DIY lightstrip

[fish_newbie]

im trying to make a lightstrip out of stuff that i can find around the house..hopefully itll turn out good ..will it be safe to make one out of cardboard? im kinna iffy about it cuz i dont know if it would catch on fire or something ..maybe im being a lil paranoid? ..i dunno.. well heres the plans ...think itll work?

[grimlock3000]

Do not use cardboard! Cardboard breaks down when it gets wet, and being above a fish tank is not the best place for something to be unless it can get wet.

[loganj]

I agree 100%. I would not recommend using cardboard at all. You could probably use high density fiberboard if you coated it with a good grade of polyurethane. Another option would be lauan board which is a thin plywood...about the thickness of paneling. I have made a couple of [acronym:6ab4d5568e="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:6ab4d5568e] fixtures using sheet aluminum and that seems to work well. Your plans look fine if you can substitute the material for something more durable.

[Mr Burns]

cardboard and foil. that's two strikes. i agree with loganj - the plans look good, but the materials must change. i mean, come on...cardboard? seriously? i hope you have good fire insurance. 1/4" plywood isn't expensive. if you're going to home depot for the lights anyways, spring the extra $6 for a 4x2 sheet of 1/4" birch or oak. also use mylar or white exterior paint instead of foil.