Anyone have experience making their own lighting for a saltwater tank? I'm thinking about making a canopy for my 20 long and putting about 3 or 4 of the screw in medal halogen bulbs in there from like menards or lowes. I figure I could easily get a couple hundred watts under there doing that. Then I want to add sometype of blue light in the front for the night. Think this will work?
DIY lighting
- Thread starter born2lovefish
- Start date
Lighting DIY:
http://www.box.net/public/go8k05voy4
RSS FEED:http://www.box.net/public/go8k05voy4/rss.xml
Stands and Canopies DIY
http://www.box.net/public/sxeo3y28fs
RSS FEED:http://www.box.net/public/a8ti1ub1h8/rss.xml
these are from the compilation list of DIY plans stickied at the top of the DIY Main forum.
http://www.box.net/public/go8k05voy4
RSS FEED:http://www.box.net/public/go8k05voy4/rss.xml
Stands and Canopies DIY
http://www.box.net/public/sxeo3y28fs
RSS FEED:http://www.box.net/public/a8ti1ub1h8/rss.xml
these are from the compilation list of DIY plans stickied at the top of the DIY Main forum.
born2lovefish;472578; said:
You kinda made up your own bulb technology there ;-)
If your talking halogen http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=126624-371-11856&lpage=none ?
you could also use:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=148819-371-23253&lpage=none
or:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=89375-371-30638&lpage=none
The last 2 have built in reflector for maximum light.
there are other simular one available.
Metal halide:
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=66358-337-AL70MH
Uses a ballast transformer to start it. In this case one for each light.
All of there generate tremendous amounts of heat so you may need a fan. Get a computer grade one for continuous duty and low noise.
Have a glass cover that can take the heat without shattering when the fish splash it.
Are you raising live rock?
Dr Joe
.
Thanks, that helps a lot! I was thinking about live rock, but since I will be on a college budget next year, I think I am only going to go with a few pounds in the refugium. I was also thinking about buying a protein skimmer. I found a real small one for tanks up to 30 gallon, but I am not sure if I really need it. What do you think?
born2lovefish;473707; said:
Make the protein skimmer...several plans out there...doesn't take much,
born2lovefish;473736; said:
In a word...EBAY ... series / parallel them to balance them with the psu you have...power them with a wall-wart transformer, maybe a cell phone one.
Sweet thanks. I have two old cell phone chargers, I might give one a try. I really am starting to wonder if I need "moon" lights, but I might install them just incase I end up needing them.