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Do i need to know what i'm doing? LOL I suppose I mean to say how much would I need to know about light fittings before attempting this?

I'm good with a manual, but i'm a little nervy about doing this from scratch.

Are there ant tutorials that could give me a good idea of what i'd need to do to fit it all in the hood?


I'll find something more technical on the basics elsewhere.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

About the LED part.... Are you looking at buying your own led's and putting them in your light fixture? I did this with one of my tanks. If this is what you are thinking of doing I might be able to help you out a bit. My friend did most of the work but I had a bit of a clue what he was doing.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

thats what i'm planning on doing

the fitting itself is behind perspex and should be fairly well protected (i can always silicone it in if it proves not to be)

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Here are a few pictures of what I did. I used a really stiff wire (bulk ethernet wire striped down to just the individual wires)so I just point them were ever I want them to shine. The LED's that I used are pretty dirct shining so most of them I have shining up into my fixture.

Have you ever played with LED lights before?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

not directly, only when they are mounted on other devices, which doesn't really count at all

is soldering required?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Yea, you generally want to solder LED's in.

Soldering is really easy tho, if ya got the stuff to do it. If you don't have the stuff to do it, buy yerself a 'lil soldering iron and some solder (be sure it has the flux inside it... never really done much solder shopping, but as far as I know, electrical solder should have flux inside of it anyway, but be sure it does). I use mine all the time in my computers (case mods, electrical mods, etc), an' on all sorts of little projects. IME, soldering irons are best... soldering guns suck

How do you plan to rig up yer CF's? You using PC's or CF (screw in or pins)?

BTW, LED's need a 3-5vdc current... so you should be able to find an adapter or transformer rather easy (look in junk drawers for old power adapeters from junk ya don't use anymore, or rummage thru the electronics bin at a thrift store)

I'm not even going to bother trying to retrofit moonlights and PC's... too much of a fire hazard, imo. My parents won't let me do any DIY electronics on the tanks anyway, they fear that I'll burn down the house So I'm just going to buy a fixture that has it all

I'm either going to buy the 30" Coralife Lunar Aqualight]http://www.hellolights.com/co30luaq.html[/link], or the [link=Odyssea CF+MH system Whatever fixture I get will be going on my 29 planted tank, so I'll definately have to switch out the bulbs for something non-saltie

Have fun

Last edited by PoisonWaffle at 17-Nov-2005 19:41

right, I've found an option. Its an 11W 50:50 white/actinic tube.

Not exactly more wattage, but it does mean that at least the colours are better, and I don't need to tear apart the hood.


I'll still put in the LEDs I think, and then silicone the splashcover on to stop the salt getting in, but I might give the CF upgrade a miss for now.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett