tukituki Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 We have 3 tanks set up at the moment, our largest has great T5 lighting, a med-large tank that has a built in light (which we use for breeding, the light itself is pretty poor), and a fairly small tank which is also used for breeding that has an aqua one tube on it (works fine even though its a bit too long). The problem is the built in light on our med tank has stopped working. We've tried replacing the bulb and it still won't go. I was hoping for some advice on building a new light for this tank ourselves as we're a bit broke at the moment! Has anyone got any ideas? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 One of these And one of these Can even grow plants under it, whole thing should cost you under $20. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottie841 Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 Or if you want T5 bulbs: http://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/lighting_ ... &orderby=1 http://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/lighting_ ... &orderby=1 If you get one of these + plank of wood + switch + extention cord you can have a 4 foot light hood for well under $100 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 thanks. i like the buget of $20 a bit more than about $100, with time the lights could be upgraded to T5's, they make such a difference. the med tank could have the aqua one light, there are bristlenoses breeding in there. the small tank could have the mitre 10 light. its going to be used to breed fighters. theres just a few guppies cycling it at the moment. do you think it would be good enough lighting for the fighters? cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 theres just a few guppies cycling it at the moment. do you think it would be good enough lighting for the fighters? cheers. Why cycle a breeding tank? Heavy feeding and water changes are usually the norm. Fish don't need lights to survive, lights are really just for aesthetics and plants. I have one of those 23w 6500k energy savers over my fighter fry tank, can see them just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 If the lights are just to see, why not use an eco bulb on a long lead and cover it with a bit off plastic offcut from guttering. You can get bits of it free from building sites or guttering installers. You can buy end caps if you want it to be fancy but will have to cut a small gap in one for the cord to go through Here is a fancy version... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 i like the guttering idea. there is loads of random old stuff in our sheds the previous owners left behind, i'll look and see if i can find something suitable. where do you get the light fittings from though? the small (breeding) tank is newly set up and is going to be used for my fighters. i always cycle newly set up tanks with guppies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 Light wholesale places like Cory's or mastertrade etc. Probably have them at Mitre 10, Placemakers and such too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tukituki Posted January 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 Thanks Caryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 I strongly recommend you get it wired up by some one qualified, water and electricity don't mix. IF you don't have one already I also strongly recommend you put an RCD on the circuit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 we have created a sticky at the top of this section concerning electrical work you are allowed by law to do in your home please go here viewtopic.php?f=28&t=43808 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smidey Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 ah spouting, it has many different uses. when i was a teenager we used it for side skirts on our cars. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 If the lights are just to see, why not use an eco bulb on a long lead and cover it with a bit off plastic offcut from guttering. You can get bits of it free from building sites or guttering installers. You can buy end caps if you want it to be fancy but will have to cut a small gap in one for the cord to go through Here is a fancy version... Awesome idea! economical and cheap! Would this work in series? for example 3 or 4 eco bulbs off a single power supply? and whats the output/plant growth like with these bulbs? Cheers LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 If you don't know the answer to that question you shouldn't be considering wiring up your own lights. Please ask some one who knows what they are doing to do it for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiwiplymouth Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 The problem is the built in light on our med tank has stopped working. We've tried replacing the bulb and it still won't go. Has anyone got any ideas? Thanks. I am assuming that's it's a fluoro tube ? If so, you probably only need to replace the starter which will cost you the huge sum of about $3 at your local hardware store. This is what they look like http://www.newark.com/ge/155-800/starte ... p/08WX5936 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 you shouldn't be considering wiring up your own lights. Who said i was? Please ask some one who knows what they are doing to do it for you. Good advice, lucky my sparky mates already agreed to do it. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 Who said i was? You? Would this work in series? for example 3 or 4 eco bulbs off a single power supply? Or are you getting someone else to do it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 You? Or are you getting someone else to do it? Lol, are you joking or what? I asked a question, Re: the post above, yes someone else would do it. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 Re: the post above, yes someone else would do it. Didn't read the sparky bit :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 No Harm Done Would still like to know what the output/ plant growth is like with these? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 If by these you mean 6500k 23w energy savers then I can comment positively on them. I grew this under one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 No Harm Done Would still like to know what the output/ plant growth is like with these? Cheers what plants do you need to grow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 If by these you mean 6500k 23w energy savers then I can comment positively on them. I grew this under one. Im impressed! Hoping it'd be enough for glosso? I've never been able to keep hairgrass alive, so im guessing if that light can do that, easier plants like ambulia, cobomba (sp?), star grass, crypts, valis and sag would do fine? I Just love heavily planted tanks. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 Im impressed! :oops: Aww thanks. I have grown glosso in 30cm of water but it got covered it algae. I really want to try a dense hairgrass carpet again but the tank is being used for fry. If you look on some overseas forums, namely plantedtank.net's nano section you'll see this is what they use. That hairgrass tank waas ignored, just a couple of JBL fert balls at the start, play sand, that light and no CO2. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livebearer_breeder Posted March 19, 2010 Report Share Posted March 19, 2010 yeah a couple years back i got a big tub of glosso off trademe only to discover it was ridden with little creatures that infected and multiplyed in the tank, so out that went. I've seen it in local creeks here but am abit worried that it would be the same deal all over again. With the glosso could you have used a product like algae clear? I used to lightly dose that occasionally in a heavily planted tank and it would destroy any algae bloom and didnt seem to harm the plants. Also if anyone lives near lake waikaremoana, i was there last year over new years and got fist fulls of Christmas moss and ambulia! theres also some really cool little freshwater fish that look like gobbys, with many colour variations, anyone know what they are? Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.