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View Full Version : spiral lighthood for 125g.



andruboz
04-20-2003, 12:13 AM
been working on it today. its 8- 19 watt 6500k spiral compact flourescents. just wired up 2 and fired them up. pretty bright. should be able to grow stuff with 8 of them.

the reason it hasn't caught on probably is cost. paid $7.50 per bulb and $8 each for 4 2-bulb weather proof mounting boxes. another $3 for the cords. the best deal was the timers - kmart in town went out of business and i got those for $2.50 a piece. for simulated sunrise, i was going to turn on 2 bulbs then 1/2 hour later 3 more, and 30 minutes later, the last 3. reversing the process at night.

wont know till tomorrow if my arrangement of light bulbs will create a few dark spots. was going to temporarily tape some aluminum foil in as a reflector. would have sprayed the inside with chrome paint but i already shot a coat of allweather polyeurathane (sp?) and i dont know if the paint would stick to it.

will try to get pics of it before i put it in and after with it turned on.

Bristlenose Chuck
04-20-2003, 2:59 AM
Where did you find the bulbs. The only ones that I can find are around 3000 to 4000 K. These are too yellow for my tastes.

andruboz
04-20-2003, 9:58 AM
home depot had them.. not sure if that means all home depots will have them.

andruboz
04-20-2003, 12:54 PM
here it is.

andruboz
04-20-2003, 12:56 PM
and lit.

Bristlenose Chuck
04-20-2003, 2:29 PM
The second pic doesnt work correctly. It only loads 1/3 of the pic.

Bristlenose Chuck
04-20-2003, 2:33 PM
What size tank are you lighting?

andruboz
04-20-2003, 2:59 PM
6' x18"x20"


yeah had a feeling it got cut off when the server connection closed box popped up.

my grampa has now decided to give me a huge ration of crap about putting this weight on a tank [temporarily]. this is designed to hang from pulleys and very little weight will be on the tank when it when it is strung up. i estimate it to way 40 lbs or less now and will only exert a few pounds pressure once rigged.. what does the average canopy weigh?

Bristlenose Chuck
04-20-2003, 4:09 PM
It looks good. I hope it works out for you.

As far as the weight goes, your tank, filled with water and gravel, weighs about 1200 pounds. An extra 40 pounds would be minimal in my opinion.

karfixer
04-23-2003, 9:37 AM
The spiral bulbs are avalible in many wattages and color ranges...
http://www.buylighting.com/
http://www.stores.ebay.com/atotlamps/plistings/list/all/dept9/index.html
When lighting my 105 (listed as 125T) I when to www.AHsupply.com and got the 96Wx2 CF kit

TomFromStLouis
04-23-2003, 10:27 AM
looks nice anduboz. You might get a significant increase in plant growing power if you get some kind of reflector involved. I too cannot believe a 40 pound canopy would stress a well made tank. I bet mine weighs more than yours although I have not weighed it.