I've been experimenting around with ways of improving lighting my tanks. I´ve used sealed garden lamps (2 pin CF13W at 3,000K), some of which I upgraded to CF27W at 6,500K. I recently removed all of them and I'm working with standard incandescent socket built-in ballast CFs of various wattages at 5,500, 6,400, and 6,500K.

I came up with this simple (maybe except for the transversal cutting, my brother in-law skills and tools help me there) DIY PVC lighting upgrade:

The ends are covered with half cutted PVC caps. I am using high pressure 4" diameter PVC. Caps not shown in drawings. It's a work in progress. Painted interior wall with as bright white spray paint I could get, and mate black for the outside wall.








Pepe
Santo Domingo

hi pepe, nice to know that i am not alone.
using PVC as housing for tank lighting. i made
one pvc lighting too but for moonlight effect.
using 20W FL blacklight embedded in a pvc with
10mm strip opening (straight)to give downlight
effect. great to see the fish swimming at night.

PAUL wrote:


What diameter PVC you used for this? Nice idea Paul, thanks for sharing it.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

the first time, i used the neltx 2 inches dia
but heat accumulate inside, thus, i change it
with the 3 inches dia.