i was wondering if the light kits from AHsupply have to be assembled into a gutted light strip, or inside a hood, or if you can assemble them and hang them as is?
AHsupply.com light kit question?
- Thread starter RockabillyChick
- Start date
Hey. The kit's are pretty versatile, actually. You can retrofit them into an existing hood if you wanted. However, I'm not entirely certain that you'll be able to use the AH reflector inside the hood. The reflector is one of the reason's that the kit works so well. I think, compared to a regular, rectangular reflector, it reflects like 125% of the light. You'd have to check the site for that info.
Or, you could build yourself a custom hood. It's dirt cheap to do and insanely easy. I think, after paying for paint, lumber and finishing nails, I spent like $15 (probably less, actually) on the actual components. It takes very little time to assemble and actually looks really good. My tank stand and trim are black so I just painted the hood black and everything matches.
I'm sure you could assemble the unit and hang it on it's own, if you wanted. I guess you'd have to use chains or wire and hang it from the ceiling. You'll want to cap off the ends of the reflectors because, man, those puppies reflect a lot of light.
Check the site. It gives you all the info you need on how to upgrade. The guy that runs it is also extremely helpful and will answer any and all questions you have.
Good luck!
Or, you could build yourself a custom hood. It's dirt cheap to do and insanely easy. I think, after paying for paint, lumber and finishing nails, I spent like $15 (probably less, actually) on the actual components. It takes very little time to assemble and actually looks really good. My tank stand and trim are black so I just painted the hood black and everything matches.
I'm sure you could assemble the unit and hang it on it's own, if you wanted. I guess you'd have to use chains or wire and hang it from the ceiling. You'll want to cap off the ends of the reflectors because, man, those puppies reflect a lot of light.
Check the site. It gives you all the info you need on how to upgrade. The guy that runs it is also extremely helpful and will answer any and all questions you have.
Good luck!
I used a gutted 48" hood to mount one set. Worked out pretty well. I mounted the AH Supply reflectors in the hood. You can't really hang them as is, the reflectors and ballast would have to be attached to something. It could be something as simple as a piece of 2x4 hung horizontally from the ceiling, depending on how picky you are about looks. I built a pine canopy for over my 150, I think it cost me about 40 bucks in lumber, glue and screws for everything.
what i wanted to know is if i could assemble the reflector and ballast and all the electrical stuff, and NOT put it into anything, NOT have it in a hood, or a gutted light strip, but just hang the reflector and wiring and everything as is.
If I read the description on AH supply correctly, the lights come as a "kit" that you have to assemble into a hood or some other mount. They come as a seperate reflector (with light mounts), ballast and wires. You can mount the reflectors to something as simple as a 2x2 or put it into a gutted light fixture.
The reflector and ballast have to have something to be mounted to, but that can be anything of your choosing.
-Ty
The reflector and ballast have to have something to be mounted to, but that can be anything of your choosing.
-Ty
i actually think it would look cool with the wires and stuff. i can screw it to a piece of wood, but i didn't want to build a hood for this tank, just glass tops, and i don't have a light strip to gut, and i'm definately not going to buy a perfectly good light strip just to take it appart. the tank is at an angle in the corner, since i found out my appt. is on a slab, and the stand i built is 16" front to back, but the tank is only 12.5" so i left space in the back where i can attach a couple steel pipes that will come up behind the tank, then with an elbow i can have the pipe go over the tank to hang the light from. i'm going for an industrial look. everything exposed, wires, concrete, etc.
I wouldnt recommend it at all just because the ballast is actually pretty heavy and where would you put if you did this.
Like others have done, I used an old 48 inch plastic strip light. It was pretty easy for someone who isnt handy with electrical stuff.
Like others have done, I used an old 48 inch plastic strip light. It was pretty easy for someone who isnt handy with electrical stuff.
Oh for Pete's sake. The brackets that hold the bulbs can be screwed into anything. As can the ballast. They give you a mile of cord so you can leave the ballast down below if you want. I don't even use the reflectors inside my custom canopy since they seem to work too good!