cheap hood/light for a 20g long

[blipblop]

I'm almost done piecing together my tank for my bedroom. I have a metal stand, a 20g long tank and I am going to order and aqua clear 50. Any tips on what I can use as a hood? I checked my LFS and the hood/light assembly is 70 dollars! You have GOT to be kidding... I just want a hood/ light with whatever works. It doesn't have to be pretty

 

[Devilishturtles]

Check walmart. I think they carry 24" (is that right?) hoods for like $30.

 

[theotheragentm]

24" would be 20 gallon regulars. Check drsfostersmith.com for glass covers. Then you can use any kind of lighting you want.

 

[jsoong]

Want to be really cheap & you a handy person?

Go to you local glass shop & get them to cut 2 pieces of glass to fit exactly inside the the tank rim, but leaving room for your wires, filters, etc.. You would want a bigger piece in the back of the tank (maybe 2/3 of the depth), and a smaller piece in front. Glue some knobs/handles onto the glass with silicone for ease of handling. Place glass on top of tank. You now have a DIY glass cover! Use handles to remove front glass piece for feeding, & both pieces for cleaning. Some people silicone on hinges so you can just flip the front piece open.

If this is too much work, go buy a premade cover, but this will cost you $30 or more.

Now you can put any kind of light on top of tank. Go to your local home center & pick up a self contained undercabinet fluorescent light of the appropriate length (or whatever you like that will fit, but avoid incandescent light - too much heat & not enough light). Mount the light on a board. Make legs for the board so that the whole thing will sit on top of your glass cover with the light a couple of inches above the glass.

Alternative: hang the light from the ceiling, or overhead shelf with a long chain so the light is at the appropriate height.

To be really pretty: make yourself an enclosed hood to sit on top of the tank & mount your light inside. (Look through the DIY section for ideas.)

 

[blipblop]

yea, i'l love a glass cover. I will check that out! thanks

 

[src]

Also, you can buy the plastic used for the hinge and back (where you make cutouts for equipment) from Drs Foster&Smith. They come in 6 foot sections, so you can make parts for several tanks. A bit expensive with shipping unless you are placing a larger order, though.

Here's the link: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3730+3731+13819&pcatid=13819

Sometimes a LFS will have the hinge/back pieces from broken tops sitting around (mom&pop shops more than big-box stores).