears to be some sort of PVC. I wasn't sure initially and didn't know what kind of adhesive to use. I therefore used black machine screws and tapped each hole. It also makes access to the inside easier. I think self tapping screws would have worked OK also.
The material I used cut nicely on a table saw. I would think plexiglas would be too brittle. ABS might be a good choice.

I thought the matte finish of the plastic I found was attractive and of course it's waterproof. Properly finished wood likely would have worked well too.

Blight · 02-23-2004, 08:59 PM

thanks

Vinlo · 02-23-2004, 10:13 PM

I guess I will never get on that Celebrity Spelling Bee show. :shock:

malkore · 02-24-2004, 02:13 PM

no...those of us in the U.S. don't care because we call them rain gutters :P

Fat Guy · 02-24-2004, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vinlo

I guess I will never get on that Celebrity Spelling Bee show. :shock:

probabynaughttvinlo

R2thaSAR · 02-26-2004, 05:30 AM

rain gutter? would that go above the light? how do u go about making a light fixture thing for your tank? so many questions, so much confusion, so little money!!

02-23-2004, 06:36 PM	#3
malkore Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 2,165	and for those of you in the U.S....and eavestrough is a rain gutter...you can get them in vinyl for ease of use. the problem with plex-glass is that it's soft... try using it as a clear canopy on the top of the tank, and within a month you'll visible see that it's bowed already. Even thick plexi will do this. You can try lucite...but that's expensive as all get out... $50 to make a clear top for a 20gallon long __________________ Malkore Filstar XP2 PIMP #3 Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved

02-24-2004, 02:13 PM	#8
malkore Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 2,165	no...those of us in the U.S. don't care because we call them rain gutters :P __________________ Malkore Filstar XP2 PIMP #3 Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved

02-26-2004, 05:30 AM	#10
R2thaSAR Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Stone Mountain Posts: 82	rain gutter? would that go above the light? how do u go about making a light fixture thing for your tank? so many questions, so much confusion, so little money!! __________________ Jamaican Proverb: Rockstone a' rivah battam, it no know how sun hot. Meaning: A person who hasn't experienced something first-hand will not appreciate it fully.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need Help with water pump for ViaAqua hood filtration system?	m500	Equipment	0	08-13-2004 04:02 PM
Replacing an Eclipse hood	mosasaur	Equipment	3	08-09-2004 04:25 AM
55 Gal Flouresent hood Tell me what you think!	mitchell2345	Lighting	3	07-24-2004 07:13 PM
opinions on all glass triple tube hood	nightowl	Lighting	1	04-23-2004 04:06 PM
2.5 Gallon DIY Hood Mayhem	IUnknown	DIY	3	04-30-2003 09:06 PM

02-23-2004, 02:23 PM	#1
Blight Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lithuania Posts: 4	Hello I'm new to this forum, and although i haven't managed to read more posts, still, i can say this forum is great and really very useful I saw that very many people make they're hoods of wood... But has anybody tried to make it of some sort of plastic ? Like plexiglass or some other sort of plastic... ? If someone has done something like that...share your ideas please Thanks :=]

02-23-2004, 04:40 PM	#2
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 719	People make hoods (more lights) out of plastic eavestroughs. Just turn them upside down and put put the bulbs in them. Maybe add some reflective mylar to the inside. I can't seem to find a link at the moment..

02-23-2004, 08:04 PM	#5
arisk Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 89	I'm not sure if you mean a full hood covering the entire top or just a lamp housing. I made a lamp housing with black plastic. If you search under my username for an ODNO thread I posted some pictures. I found some quarter inch thick sheeting at a surplus store. New material was unreasonably expensive and if I didn't get the surplus plastic, it would have been wooden. The plastic appears to be some sort of PVC. I wasn't sure initially and didn't know what kind of adhesive to use. I therefore used black machine screws and tapped each hole. It also makes access to the inside easier. I think self tapping screws would have worked OK also. The material I used cut nicely on a table saw. I would think plexiglas would be too brittle. ABS might be a good choice. I thought the matte finish of the plastic I found was attractive and of course it's waterproof. Properly finished wood likely would have worked well too.

02-23-2004, 08:59 PM	#6
Blight Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lithuania Posts: 4	thanks

02-23-2004, 10:13 PM	#7
Vinlo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 719	I guess I will never get on that Celebrity Spelling Bee show. :shock: