sandysme Posted October 17, 2008 Report Share Posted October 17, 2008 something basic, I do alot of DIY in the house and thought I might try out making a light hood for my tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I'm building one at the moment - not a full lid for the tank, but just a box for the light to live in. What sort of light hood are you talking about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandysme Posted October 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 Yeah thats what im talking about, Im not sure whether to try a full lid type thing or just a box type thing, I have a lamp sitting on there at the moment but it doesnt direct the light down into the tank, was thinking I could pull the lamp apart and put it in a wooden casing of some sort, have looked at past threads on here but they are so old that the pictures are gone now. Any ideas and pictures would be great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 I'm just going to get some metal bent into a reflector - I have access to cheap metal so it makes it about 1/2 the price of a shop brought light. Don't have any pics though sorry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 heres some links that might help Its not too hard just depends on what finish you want on it.. http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_canopy2.php http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_canopy.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandysme Posted October 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 they look great.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted October 18, 2008 Report Share Posted October 18, 2008 line plastic guttering with foil or use metal guttering Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 the marley spouting with some metallized mylar in the back of it is the best bang for the buck. You can use foil but it will go dull and need replacing more often then mylar in my experiences. You can put the whole T8 fitting in if its a single, or if a twin then cut notches so that just the tube holers are inside and the batten is along the top (flat part) of the spouting. I gave the ones I made away so cant get pics easily but its pretty straight forward if you have the batten fixture and the spouting infront of you to see how they can go together. As usual if you dont know what your doing with the wiring then ask a mate who does or a sparky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 I wonder..... if you used those small craft mirrors dotted along the spouting.... might it give a dappled effect? My kokopu tank is based on a forest stream so the lighting is a little on the low side, but a bit of dappled light coming through the canopy could be interesting.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 perhaps sometime in nov or december - fish people from in and around palmy can meet up and have a "make your own stand / tank lid" workshop? I have a 4 ft tank and would be keen on making a cheap wooden lid for it too; and if there is someone here who knows exactly how we could all get together and have a workshop or something? just a thought.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 and/or just meet for the hell of it! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 seconded.... lol :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deno Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 thirded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 fourthded, preferably before November 15th Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandysme Posted October 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 fifed :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 fourthded, preferably before November 15th before? nOoooooooooooooooo!! after - exams before that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 May be keen if not working. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted October 19, 2008 Report Share Posted October 19, 2008 before? nOoooooooooooooooo!! after - exams before that! I start work in Wairoa on the 20th, so if I am to come it would need to be before then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edczuch Posted October 22, 2008 Report Share Posted October 22, 2008 perhaps sometime in nov or december - fish people from in and around palmy can meet up and have a "make your own stand / tank lid" workshop? I have a 4 ft tank and would be keen on making a cheap wooden lid for it too; and if there is someone here who knows exactly how we could all get together and have a workshop or something? just a thought.... What I have used for cheap covers and lighting are 4' Flourescent - 2 tube fixtures from your local building supply. Use the ones that are used for drop ceilings, they are 4' long, I have even added 2 extra tubes and a ballast to make them even brighter. These fixtures are usually painted white by the supplier, I purchase a can of flat black spray paint and paint the outside cover black. You can even cut out the back of the fixture if you have a filter that hangs on the back of your tank or for what ever you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaide Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Mine is a DIY job - it's a halogen hood light - the type that line the ceiling. It has an eheim attachment to it and am not sure what that's for - will find out soon though I hope. The light bulb is pink too which doesn't make it so bright in the tank, I like that but not sure if that's the ideal colour for the plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 When I was in bunnings last I noticed they have a white reflector spray paint (reflects at night like cat's eyes). Would that be awesome to coat the inside of the light fitting or hood with, or doesn't it really work like that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 no, that would reflect back to the tube which wont help you much with getting the light into the tank. Plain gloss white is the best if not highly polished metal, and white is easier to keep clean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 not sure about that product aye.. but normally those paints only reflect when light hits the paint at a certainly angle. Or more importantly it depends on where you look at it from... the shiny side of tin foil is great for a cheap way to reflect more light... but cheap warehouse mirrors (12bucks) are awesome if you have a tank that is big enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 For reflection of light,I used this stuff. http://sog.open24x7.biz/catalog/product ... c2a948ee5f Got 3metres for $29.00, works out cheap for the small amount needed. I got heaps left over for future use. Cheapest option in my opinion, considering the price of paint etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richms Posted October 27, 2008 Report Share Posted October 27, 2008 And ease of replacement when it gets dirty, since its so cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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