Wood Diy Hood

[atmmachine816]

My grandma had a bunch of scrap pieces of wood so I thought I might try to make a hood since I need one but I have a piece of treated wood and was wondering if this would be harmful to the fish. Also how would I keep the wood from warping? Could I put a thin layer of aquarium silicone on it?

Thanks

Austin

 

[Rooster]

My homebrew hood is painted white gloss on the inside and black exterior stain on the out site.... not had it long enough to say it wont warp ! I was planning on cover glasses, but Im lazy !!!

 

[atmmachine816]

Ok would treated wood be harmful though? and would aquarium silicon be a good protective measure to keep it from getting warped?

Austin

 

[Rooster]

Treated wood WILL leach chemicals... silicon would be very messy, and a pain to apply... Yacht varnish or gloss would be my advice... just seal the "water" side.

 

[atmmachine816]

So without apply the varnish or gloss to it then it will leak chemicals into the water?

 

[atmmachine816]

My dad doesn't have any of that stuff, where would I find it and would it cost a lot. With regualr wood would I have to seal it too.

 

[simonbrown403]

You will be safe enough with treated timbers, just make sure you seal them properly to stop moisture getting in to the timber and warping it, a tip is to make sure you get the product you use into every nook and cranny.

2 to 5 coats of water based exterior varnish, polyurethane, gloss would be fine.
Just sand the hood smooth when finished, apply the first coat, sand with some 220 grit sand paper, when completely dry, wipe with a damp rag and apply the next coat until you have the Finnish you require.

Have a look at the links in my sig.

Simon.

 

[atmmachine816]

I'm not planning on making that fancy of a hood, anyways I was planning on leaving an opening and either naling the strip light to the side of the hood or just leaving it over resting on either side but I looked at a fluescent and incidscent strip light and both say do not use over open water. Well I was going to do this. Why do they say this.

 

[simonbrown403]

Because condensation (water) and electricity dont mix

 

[SkiFletch]

For sealing, buy a very small pint of varnish of a stain that you like ~$3.50 and coat the whole thing 3-5 times. Will prolly use most of the pint on something that size. Remember that using a varnish will require a lot of paintbrush washing with tons of soap and water (unless you use a disposable brush that is)

 

[atmmachine816]

Ok don't think I can do that though, if condensation and electricity don't mix then why do they have hoods that have no glass under the lights. They have a little plastic thing that seems to protect the part where you screw the bulb in, is that why?

 

[simonbrown403]

Ok don't think I can do that though, if condensation and electricity don't mix then why do they have hoods that have no glass under the lights. They have a little plastic thing that seems to protect the part where you screw the bulb in, is that why?

It depends on the type the strip lights, most aquariums ones have tightly fitting end caps and the ballast is out side the hood, which stops water getting to that, but there is still a chance of it getting to the end caps via capillary action all tough its rare, its just to cover them.
Juwel and a few other brands use a compression type fitting with two rubber seals to totally seal the ends.

bog i thought you was thinking of using a bog standard household strip light fitting, which is open to all and sundry.

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, building a small 12v computer fan into the hood would prevent condensation

 

[atmmachine816]

What do you mean in your last line simonbrown, So if I were to get an incidescent hood (replace the bulbs with two 10w fluescent ones) that is open to the water I'm taking a risk and would be better off getting one with a glass covering but why would they sell ones like that, all they have is a plastic cover over the screw in socket part. And buying the computer fan, I'm not sure where'd I'd get one, do they sell them at staples or office max?

 

[SkiFletch]

Nah, you can get fans from compusa or circuit city though