Mounting lights to hood

[joylynn]

I am settign up a freshwater 75G planted tank and I have a nice wood canopy to go over it. I didn't want lights that sat on top of the tank as I am very faithful with doing water changes at least once a week, and with a new tank probably more and moving all the lights seemed like a pain. Also the cost of the aqauirum light fixtures seemed ludicrous to me. So after reading on these forums that basic hardware store shop lights mounted in the canopy work and the Phillips Daylight 40W T8 bulbs produce good light I went with that set up. So now it is the basics that have me flustered :) I can't figure out the the best way to mount the lights without putting bolts through the top of the conopy and having nuts showing on the top. That is probably excessive, but I don't want the lights to fall into the tank. I was just wondering how others have mounted these lights? :help: I want to have this tank ready to add the fish and plants to tomorrow (cycling with Bio-Spira)

[oscar83]

wood screws should do the trick. if you dont feel safe with just that u can put a drop of "gorilla glue" on each screw before screwing it into the top of the hood.

[joylynn]

Excellent! My husband went ahead and did just that right after I posted the question :) Glad to hear he made a good choice!

[Mgamer20o0]

t8 bulbs are 32 watt and t12 are 40 watt. t8 bulbs give out more light so they are better. i just put 2 screws that were 3/4 into the wood. it has held for years.

[joylynn]

You're right about the bulbs, I knew that, just been a really long week at work and my brain is fried :) The t8 32W give similar light to the T12 40W so my little tired brain combined the two :)