Introduction: 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
Step 1: Things 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)
Step 2: Take Everything Out of the Hood Light
Step 3: Take the Light Fixture Out of the Desk Lamp
Step 4: Glue in Sheet Metal/aluminum Foil
Step 5: Glue the Light Fixture Into the Hood Light
Step 6: Put Connectors on the Wires
Step 7: Test It
Hooray, you have just upgraded your aquarium light.
If you have any questions just comment
ps. sorry for my shortage on pics