Light and shelf for 40 Breeder

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kj5kb

KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
Mar 1, 2007
1,513
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38
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Spring Hill Kansas SW of Kansas City
Real Name
Don
We recently moved form Cleveland OH to near Kansas City KS. I sold/gave away most of my fish, plants and tanks, but brought a few of my favorites with us. Had a few losses but 90%+ survived.

They are now in a 40Breeder tank. I needed some light so I hung two 10x12 brackets on the wall, intending to hang a 4' shoplight from them. The light really needed to be out further from the wall, and I needed a good place for my power strip and air pump above tank level. I made an 18" deep shelf from cedar fence pickets. I cut two pieces 18" long to extend the steel brackets and built a shelf over them. Cedar is naturally rot-resistant and matches the decor of our country house.

Bill of materials for 18" deep x 62" wide shelf
---------------
4 6"x72" cedar fence pickets, dogears cut off and cut to length (4"x48" could also be used if long enough)
2 10" x 12" stamped steel shelf brackets, 10" side mounted to wall
Screws to mount brackets to wall...2" or 2.5" recommended
Screws to mount shelf to brackets...~ 1"
screws/nails/brads to fasten shelf together.


I used an air nailer with 1" 18 ga brads to assemble the shelf. but small screws or brads would be fine. When fastening the shelf to the brackets, I used screws long enough to go through both layers of wood.

another piece of wood in front to trim over the light may be in the works...

I probably spent as much time making it as I did taking pix and composing this message :)

20141123_104758.jpg 20141123_104839.jpg 20141123_104849.jpg 20141123_104904.jpg 20141123_104917.jpg 20141122_163152.jpg
 

FreshyFresh

Global Moderator
Staff member
Jan 11, 2013
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West Falls NY
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Joel
Nice work! Ultra low cost and super heavy-duty.

I was surprised to see 48" T12 (as well as T8 and T5) 6500K lamps at Lowes recently. Throw those in a basic shop-light fixture and you're good to go for lower light plants.

Love 40Bs too. If you ever need a low cost solution that holds two 40Bs, (top/bottom) the Titan EZE metal stand is great for them.
 

kj5kb

KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
Mar 1, 2007
1,513
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Spring Hill Kansas SW of Kansas City
Real Name
Don
Thanks. It was indeed cheap, the fence pickets were surplus from a previous project. Already had the shoplight from the old house. Light is rated for 2 T12's but I have 2 Philips T8 Daylight 6500K in them and they seem fine.

Next project is a similar one for a 29G using a 2x24" light....
 

FreshyFresh

Global Moderator
Staff member
Jan 11, 2013
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West Falls NY
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Joel
.......Light is rated for 2 T12's but I have 2 Philips T8 Daylight 6500K in them and they seem fine.

Next project is a similar one for a 29G using a 2x24" light....
Cool! It must be a decent quality fixture. I've got a ton of 48" T12s in my house, between the basement, garage, etc.. Most old, some new. None of them will fire-up T8 lamps.
 

kj5kb

KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
Mar 1, 2007
1,513
1
38
58
Spring Hill Kansas SW of Kansas City
Real Name
Don
Had the same problem here...as I understand it, most electronic T12 ballasts should fire a T8, and in fact overdrive it slightly. But that doesnt always work in practice.
 
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