Simple *CHEAP* DIY Lights

nothing special here, just got tired of the weak single tube my hood came with.... I took a trip to home depot, picked up 4 ceramic twist outlets about $10, a roll of aluminum tape $4, and 4 "daylight" 27watt 5500k bulbs $9 for the 4pack.... only $25 after tax!!! its simple and straight forward if you have any electrical know how.... had a 30" hood, ripped reflector and ballast out, taped it up, and wired in all 4 fittings.....

notice I left the vents completely open!!! these get hotter than the tubes but don't alter my tank temp! any more than 4 I would put a fan in!





this is just to get me by for now..... after my stand is built and my planted set up is successfully transplanted to my 55gal, I will be making a DIY square pin CFL setup pushing 260watts with dawn\dusk and lunar lights and timing, still not set in stone but I'm researching and looking into how much I can save????

 

Nice work. I'm into that type of upgrade myself. Just using ultra bright white spray paint instead of the aluminum foil. I'm trying 5,000; 6,400 and 6,500K lights.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

 

looks familiar lol. how did you mount your light fixtures? the fixtures I use have a metal bracket that I lined up with the old reflector mounting posts

 

looks familiar lol. how did you mount your light fixtures? the fixtures I use have a metal bracket that I lined up with the old reflector mounting posts

I bought the sockets that are made for lamp replacements, they have a little metal loop for a washer and bolt to go through, I just bent them and screwed through the back of the hood, then cut the screw off that stuck out of the back... crude! lol

 

ah, ok. I was going to do it the same way, but I wanted to keep the factory look. is this a different hood, I thought you melted one?

 

ah, ok. I was going to do it the same way, but I wanted to keep the factory look. is this a different hood, I thought you melted one?

ha no, I ment the tape was melted to the hood so I couldnt even pull it off

 

ahh, gotcha