diy lighting for canopy

[apisto]

The hagen ballast kit doesn't have reflectors though, does it?

I would check and see if you can get 3 foot shop lights. 2 would work great, but if they only have 4 foot models it wouldn't work out.

No it doesn't but they are cheap to buy. A 3 foot shop light will put out less light. It contains T8 or T12 bulbs which give you a lot less light per watt. They also tend to come with diffusors arther than reflectors. You can also paint the inside of the hood white which will increase liught reflection even further. If you can get hold of an old shoplight you can just remodel a diffusor into a reflector. Shoplights also tend to come with magnetic starter units that use as much electricity as the bulbs themselves. T5 units are all electrical starters which only use a couple of watts.

There are LED units available now that are supposed to be OK for growing plants but they cost a small fortune. However, LED are prefectly adequate to shed some light on breeding and growing out tanks. I have been using them for soem years.

CLF bulbs are only glorified flourescent bulbs bent double. The starter unit is in the base. You won't save any energy as compared to t5s

 

[KaiserSousay]

T5 units are all electrical starters which only use a couple of watts.

Right you are..switched to a single tube T5 from a pair of 18" on a 55..just a low amount of replacement bulbs available now, except for mail-order.

 

[JakeH]

If the canopy is wood, staple a big string of white (or whatever color) LED x-mas lights in a spiral pattern under the canopy. Add a cheapo flourescent to the top & you've got a very dynamic light setup for cheap!

 

[apisto]

ordinary Christmas light LEDs have the wrong spectrum for plant growth and aren't strong enough to support plant growth. They also aren't great for showing up the natural colour of fish

 

[fish_master2000]

they have $10 48" double T5 fixtures at walmart. lowes, home depot

 

[snake_charmer]

ordinary Christmas light LEDs have the wrong spectrum for plant growth and aren't strong enough to support plant growth. They also aren't great for showing up the natural colour of fish

Again, the tank will be a fish only set up so no plant growth will be in the equation. I'm thinking about this led set up as it might be simple, cheap, and professional appearing. The only problem with the christmas light strips is that you would have led lighting running out behind the canopy and all the way to the outlet. Unless I were to purchase the led lighting that is not enclosed in the rope. Got any links to different led options.

 

[apisto]

have a look on ebay. Search for LED strips

 

[snake_charmer]

have a look on ebay. Search for LED strips

Like I said though, you would have christmas lights running out the top of the canopy and down to the outlet...sorta cheesy. However, I'm not sure if led's come in individual bulbs that could be removed so that it would just be the chord running out of the canopy and to the outlet.

 

[JakeH]

My LED suggestion was in addition to the flourescents. The flourescents can take care of main light, the spiral LED pattern would just bring a more dynamic light to it by day & look killer at night. They really produce some great effects underwater, but all the aquarium LED products I've seen are junk. I'm working on some ideas with an old lighting buddy of mine, but we aren't ready to show pics yet.

 

[apisto]

Like I said though, you would have christmas lights running out the top of the canopy and down to the outlet...sorta cheesy. However, I'm not sure if led's come in individual bulbs that could be removed so that it would just be the chord running out of the canopy and to the outlet.

I was referring to something like this http://cgi.ebay.com/bright-white-5M...in_0?hash=item19b56cfc9b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Only one cable coming from the hood. You'll need a 12V transformer as well.
You can get single LEDs as well but I have no idea how you would water proof them. It's a bit messy as well because you will need to solder a resistor onto each LED