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**carlrs** · January 3rd 07, 03:38 PM posted to rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc

wrote:
I got a 75 gallon freshwater thats got a mixture of flourite and gravel
with all live plants.

currently i know i am way under lit...my dad is making me a nice wooden
hood to replace the perfecto light strip.

i want to wire up a better light setup for my live plants and possibly
an LED moonlight setup..

what is the best way setup that i can possibly peice together maybe with
parts from a local home center or LFS???

i am very handy and can wire about anything, however I am not too
familier with the various types of aquaria lighting....nor do i know
what I will need for my 75 gallon tank.

any ideas would be a huge help thanks!!!

I am jumping in a little late here and my thoughts may not at all be
what you have in mind, but here they a

I noticed that you mentioned a wooden hood. I designed and set up 90 +
aquariums for a restaurant called the "Bahooka" in the LA area. We used
wooden fiber glass aquariums with wooden hoods. I was able to make my
own fixtures with ballasts from my aquatic suppliers or hardware
stores. I did not use the short lived electronic ballasts (I still use
tar ballasts with starters for the UV Sterilizers I build as they last
sooo much longer).
I do not recommend the pre heat shop light ballasts, they tend to burn
out the bulbs fast, and rather I use the tar ballasts that require a
starter. These are economical albeit bulky. I have used the proper
wattage ballasts to run even 55 watt PC lights.
For PC lights I would use clamps and pin connectors to attach these.
For someone who is relatively electrically handy, you can build your
own lighting fixtures from easy to find parts and all that is left is
to purchase the proper lights.

Carl