To those of you who have a pathetic 15w bulb over your 20g high tank and you want plants (real plants). Iam going to tell you how to upgrade to 46+ watts of light for under $25.
what to do.
1. Find some tools, you will need a screwdriver (either phillips or flatblade, depends on the socket) some pliers (or a wire crimper) and a drill.
2. Go to lowes or home depot, here grab two standard light bulb sockets, (perhaps two 23 watt 6500K CFL bulbs as well) and a can of WHITE spray paint. Some solderless butt connectors and screws are needed as well.
2A. Go to walmart and get two 23 watt CFL (lights of america) bulbs at 6500K if you didn't buy them at your hardware store.
3. When you get home take your hood and gut it. Remove the tube shroud, ballast, whole shabang. (be sure to clip the wires at the ballast so you have enough wire to work with).
4. Take the hood outside and start spray painting the inside of the hood. You should probably apply 2 or more coats. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Dont be afraid of paint getting on your wires, just make sure you know which ones which.
5. While waiting for the paint to dry, start adding wire to your two sockets, make sure you have enough to work with, you can always clip later.
6. After paint has dried it's time to wire. This, beleive it or not, is not hard. Two things, white is common (return wire) and black is hot. on your two sockets find the wire that connects to the center inside the socket and connect the wires from the two sockets to your switch in the hood. Your remaining two connect to your white wire in the hood. (To those circut minded people, DO NOT wire in series, always parallel
7. Take your drill and drill bit (select a bit that is undersized from the screw) and drill the number of holes required into the hood. if possible, use the socket holes to start the drill bit. Once the holes are drilled, screw the sockets into each side of the hood. Screw in your bulbs. Tape up and wires as well.
8. Place back on the tank (at this point you may need some spacers to allow air) and see if it works. If both lights work, stand back and admire your work.
Allow yourself about 1-1 1/2 hours to complete.
A pic of the results.
What it looks like before :barf:
what it looks like now :grinno: :bling:
what to do.
1. Find some tools, you will need a screwdriver (either phillips or flatblade, depends on the socket) some pliers (or a wire crimper) and a drill.
2. Go to lowes or home depot, here grab two standard light bulb sockets, (perhaps two 23 watt 6500K CFL bulbs as well) and a can of WHITE spray paint. Some solderless butt connectors and screws are needed as well.
2A. Go to walmart and get two 23 watt CFL (lights of america) bulbs at 6500K if you didn't buy them at your hardware store.
3. When you get home take your hood and gut it. Remove the tube shroud, ballast, whole shabang. (be sure to clip the wires at the ballast so you have enough wire to work with).
4. Take the hood outside and start spray painting the inside of the hood. You should probably apply 2 or more coats. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Dont be afraid of paint getting on your wires, just make sure you know which ones which.
5. While waiting for the paint to dry, start adding wire to your two sockets, make sure you have enough to work with, you can always clip later.
6. After paint has dried it's time to wire. This, beleive it or not, is not hard. Two things, white is common (return wire) and black is hot. on your two sockets find the wire that connects to the center inside the socket and connect the wires from the two sockets to your switch in the hood. Your remaining two connect to your white wire in the hood. (To those circut minded people, DO NOT wire in series, always parallel
7. Take your drill and drill bit (select a bit that is undersized from the screw) and drill the number of holes required into the hood. if possible, use the socket holes to start the drill bit. Once the holes are drilled, screw the sockets into each side of the hood. Screw in your bulbs. Tape up and wires as well.
8. Place back on the tank (at this point you may need some spacers to allow air) and see if it works. If both lights work, stand back and admire your work.
Allow yourself about 1-1 1/2 hours to complete.
A pic of the results.
What it looks like before :barf:
what it looks like now :grinno: :bling:
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