EXTREMELY cheap DIY Lighting

[p-lvp]

Reference: http://chrys.addr.com/aquarium/diy.htm

MATERIALS:
2 x 19W Compact Flourescent Lamp ($6.97) - this lamp has a 75W light output but only uses 19W of power.
2 x Outlet Adapter ($1.90)
1 x Extension Cord ($0.77)
1 x Aluminum foil ($0.99) - 50 lifetimes supply

TOTAL = $19.50

prices are given according to Home Depot

METHOD:
Follow the directions from the website referenced above except do not silicone the area between the adapter and the light bulb so that you can change bulbs should the need arises.

I did this for my 29 gallon last week and OH MY G*D. The plants just EXPLODED and pearling like crazy. The entire setup occupies 12 inches. Therefore, one can put 2 such devices in a standard 29 gallon tank hood for an impressive 300W. That's 10W/gallon.

Screw the retrofit kits which costs upward of $130 for a measely 55W. For that much money, I'll just buy a 55 gallon aquarium, some shoplight fixtures, and I'll still have money left over for lunch.

Furthermore, your standard 75W compact flourescent light bulb USES 75W of power, and costs around $20/bulb. That's just insane!!! Using Commercial Electric 75W Mini Spiral Lamps, you'll save up to $56 in energy costs per lamp.

[RedTurquoise]

[Synapse]

IMO these bulb don't give out 75W light output but are "equal" to a 75W incadescent bulb. The are really 19W CF. (maybe a bit less since there is power lost in heat)..

But it's stille a cheap and worthwile method for lighting.. depends on the wavelenght. 6500k are the best bulb for the job.

[Orion]

Only thing that I have to say about these lights is I think that they might be a contributer of staghorn algae. I have 60w in a 10 gallon from these lights and have had a terible time with this algae. I am pretty sure that it has something to do with the lights, because I have a 7 gallon with the same type of light, and it also has the algae, but 4 other tanks that are using regular flouresant dont have a spec of algae. Im not 100% sure on this, just an idea by what I can observe in my tanks.

Other than that, they deffenatly provide an excelent source of light at a very affordable price.

[depthC]

Orion your putting in 6 watts per gallon thats way more then the plants need to complete photosynthesis so maybe thats why you have a algea problem. Cut your lighting down to say 30w for you 10 gallon and then see if you still have a lighting problem. I dont see why you would think flouresant bulbs would cause algea growth if none of your other tanks do.

BTW, awesome post p-lvp i want to plant my 45g but dont have enough lighting so i guess ill just light it up with this DIY method. Thanks

- depthC

[AmazonTankz]

Well, I found this web site and suggest it to any smaller tank

I tried the same thing on my 55 with 2 equal as 60 bulbs. My plants never grew, so I bought 2 60w incandestent bulbs and they fluorished! Well, until I found out that the heat from the incandesents had melted my light(the part that houses the light) to my hood(the part witht he glass). And now I can't get in unless I totally demolish the whole unit. I have to by ANOTHER hood completly and since I don't have $200 to spend on a compact florestent fixter I have to go back to plastic plants.

[Orion]

well i did have only 30w for about 2 months and still the algae was flourishing, so I was hoping that mabey doubleing would kick the plants into high gear and out do the algae.

The reason I am blaming the lighting, like I said above, is because 2 of my tanks I am using the screwin bulbs and they both have this algae, and none of the others do.

[p-lvp]

Originally posted by AmazonTankz
Well, I found this web site and suggest it to any smaller tankI tried the same thing on my 55 with 2 equal as 60 bulbs. My plants never grew, so I bought 2 60w incandestent bulbs and they fluorished! Well, until I found out that the heat from the incandesents had melted my light(the part that houses the light) to my hood(the part witht he glass). And now I can't get in unless I totally demolish the whole unit. I have to by ANOTHER hood completly and since I don't have $200 to spend on a compact florestent fixter I have to go back to plastic plants.

That's really unfortunate. From what I have read, incandescent lights are notorious for the heat they produce, which is why they are often used for reptile housing, who appreciates the extra heat. Compared to incandescent bulbs, flourescent lights put out far more light and less heat per square inch than its cousin.

With the advent of technological advances, there are now cool-burning compact flourescent bulbs that uses less wattage (thus even less heat) to produce higher light output. As further prevention, I suggested that aluminum foil be used instead of mylar (as the website suggested) since mylar melts at a much lower temperature than aluminum foil. This is why we put aluminum foil and not bags of chips in the oven. Aside of its reflective property, the aluminum foil protects the hood from any stray heat that these compact flourescent bulbs generate. Try burning aluminum foil - it's not easy. Now try to burn mylar (inner cover of potato chip bags).

My fixture has been running 12 hours/day for almost 2 weeks now. I have not noticed excessive heating. In fact, it (2 x 19W 75W-producing daylight bulb) generates less heat as my hood is now cooler than it was when I had the 20W regular flourescent light that came with the hood. I have not noticed discoloration of the aluminum foil and it is cool to the touch.

Therefore, I really hope that you would give this another chance - except use a flourescent bulb instead.

Postscript: If anyone wants to try this, then make sure that you get the bulb that says DAYLIGHT. It's a daylight bulb if it, once plugged in, generates white light instead of yellow. It costs around $7.00/bulb ar Home Depot, and they have an excellent return policy.

[CSM]

I just went to a K-mart today and they had tons of this compact flourescent bulbs for real chep. I got a pair of 24W (100W of light, 1440 lumens) for under 6 dollars (these are just for around the house). And a 14W (55W of light, 630 lumens, 5000 hr life) long, narrow bulb as used in the project for $1.75. I might go and pick up a few more. Sunbeam is the company that makes the bulbs.

Jason

[depthC]

I just went to Walmart and got a pack of 2 compact flouresant screw in bulbs for just under $10 and tehy put out 20w a piece. They are great and a lot cheaper and smaller then the 14w bulb i got at a hardware store and it was too big for the fixture. So check out walmart for a good deal on bulbs.

- depthC