DIY project for lights.

[Turtle77]

Ok so I am assuming that by now most of the regulars here know I got a 12 gallon nano cube tank from someone that had added some lights in his own diy project and left the hood looking horrible even thought the lights do the job. So I wanted to build a new hood or find an old nano cube hood someone has lying around and hopefully spruce things up and make my tank look decent. I would be moving my existing lights over to the new hood and I wanted to also add some moonlights, maybe put on a timer to come on when my timer for the regular lights goes off. does anyone know if these are any good?

http://cgi.ebay.com/LUNAR-AQUARIUM-...46314QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

Also I am not very mechanically inclined and my husband has no interest in such things so I am on my own. I have been looking around for maybe instructions on DIY lighting for small tanks. If anyone runs across anything usefull or has thier own projects documented with pics let me know thanks yall

 

[NeveSSL]

If you don't mind spending a bit of money, I think NanoTuners.com sell pre-modified hoods for different nano tanks. It may be worth a look at least.

Brandon

 

[DMBillies]

I've ordered from nanotuners and modded my own hood with their kits. Nothing but good things to say, but they can be pricey (heck, a lot of people spend more on their nanos than they would on a 90 gallon set-up).

If you're going to drop the money on something like that, you can also consider going topless with a viper light or some other small light fixture.

If you're just looking for a stock hood, asking around is a good way to find one since a lot of people put fixtures on them and have nothing to do with their hoods (just check the year on your tank because they have changed the design some and old/new designs are not compatible...although they will look that way).

As far as building a hood for a nano, it would be hard to make something that small that would still fit everything and not manage to look huge on top. If what the guy gave you is salvageable (pic doesn't look that bad), I'd work from that and just add what you want.

 

[NeveSSL]

Oh, and also, Moonlights are cool, but most people I think just use them to look at stuff a little more after the lights turn off. Some people who breed use them, but I don't know of any solid evidence saying they help in anyway.

Brandon

 

[Turtle77]

Well I have checked my Nano Cube and I cannot find a year or a module number on it anywhere. and some of the label with the words Nano Cube on the front lower right corner have rubbed off as well. Its not like the Nano tanks now however in that it doesnt have all the filters and stuff built into it. So the guyI bought it from must have either gotten it without all that stuff or stripped it down. It has a Hang on the Back Filter and a seperate heater that vices to the back and then it has the hood that was built by him in wood as well.
Without knowing the year and model number like you said I wouldnt want to make any purchases and it not fit right. Guess I am DIY n it anyways. Would help if I were more mechanically inclined as well. LOL
I did see the post someone started about hinges however and thats one of the things on my list to get, the third link for the small hinges looks perfect.

If anyone has old 12 Gallon Nano Cube hoods lying around for the older models let me know. But with this hang on the back filter I may not even be able to use those anyways.

 

[DMBillies]

My 24 gallon has the year on the back right side (looking from the front) of the top rim of the tank. This is a really handy place to have it if you already set the tank up (sarcasm). I used a compact mirror from my girlfriends make-up collection...

 

[Turtle77]

Ok I was able to turn this thing all the way around because its just a 12 gallon and I have it on a towel on a desk. I cannot find one single word on this thing anywhere. Hmmm. Back to the drawing board.