Acrylic light cover

[Nospherith]

Ok so I have some "All-Glass" lights (1 55w and 1 15w). They're both 23" and I can't place them directly over the water. They don't have a glass/acryllic panel to protect the light bulb from condensation and splash so I was thinking of making one myself out of plexiglass.

Is the plexiglass "clear" enough for my lights to properly shine through? (It's a planted tank so this is important).

Can I cut the plexiglass myself?

I got some home depot metal "L" fasteners and I was thinking of ordering a plexiglass sheet the same size as the bottom of the 1/8" plastic light enclosures and drilling into the enclosures with a screw to attatch the L, then drilling into the acryllic to attatch to the fixture. Then sealing the outside with silicon sealant. For a bulb-change I could always unscrew the screws and redo the sealant.

So basically it's a DIY light cover.

Would this be better than just ordering a sheet of plexiglass to cover 4/5 of my aquarium (need room for filter and stuff) and placing the lights on top?

I have no idea about the DIY stuff and I was wondering what other options are available?

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Nospherith]

so... any thoughts?

 

[StarOrbs]

Yah what I did was fastened it to my DIY hood and it works great. Don't worry about the same amout of light goes through.. Oh yah I had my hood without a cover between the water and the lights for a couple weeks with no problems. of course we could have different setups.
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?act=ST&f=22&t=78009
Here's a pic of mine..

 

[yvez9]

I just bought a glass cover for my tank at Big Al's this week.
I should recieve my lighting kit this week I hope

the glass covers are really neat, and they were cheap (cost me 25$ for the 20 and 5 gallon covers total)

DIY plexiglass would be a bit cheaper but I rather not mess with that and just shed a few extra bucks

 

[StarOrbs]

I like to do things cheap and easy when I can so... That and it works fine, the only problem I have with my tank right now is that I have ICH.

 

[Nospherith]

hey thanks StarOrbs

I didn't think anyone would respond to this thread so I haven't checked it for a while, sorry.

I remember seeing that picture in the Member's Aquariums forums and I saw the light cover and I thought hmmm, maybe I can do that. Didn't know it was for this thread. Now I feel special.

yvez9 I thought about getting one of those glass tops, but I figured to crank another 15watts onto my plants then I'd have to go DIY. Although I do like the hinge. I'm going to miss it.

I thought about all this and I figured it would be easier to just go for a single plexiglass top than fitting two plates onto the lights, but it's good to know that even if I were to go for the two plates then it would work.

Thanks again.

And BTW, ICH!? I lost all of my 10 cardinal tetras a plauge of it, one by one. I was treating with Quik Cure (malachite green) and had the temp up to 82' and it didn't do a thing. Hopefully you'll have better luck.