Anyone have any ideas to share on DIY light hoods?

I have one of those standard full hoods with a light strip on it that I managed to drop into the tank this weekend. Luckily no fish or humans were electrocuted, but the light fizzled and popped and went out with a bang soon after. I tried two different bulbs in hopes that that would be the problem, but they didn't work, so I'm guessing it's the ballast.

These things are so expensive that I was wondering if there was something I could use from the hardware store to make my own. I was thinking a small undercabinet light that would fit into the hood that I have.

Well Im glad everyone is Ok first of all! :unsure:

As far as a replacement I use shop lights that I buy at home depot for $15 duel bulb!!

Derek

8 months later...did you fix your light fixture? blinky

No, I haven't fixed it yet. Blush I have tried a couple of shop lights and under-cabinet lights, but they don't fit right. I have to find something that will fit up inside the hood. I haven't been looking too hard because I had another fixture to put on the tank, but I'd still like to figure something out to add a little more light.

Ballasts are usually cheap Aura. Could it be your starter? I also dropped a light in my SW reef tank a few years back and the same thing happened. I just replace the bulb and starter. I had too many drinks and was trying to work on my lighting system dumb dumb

What exactly do you want to do now? Put a new light system into the hood? A pic of your hood would help me get a better idea.

I'll get a picture of it later today, geelite. Thanks.

It's just a standard lighting strip, nothing fancy. I took it apart to see if there was something that was replaceable, but it was all sealed shut and there was nothing that I could find to replace.

I know that a lot of people do their own lighting and just thought I'd see what I could come up with. It's been sitting in the back of my car for eight months now.

I have a friend who is very good in putting things in his car for very long periods until it drives me crazy and i take it out myself fo him and do what needs to be done Giggly

I figured I would bump this thread since it was aging.

Sometimes you can get a used lightbar very cheap at auctions, otherwise check home depot- some stores have compact lighting units that are used for mounting underneath kitchen cabinets. That may fit inside your stock lightbar assembly

Thanks Les. I did try a couple of under cabinet lights, but they didn't quite fit and were not very bright anyway. (They are under my cabinets in the laundry room now.) They were just ordinary fluorescent lights. I've been looking for compacts when I'm in the right kind of store and can remember - I usually forget. :blink:

I've also been looking for a ballast similar to the one that this light uses, but no luck there either.

I have another light over the tank that this fell into, so it's not a big deal to fix this one, but a little extra light wouldn't be a bad thing.

This is just a standard approx 24" plastic hood.

Aura just get any ballast for the light fixture, you dont have to get an aquarium light ballast. The ballast should match the voltage of your light or be in the same range (wattage).

I would also try a bulb if you have one in your house to test and try also using a starter that works (if any in the house), if it does not work then you know for sure its your ballast.

You can also get a tester and check to see if you are getting power to your ballast and starter...please be carefull though!

Another option is to take out the whole light fixture and just buy a new one and put it in place of your old one.

I wish you were around the corner and i would fix it for you for FREE! I love fixing stuff Bouncy

I hope this helps and sorry if i said things that you already know :blink:

Geelite, I appreciate the help!

There doesn't seem to be a starter on this light. Is that possible? blinky I have them on some of my bigger lights, but not on these. I removed the ballast (now it's in my car) and have taken it to a couple of hardware stores to find something similar, but everything I come across is much bigger. Maybe I'll try a lighting type store next.

I've been thinking, since I don't really need this light, I might try something like a DIY moonlight with it.

I'm interested to see what you decide to do Aura. I have a few extra lights laying around that work but I've been thinking of playing around with making new lighting fixtures using the casings.

You can get a couple of Blue LED lights for your moon light. Life span is around 100,000 Hours, no heat and hardly any electricity.

I dont know how easy or advance you want to do this DIY but here's a link....

http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/dir...iy_projects.php

If it does not help then you can always buy a couple of tiny LED lights with a simple control with.

Good Luck Aura!

Cturner, why don't you figure something out and I'll copy you? Wiggle it just a little bit!

Geelite, the easier, the better. After all, this started by me dropping the entire hood into the tank. twitchy

That link looks like it has some possibilities; I'll have to check it out later. Thanks again for your help!

I have had a few ideas running through my head. Some of those have included blue christmas lights! :blink: That's all I'm saying! Giggly

Your welcome Aura.

cturner i have seen someone and somewhere on the net before using xmas lights...just make sure you can keep the lights on instead of flashing disco lights roll eyes ...oh and you dont want too many xmas lights then its too bright, maybe disconnect some of them.


Here i go again with the talking Giggly blinky Giggly ...just realized it again blinky

Morning, just wondering how the project ended?

I'm now looking to build a led light, and have visited a couple of sites and read about several different products...... Anyone try either of these??

1- http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...:MEWA:IT&ih=007

2- http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewIt...:MEWA:IT&ih=009

To be honest, my project is still sitting there untouched. I have been looking into some ideas, though. I'm thinking that for what it would cost, it just isn't worth messing with. I've seen some nice ideas for wooden DIY hoods/canopies that have lots of potential and look good as well so I'm thinking more about that now, rather than fixing this one.

How about you cturner?

JD, if you come up with something, make sure you take pictures along the way so we can copy!! Cheers!!!

Thanks Aura

I will have to do some more thinking, IF I attempt this I will surely let you know and post some pics..... If it works LOL