14 replies to this topic

[dbolxo]

Whats the best way to go about getting a hood for a plain glass aquarium and lighting fixtures, and by best i mean cheap but effective,

 

Is it better to get a wooden hood made with light fixtures attached that i can buy tubes for or to buy seperate lighting fixtures and just place them on top of the tank under the hood.

 

It is for a 6 foot and i want atleast 3 tubes with atleast 2 running of the same cord and one seperate.

[Angelo]

The hood I currently have for my 3ft has a shelf so the light unit can slide onto it without touching the aquarium. I think most hoods are made this way but not 100% sure. Talk to your lsf ad most of them can have it custom built.

Edited by Angelo, 30 May 2013 - 12:23 AM.

[dbolxo]

cheers mate will do

[Westie]

you can rest lights on top of the tank, just don't do that with high output t5's or metal halides

[Zabick]

Make sure if you rest them on the tank that you dont have plastic lids... the lids will buckle/bow 

[Bowdy]

Or just attach the light unit to the inside top of the hood. It's off the glass and fixed in place. In saying that I have 6x 2 foot HO T5 siting on top on my tank. Haven't gotten around to attaching the lights.

[MrLeifBeaver]

Just about to get $200 worth of LED lights that I am planning to mount into my hood.

I will post you some details once I have it all setup.

 

I decided to not go tubes as power consumption is usaully very high and I wanted to reduce my power bill.

[werdna]

What LEDs and where did you get them?

[dbolxo]

That would be awesome thanks:)

[MrLeifBeaver]

Werdna:

 

I found a gentleman on Ebay from Aussie Tasmania and emailed him directly with my order http://www.ozledmall.com.au/.

Basically I bought 500mm Rigid Strip LED lights, transformers and all the cabling for $165 plus $30 postage.

 

I bought, 3x cool white (6500K), 2x warm white (3000K), 2x natural white (6000k), 2x blue LEDs to meet the full light spectrum. I will use the blue at night for moonlight too.

Each strip is 8.5watts, 12volt power source. A total of 76.5watts of LED lighting (probably a bit too much).

 

Let me build my setup and test it before you go on to do your own shopping.

Note: for the electrical consious people, this is a 'snap-together' LED lighting system.

 

    

[dbolxo]

what size tank was that all for? 200 not bad.

[MrLeifBeaver]

I have a 280L Triangle (Corner) tank. I setup all the lights in the hood. It looks awesome compared to my fluros I intially had.

 

I was worried that the lights wouldn't mix well and have weird colours all over the tank and not just a nice 'white', well I am glad to the say it looks fine.

Fish seem happy (not hiding cos it's too bright), they look amazing, photos are now easier to take too.

 

Photos coming... left the camera at home.

[dbolxo]

alright awesome, so it would cost close to 200 for a 6 foot? maybe abit more

[MrLeifBeaver]

Yeah I guess, when I get home I will do a forum post on my 'build'. I will start a new topic for it and then once it is up I will post on this topic and link to it so you can have a read.

[MrLeifBeaver]

Yo yo yo!

 

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