DIY Lighting - Incompetant Person Here Needs Some Help

[DGalt]

I haven't had the best luck with DIY so far, largely because I never know what I'm looking for and trips to the hardware store end up with me just wasting gas. So hopefully somebody here can point me in the right direction

I have a 15 gallon tank (24" long) with one of those AGA hoods and an incandescent light strip that I'm using with a couple CFL bulbs for my plants. The hood, though, drives me nuts. The opening is small, and it limits me from doing stuff in the tank. So I would like to some how hang / mount the light above the tank without the hood.

I'm at school so I can't really drill into the ceiling or anything like that, so I'm guessing some type of legs would be best. Unfortunately all the ones that I find online are for specific brands, and I assume they won't play nice with my cheap plastic light strip. Anyone have any idea how i could build that though? (i.e. specific pieces I can look for, again b/c all my trips to the hardware store begin with me having a bright idea and end with me utterly failing to make it a reality :headshake2: lol)

Also, the idea of suspending an open electric source over water doesn't have me thrilled. I thought it might be a good idea to cover the light strip with something (Plexi glass maybe?) so when my crazy frogs or any other of those creatures in my tank decide they want to splash at the top I don't have to worry about water inadvertently making its way into the light socket. Would Plexi hurt the light ouput though? Also, besides tape (which is the only idea I've come up with), how could I attach the plexi to the light strip so that I can remove it to change the bulbs

thanks :thm:

 

[The Zigman]

the easiest thing to do is pick up a fluorescent perfecto hood.
it opens across the whole length of the tank, and the light strip is a seperate piece.

You have the one piece deal with the tiny 1"x3" door opening right?

 

[rocker92]

i vote to get a "versa-top.

give me a minute and i'll get you a link.....

 

[rocker92]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3790

 

[DGalt]

The light strip and the hood are two separate pieces. I want to discard the plastic part (the part with the little door) and just use the strip, but I need a way to mount it to the tank.

I could use one of those versa lids but I don't think that's going to solve my issue of being able to easily access the tank. My tank is in a rather awkward spot so the less I need to move around (i.e. take off the hold / light) the easier it is for me.