DIY Lighting.... Will this work?

AndrewMack

AndrewMack

AC Members
Jan 17, 2006
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Fleming Island FL
I want to get a 30gallon tank and make my own lighting, its freshwater with fish only but here is what i had in mind. going to biuld a completely enclosed housing with 4 light fixtures, maybe one of these, or two of the 24'' under cabinet fixtures from walmart...http://image.i-soldit.com/images/0125/101250001417/101250001417_03_03.jpg , Then I was going to put a black light like this http://i20.ebayimg.com/03/i/05/81/3f/a9_1.JPG , sense i will be using a bright colord sand with White "fake" Live rock for the SW look , and then a http://cgi.ebay.com/2pcs-x-24-Ultra...ryZ20709QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem for night light... I know you will have plenty to say good and bad thats why i posted this for advice. Thanks
 
May i suggest a forum and/ or google search on "blacklights" or "uv lights" used over an aquarium. I think there are many people that advise against doing it for a variety of reasons.
 
I did a search on Google and could not find aything, good Nor bad? Can you further elabirate why I should not use Black lights? Anything against the Night lights and regular Flurecent light?
 
Also I am wanting to biuld my own Wood tank with acrylic front, and I cannot find any place in or near my town that seels glass or Acrylic/plexi/lucite 1/2'' so if I got 3 sheet of 1/4'' and stacked together would you be able to see right through it, or would you notice that there is more then one piece?
 
joephys said:
UV light is what causes sun burns and skin cancer. I would assume that its not good for fish.
Click to expand...
The Sad thing about that is.... I have Skin cancer on my back from over exposure to the sun, and now that you mentioned it, I remember my doctor and I talking about it time and time again.. WOW am I slow
:OT: ... I didnt even know that the black light was UV...... So just stick with three big Flurecent light fixtures and one LED neon 10'' for moonlight?
 
Sorry i didnt have time yet to dig out some articles or posts but josephys post kinda summed things up. One of the things i remembered was it causing issues for the fishs eyes.

The monlights and regular flourescent lights should be no problems however. When it comes to the flourescents i'd look for something in the 5000K+ colour range so the light doesnt look too yellowish.
If you pick bulbs with a high CRI rating your fish will look better too - some of the real cheap and low CRI bulbs can make your fish look really odd !! lol

Cant help with the acrylic - never built a tank with it.
How big of a tank do you intend on building out of wood and acrylic ? For smaller tanks (maybe 100G or less) it seems buying a glass tank is cheaper as you end up paying a lot for the sealers etc
 
The tank will be only 50ga or so. but im biulding my myself to fit space requirments..... specific area in the living room I want it. Can I buy any Fixture and just upgrade light bulbs?
 
Yes aslong as they are the type meant to be used in the fixture. I dont know what the undercabinet system from walmart uses but i think they are 15W T-8s. You'll know when you buy them - says on the package.
 
i was also thinking about just doing a 29ga from walmart, or the 12ga eclipse( same price, what one should i get) and then do like a 40'' long water bridge to the other tank
 
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