CFL Bulb: The Cheap Upgrade to the Aquarium Hood Light

CFLs(Compact Flourescent Lightbulbs) are getting cheaper and better in every way. But meanwhile flourescent lightbulbs for aquariums at my local fish store costed around 12 bucks and seem to be getting more expensive. It diddn't help that my aquarium hood light's circuitry was all rusted and broken and bulbs would burn out on a weekly basis because of it.  Finally I was fed up with it all and decided to do something about it.

At first I found the instructables on how to make an led light. I thought I would do that but when I went to Fry's Electronics I found out that it would be like 40 dollars to by all the led's I needed. I couldv'e bought them online but being my impacient self, I diddnt. Plus I diddn't like all the tedious soldering that went into everything.

Finally I came up with this: The Compact Flourescent Aquarium Hood Light
some benefiets are:
-No soldering!( YAY)
-Easy to aquire materials
-Brighter aquarium
-Cheaper to replace bulb
-Every time you replace the bulb it also replaces all the circuitry so it'll last a long time
 

DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for anything that happens to anyone that  does this instructable.  Its pretty straight forward and easy but we are dealing with 120 volts AC so its possible for someone get hurt or for something to catch on fire.

Step 1 Things You Need

 Here are the materials you need:
-Aquarium hood light
-CFL Bulb
-Not needed desk lamp
-wire connectors- rated 120 volts (I found these in the old circuitry of aquarium hood light)
-Sheet metal or Aluminum Foil (I used sheet metal but aluminum foil would probably work just as well)

Tools:
-Hot glue gun 
-Screw driver (for taking out the circuitry of hood light)

Comments

[Jimbok3]

Great idea... but the bulbs meant for aquarium use need to be used they provide parts of the spectrum that fish and plants need, (never use a cfl for saltwater the coral will suffer). i've been breeding fish for a while and have tried many different types of lights and in the long run the flourescent tubes are better for your aquarium.

[NachoMahma]

.  Great job
.
.  As lemonie points out, fluorescent tubes for aquaria output a different color mix than CFLs (or maybe I should say that I haven't seen any CFLs labeled for aquarium use). Any live plants may suffer (but the increased overall light level may make up for it).

[pyroarchist]

they make full spectrum grow CFLs, and hopefully CFLs labeled for aquarium use never happen, because of the pricepoint of things. currently using 2 CFLs on my 10 gal glofish aquarium, two party bulbs from Wal Mart, one accentic (sp?) and one UV/blacklight.

[Rainh2o]

These guys have them for aquarium use... http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/PowerCompact.html

[underwhelmed]

They do make them, but they cost more than standard CFL bulbs. The color output isn't really as big of a deal as the bulb makers would have you believe.

It is more critical when using fluorescent bulbs with reptiles or with corals. These applications do need full spectrum.   

[lemonie]

Fluorescent.
The aquarium tubes are expensive because they output at higher colour-temperatures than other fluorescent tubes, this will have some effect upon the tank & things living in it.

L

[Rainh2o]

You can buy full spectrum CFL's

[lemonie]

colour temperature is something else though.

L

[Rainh2o]

More then enough information to conclude that some CFLs are just as good as aquarium flors lights... http://americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

[lemonie]

yes, full of information that, good find.

L

[Rainh2o]

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/PowerCompact.html

[Rainh2o]

One thing about these CFLs as well is that when they get dimmer from wear, when you replace them you get all new driver electronics as well. They dont go dim as fast as tubes either.

[twocvbloke]

You know, I think I may do this, I'm getting sick of the fluo. tube in ours (so inefficient and takes up room in the top where I store the food & cleaning stuff), AND you can buy proper light bulbs for aquariums in CFL form, so, yeah, great idea... :)

[CrazyAirborne]

Painting the inside of the hood white is really simple and makes the light output even better then the sheet metal. Thats what Ive seen done and done myself.

[gjm]

Actually, the Home Depot and Lowes sell CFL that go up to 6500K which  would be ideal for an aquarium.

[underwhelmed]

This should work for most aquarium plants, as they do not require the output most aquarium plant bulbs put out. Most aquarium plants actually receive too much light and that with the fact that most novice aquarium keepers overfeed leads to algae.

I would actually add a step that will make the CFL last longer as well as make it much safer, and that would be to put a bead of silicone in the groove that goes around the base of the CFL. These bulbs are not meant for use in moist or damp areas, and the moister wicks into the bulb shorting the circuitry.