Aquarium hood light fixture

[eilir]

After nearly twenty years, my light has gone out. The bulb actually
appears to be still good (I've changed starters over the years, but not
the bulb)...but there is corrosion on the actual metal parts of the
socket under the hood. The hood of the lamp itself is still fine (one
of those standard oak plastic things). I have it all over a glass
aquarium cover. A replacement is going to run about US$40 and frankly I
don't have that at this time.

My question is, is there a difference in the wiring between an aquarium
light and a standard florescent fixture. There are relatively cheap
ones out there that are only about $15 that could be mounted.
Theoreticall, although there's always a chance of condensation, the
glass cover protects the lamp (even aquarium lamps should not be
operated over open water).

Have any of you built your own equipment? I obviously don't want to fry
fish or start a fire. I'm just trying to get my aquarium started after
a lull and I may have to wait until I can afford the right equipment.
But I was just wondering if it were possible.

Thanks.
Eilir Rowan

http://rabid-librarian.blogspot.com

[CanadianCray]

Yeah go for it!!! There is no difference whatsoever.... Many people build
their own light fixtures using shop lights etc.

--
Craig
________________________________
www.CanadianCray.tk
www.Bluecrayfish.com
"eilir" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> After nearly twenty years, my light has gone out. The bulb actually
> appears to be still good (I've changed starters over the years, but not
> the bulb)...but there is corrosion on the actual metal parts of the
> socket under the hood. The hood of the lamp itself is still fine (one
> of those standard oak plastic things). I have it all over a glass
> aquarium cover. A replacement is going to run about US$40 and frankly I
> don't have that at this time.
>
> My question is, is there a difference in the wiring between an aquarium
> light and a standard florescent fixture. There are relatively cheap
> ones out there that are only about $15 that could be mounted.
> Theoreticall, although there's always a chance of condensation, the
> glass cover protects the lamp (even aquarium lamps should not be
> operated over open water).
>
> Have any of you built your own equipment? I obviously don't want to fry
> fish or start a fire. I'm just trying to get my aquarium started after
> a lull and I may have to wait until I can afford the right equipment.
> But I was just wondering if it were possible.
>
> Thanks.
> Eilir Rowan
>
> http://rabid-librarian.blogspot.com
>

[Elaine T]

eilir wrote:
> After nearly twenty years, my light has gone out. The bulb actually
> appears to be still good (I've changed starters over the years, but not
> the bulb)...but there is corrosion on the actual metal parts of the
> socket under the hood. The hood of the lamp itself is still fine (one
> of those standard oak plastic things). I have it all over a glass
> aquarium cover. A replacement is going to run about US$40 and frankly I
> don't have that at this time.
>
> My question is, is there a difference in the wiring between an aquarium
> light and a standard florescent fixture. There are relatively cheap
> ones out there that are only about $15 that could be mounted.
> Theoreticall, although there's always a chance of condensation, the
> glass cover protects the lamp (even aquarium lamps should not be
> operated over open water).
>
> Have any of you built your own equipment? I obviously don't want to fry
> fish or start a fire. I'm just trying to get my aquarium started after
> a lull and I may have to wait until I can afford the right equipment.
> But I was just wondering if it were possible.
>
When I had a 55 gallon tank, I took a 4' shop light, spray painted it
black to match the stand, and set it on top of the glass canopy. It
worked fine and grew plants great with one normal hardware store and one
gro-lux bulb. The fixture never got wet so I didn't have any problems
with corrosion.

In my two-gallon, I've wired a tiny flourescent light designed for
closets into the hood in place of the incandescent fixture that was
there. It runs cooler and brighter and I like the color better. Again,
the Frankensteined hood sits on an acrylic tank cover and doesn't get wet.


--
__ Elaine T __
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