LED Conversion - is this a DIY or can I buy a straight swap?

[DanR]

Hi guys,

My 55 gallon freshwater tank's hood contains two light canopies that are 22.5" L x 4.5" W and each use a single 18" T tube. I would like to swap these to LED lights but I am having trouble finding the same size canopy fixtures that I could just swap out. Am I better off just removing the light fixture components from the fixtures and installing some LED strips or is there a place that sells straight up canopy swaps? I asked at a couple of pet shops and they had no idea and just recommended I use my own LED strips. I do not grow plants in this tank so I don't need lights specifically for supporting plant growth.

Thanks!
Dan

 

[Chest Rockwell]

https://youtu.be/_EYC3obFY4w?list=FLU2JM3SlYhqoihFYFFtFIrg

 

[DanR]

https://youtu.be/_EYC3obFY4w?list=FLU2JM3SlYhqoihFYFFtFIrg

Yeah saw that, I might make something similar to that if I can't find ready-made hoods. I actually have quite a bit of the aluminum tape for reflecting the light already so it wouldn't be too tough.

Dan

 

[Fresh2o]

This is pretty cool video. In your case, you could probably gut the existing fluorescent hardware and reuse the canopies with single LED wrapped PVC tubes as described in the video. Not sure if two tubes would fit in your canopies.
Or do a single rain gutter along the span of the tank.
Vivagrow makes a 48" Finnex 24/7 knockoff for about $65. Dimmable, color control, 24/7 mode. It MIGHT work with your setup. Probably more light than you need. But it is dimmable.


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[james jupp]

Hi, (first post). I bought an led waterproof aquarium tube with suckers on, from aliexpress. It was under $10 delivered. I took all the "guts" for the old florescent tubes out and use these instead. The plants grow fine in there too. Ok, delivery time was about 3 weeks, but at that price it beats the LFS hands down.

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[james jupp]

I just thought - our local hardware store (bricomart - I'm in Spain) has replacement florescent tubes, the same sizes as the "old" style ones. Wouldn't your local hardware store have them? Or even Walmart etc?

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