Plasticfantastic
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 25, 2011
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
Hi all,
The hood on my 4ft tanks looks like a home made affair that must be 10+ years old so its time for a spruce up.
Its made of wood and houses 1 t8 tropical light bulb, that is about 1 3rd from the back, painted black on the outside and white on the inside.
I started by stripping it down and lining the inside with aluminium foil tape so now its much more reflective. I then moved the original bult right to the front, I plan to buy another bulb and starter and fit it where the original one was. Should i just get the smae buld or have 2 different ones? any recommendations?
Over the weekend i was looking for LED light kits as i wanted blue light that was cheap to run so my catfish will come out more, i also thought that whit would be useful as a cheap alterantive to the t8 for daily use. After a bit of searching i decided and an RGB LED kit that came with 4 20 inch tubes, with the option to add another 2. I didnt hold out much hope for it as i didnt know what to expect, but i am happily suprised. I plan to buy 2 extra tubes and to put them at the back of the hood, i have the 4 fitted the the inside of the lid a the front.
I didnt take any progress shots, but ill do some of the set up tomorrow. Heres a few results shots to give you an idea, the first picture shows how it used to be, you can see the dark spots at the fron because the tube is so far back.
This next lot are with the LEDs on and the T8 tube off, scroling through the colours starting with dark blue and ending with white.
This next lot are a close up scrolling through the colours again...
This is with the T8 alone on and then the T8 with the LEDs on white.
This lot are with the T8 on and scrolling through the colours. Doesn't show up great in the pictures but some colours have a great effect, the green brings out the plants and the yellow brings out the sand well.
Overall for less than £40 im well happy!
Hope this is of interest to someone
Cheers
The hood on my 4ft tanks looks like a home made affair that must be 10+ years old so its time for a spruce up.
Its made of wood and houses 1 t8 tropical light bulb, that is about 1 3rd from the back, painted black on the outside and white on the inside.
I started by stripping it down and lining the inside with aluminium foil tape so now its much more reflective. I then moved the original bult right to the front, I plan to buy another bulb and starter and fit it where the original one was. Should i just get the smae buld or have 2 different ones? any recommendations?
Over the weekend i was looking for LED light kits as i wanted blue light that was cheap to run so my catfish will come out more, i also thought that whit would be useful as a cheap alterantive to the t8 for daily use. After a bit of searching i decided and an RGB LED kit that came with 4 20 inch tubes, with the option to add another 2. I didnt hold out much hope for it as i didnt know what to expect, but i am happily suprised. I plan to buy 2 extra tubes and to put them at the back of the hood, i have the 4 fitted the the inside of the lid a the front.
I didnt take any progress shots, but ill do some of the set up tomorrow. Heres a few results shots to give you an idea, the first picture shows how it used to be, you can see the dark spots at the fron because the tube is so far back.
This next lot are with the LEDs on and the T8 tube off, scroling through the colours starting with dark blue and ending with white.
This next lot are a close up scrolling through the colours again...
This is with the T8 alone on and then the T8 with the LEDs on white.
This lot are with the T8 on and scrolling through the colours. Doesn't show up great in the pictures but some colours have a great effect, the green brings out the plants and the yellow brings out the sand well.
Overall for less than £40 im well happy!
Hope this is of interest to someone
Cheers
/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-5M-RGB-300-LED-Strip-5050-SMD-Light-Lamp-Waterproof-IR-Remote-Christmas-/200688656643?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Lighting_Lamps_Lighting_SM&hash=item2eb9f9e103#ht_8280wt_1185
