DIY overhead light fittings

[abisheride]

I'm a newbie here, returning to aquatics after a few years of being skint.
Want to create a beautiful planted tank but struggling to find overhead light fittings that aren't rediculously expensive. Has anyone made their own? It's a 60cm long tank, 30cm high and 32cm width. It's going to be home to juvenile axolotls until they outgrow it, when it will have something small like cherry shrimp or cloud minnows in it.
If someone could direct me to a tutorial or even conversations on making their own overhead fittings that would be fantastic. Thank you

 

[OllieNZ]

Hi and welcome.
What sort of budget do you have? and are you wanting something that you can suspend or sit on the tank?

 

[abisheride]

Not much of a budget at all really- £20? And either or, sitting on the tank would be better but a suspended one isn't so bad either.

 

[abisheride]

I wanted something like this
SILVER 6w Hidom Clip On Aquarium LED Two Mode Overhead Lighting Lamp Lights | eBay
However I'm not sure about LEDs- can plants utilise that light? I would rather have something with a bulb I can choose myself.

 

[OllieNZ]

Plants use LED light just fine. I think that unit wouldn't be suitable for your tank as its too short. and wouldn't give enough spread. I used 2x 3w(single cree chip) gu10 fitting bulbs over a 60x35x35 for a while and they seemed to work well but if I did the same setup again Id use 3 bulbs not 2.

 

[abisheride]

Am I wanting something that spans the whole length of the tank? I see that one I posted was about half.

 

[abisheride]

There are similar ones at 45cm and 60cm. Would I be wanting the 60cm?

 

[OllieNZ]

Ideally yes. I'm a bit unsure as to whether the cheap ones are up to the job, have a look for the new tmc aqua bar or an arcadia stretch led 50 or 60

 

[abisheride]

Blummin' £50 or more though! Don't think I could manage that. I've been told a T5 bulb would do it- still it's just the fitting and a reflector I need

 

[Andy Thurston]

What about these I've got the 8w version crammed in the hood on my 35l
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=261280849825
Seems to grow plants ok

 

[NexusIcon]

Sorry to hijack/revive considering getting the 14w version of that one clown, is it still running strong? The grammar and spelling put me right off
Looking for something for my currently bare 2x1x1 to turn it into a sulawesi shrimp tank :] so only growing mosses really!
Also looking at this but not sure it will be up to even growing moss? Would be .5wpg?

 

[Andy Thurston]

Hc still seems to be growing slowly fissidens moss seems nice and green. Its not massive amounts of light but it grows a few plants and i'm only running 2 tubes

 

[NexusIcon]

Ah cool! Are they just normal 14w bulbs, or a little harder to replace?

 

[Andy Thurston]

Mines just normal t5 8w. I use sylvania 6500k tubes for £2 each