DIY hood and light

[dundadundun]

glass is just as expensive (if not more) once you get into drilling and shaping... unless you happen to have the necessary tools lying around... or are doing lots of tanks and just have to have them.

then there's the edges. you can smooth them yourself but it's not fun unless you're real patient, wear safety gear and don't mind glass splinters. it's still better than risking slicing yourself with wet hands... let alone what contamination that could cause.

there are other companies that sell polycarbonate sheets. maybe less expensive than lexan. lexan does have desirable properties too. heat resistant, high light transfer rate and doesn't block uv too much, strong and semi-pliable makes for basically shatter-proof, more scratch resistant than acrylic and some forms have an extra coating that almost rivals the scratch resistance of glass. all around it's not a bad option.

 

[clogstonian]

polycarbonate = lexan just like toilet paper = Charmin . . . Lexan is merely a brand name, not to be an @$$ about it.

http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=297709

[FONT=verdana, arial, helvetica][/FONT]I'd research the gluing(really it's melting together) of ploy-C and Plexi, not sure if the same solvent will work for both

 

[dundadundun]

i see your point but charmin wasn't around when toilet paper was invented... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexan

also... lexan IS THE widely recognized name for polycarbonate. you'd know exactly what i was referring to if i said scott tissue, angel soft, etc., etc., etc. ... not so much with polycarbonate.

lexan was brought into this because people know what it is. no other reason. that doesn't mean it's the only polycarbonate on the market... it's just widely known and more readily available... like marcal vs. scott.

 

[Taysius]

Would a Versa top be that expensive? I'd pay like 15 bucks to be done with it. Mod a strip light and there you go.

 

[clogstonian]

i see your point but charmin wasn't around when toilet paper was invented... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexan

also... lexan IS THE widely recognized name for polycarbonate. you'd know exactly what i was referring to if i said scott tissue, angel soft, etc., etc., etc. ... not so much with polycarbonate.

lexan was brought into this because people know what it is. no other reason. that doesn't mean it's the only polycarbonate on the market... it's just widely known and more readily available... like marcal vs. scott.

 

[Kuhlifan]

I have a standard black plastic hood with a strip light, but the light is just too poor for a 20 extra tall. I was thinking of just building a wooden box on top of the tank and installing a couple of small wattage CFL bulbs in it to replace the hood. I might just do a versa top, that should provide splash protection without being too much of an engineering nightmare for this newb.

Question though, do you "lose" some light by not having the bulbs flush against the glass?

 

[WeedCali]

yes, the further away bulbs are from the tank, the less light penetrates into the water. but lets say you have a completely enclosed fixture, ie. not hanging. then would the light make its way into the tank anyway? you sacrifice light penetration with a glass top too. thats why i suggested thin Polycarbonate.