lighting DIY ideas?

[JPKeenan]

The lights and power rating of the light that comes with a hood generally tends to be... mild.

I am drawing on ideas I saw from the web and wonder if anyone with more skills in electricity can help out.

I'd like to get a length of vinyl gutter from a Box Store, end caps, and cut the gutter to the regular length (for a 20g and a 30g tank). So it is basically sealed like a gutter/hood.

I can't seem to find double ballast for the 15'' T8 bulbs. Is there a way to piggy back a second one? A way to piggy back the extra wires for the new tubes? Basically want to fit 2 bulbs in a single housing.

I know about gutters, I know about carpentry and some masonry work. But I do not like messing with electricity. I can replace a light or plug socket and install a ceiling fan but messing with something like making a lighting unit scares me .

 

[InfernoST]

JPK, here is a link to 2 tube T8 ballast that should do the trick BallastWise - E-Ballast DXE2H8U. You should be able to find T8 end caps pretty easy, try Google or some of the online vendors under lighting parts/DIY. T5 stuff is easier to get maybe that could be another option.

 

[thincat]

Google under T-8 sockets.. http://www.goodmart.com/products/lamp_holder.htm

 

[JPKeenan]

I haven't looked hard enough at the T5 stuff, I will take it that there are "daylight" bulbs for them?

After seeing that the average price for low end two tube system is $55 I want to price out what it would be to make one.

 

[thincat]

They run (for AQ's) from 6700k - 20000k. There may even be lower k bulbs around too, They call the daylight bulbs "full spectrum bulbs".

 

[JPKeenan]

get a lot of different names for them around here... I do need to look into a cheaper solution than $50 a pop.

 

[melosu58]

If you were interested in VHO retro fit kit that is what I have if you look at the picture you can see I have 4 bulbs with endcaps. They are wired to two ballast and a switch. I also have a reflective hood so I can capture all the lights. I use URI bulbs that have an internal reflector.

 

[JPKeenan]

wow! nice set up... jealous, and afraid to go to salt water yet.

I'm just looking at a fresh water set up with some low light plants, try to get close to the 2W/Gal rule.

 

[melosu58]

My bad I thought you were wanting to go salt, sorry.

 

[JPKeenan]

no biggie... eventually I want to go saltwater but that is when I can actually spend the money to do it right.

Half way thinking of trying to go to a dollar store and get two cheap $10 strip lights and salvage the parts to make a 2 tube T8 fixture.

 

[match55]

If you were interested in VHO retro fit kit that is what I have if you look at the picture you can see I have 4 bulbs with endcaps. They are wired to two ballast and a switch. I also have a reflective hood so I can capture all the lights. I use URI bulbs that have an internal reflector.

melosu~ these are sweettt!!!! I wish I can make one myself.
lights are $$$$ >O<

 

[melosu58]

Thanks, I agree. That`s why IMO retro fits are the way to go.