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Hi everyone,

I'm planning on building a hood for my 55 gal tank. I plan on going with flourescent lighting due to the cost of other lights (metal hallide and such). Being a college student I don't have too much money to spend, so I want to find a way to get the best lighting possible for very little money.

I was thinking of fitting 4 flourescent tubes within the hood. But while doing some research I came across something called compact flourescents, has anyone tried this?

If you have built your own flourescent lighting, any information that you could provide would be great.

Hi,
Yes, pass on the MH lights, way too much heat and they
need to be replaced too frequently.

A four tube standard flourscent top would give you nearly
3wpg. You don't say what you are going to put in the tank.
Is it to be a well planted tank? Nor, do you say where you
live (country).

If you are going to plant the tank with a huge variety of
plants that range from low to high demand plants then the
Compact Flourscents are THE way to go for the least $$.
You can purchase or buld a top that will hold two to four
of the 22 inch ones at 65 watts each.

Or, you can simply go to Home Depot or any of the other
large hardware stores and simply purchase a two tube
shop light and use DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT bulbs in it.
You may find three and four tube shop lights too.
A two tube strip would give you slightly over 1wpg and
be generally good for low light demand plants.

The shop lights are far far less expensive than even
building your own. Simply have a piece of glass cut for
a cover and set the shop light on top of the glass.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well for starters, I do intend on planting the tank. I also live in the US.

I've tried the regular shop light. I had it for a few years, and it finally died (not the bulbs). Also I really don't like the appearance of the light sitting on the tank, not to mention its a little inconvient. That's the reason why I building a custom hood.

What kind of fixtures do the compact flourescents use, and where would i find them.

A compact fluorescent retrofit kit is probably what your looking for. Hellolights.com is usually where I get directed to with such questions. The problem with power compacts(pc) is that they produce more heat than regular fluorescents. Less than metal halide but for the amount you need on a 55g it's enough to need a fan or 2. I bought both my pc strips off ebay but I don't think you can put one into a canopy. It will produce too much heat. If you get a retrofit kit you can fit fans where you need them and it will end up being less enclosed than having a premade fixture encased by a canopy. That will allow the heat to spread through the room not into your tank and not around the lights which will last longer if kept cool.

Last edited by sham at 18-Jul-2005 00:37

OK I'm going to suggest to you what Tanker told me to get for my tanks, and what he uses for his tanks...

I went to Home Depot (any similar store should have it) and got a shop light. The one you are looking for has "wings" that will expand and will become the legs your lighting will stand on, and will reflect the light back into the tank...the light is 48 inches and should be the perfect fit for a 55 gallon

Then go to where they keep the light bulbs, and get the long flourescent (I think that is what they are) tube lights, and get the one that says great for plants and aquariums, you'll need 2 of these for the light fixture you just picked up...The ones here are in green and white packaging if that helps in finding them

Your grand total will be: (here in pasadena it was)
Light fixture $24.99
2 bulbs @ $7.99 $15.98
Total before tax will be just under $40.00 US

Hope that helps you, it's what I've done, now if it will quit raining long enough for me to take them home in my truckheidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Now, here's my suggestion. Been there done that in my 55g. Wonderfully efficient, lightweight and simple as hell.

FIRST OF ALL, GET THE FLOURESCENT TUBES 42", I've got Aqua-glo's of your kind (for plants i think)

BUY:

1) ONE Aluminum canopy with one-sided mirror reflective, 42" long, perfect for your 55g. Cheap, reflects wonderful the light and its light in terms of weight.

2) ELECTRONIC Ballasts, ask the ones for your flourescent tubes. Choose one option:
-Two ballasts that support two tubes each
-Or Four ballasts that support one tube

3) Ask in the store for the appropiate fittings for your tubes, and tell them you want to fix those in the canopy directly. They will give you some plastic clips for the tubes.

4) One male electric plug, the necesary length of wire (2x16 gauge or 2x18 gauge. Any would do. the 16 is a little thicker but for the amount of current you'll use, doesn't matter.

5) INSULATION in the connections: choose one
-Soldering iron and Termofit (this one is explained later)
-push-connectors (those you fit the cable inside and push with electrical pliers, instead of using electrip insulation tape)
-Using Thermofit. Its a black little tube. With the cable ends apart, you slip a piece of tube thru one cable, make the connection by twisting both bare ends and slide the tube over the connection. Just apply fire with a lighter and it contracts to fit the cable, covering the bare wire. Easy!

You can make holes in the aluminum canopy easily even with a small screwdriver. And some electronic ballasts usually have their connectors just to plug the tubes in their sides.

**** PHOTO ***** The hood is on top.. its very slim!


Its easy and economic while very energy efficient. Check the photos and you might even not notice the hood.
THE TANK HAS TO BE GLASS COVERED and you sit this fixture over the glass.

You may find 42" bulbs a bit hard to come by, if you are handy with wood you can build yourself a nice counter balanced hinged hood with enclosed light fixtures. 2 hard mounted to the stationary part of the hood and 2 mounted to the hinged portion of the hood. Of course should you decide to go this route you may want to take the time to build a matching stand for the tank as it will look awkward without it. Something else to consider is that in diy lighting the ballast can be a problem, where to put it, how to keep it dry, how to vent it. In a true hood rather than a light cannopy, I would place the ballast between the 2 sets of strips, towards the center of the tank, basically over the lid hinge. Mount these to the fixed portion of the hood and be sure to ventilate these well, either by drilling holes in the top of the hood or even with cheap computer fans. By placing the ballast over the hinge you are ensureing that you dont get splash from filters or airstones on the ballast. I learned this lesson the hard way when I had to enclose my ballast in plexi after mounting them on the back side of my hood.