Anyone ever tried painting these?

Mikaila31

Perhaps I didn't state it right. My 5 gallon Mini-bow hood WAS meant to be used over open water. It had a really cheap basically pointless condensation "guard" which is what I assume it was meant to do or perhaps to shield the bulb from direct splashes. It did basically nothing for condensation. Other then that it is a standard incandescent dual socket and was wired no differently then any other lamp socket I have seen. Originally it had wire nuts and a extra plastic 'shield' around the base of the wires and base of socket. Neither the bulb guard or plastic shield protected it sufficiently IMO. I completely rewired and modified it from the start. Its safer IMO then it was previously, still I run plastic wrap between the hood and the tank to keep the moisture off it and stop evaporation.

IMO main difference between interior and exterior fixtures is simply testing and perhaps a grounding wire and some small added moisture resistance. There is extra cost to test fixtures in a humid/outdoor setting to make sure they preform thus they are more expensive.

Regardless of the fixture any aquarium should be on a GFCI if you are truly worried about electrical equipment. All but one of my tanks are on GFCI outlets.

If your worried about dangerous malfunction there are many manufactured aquarium fixtures that have done that. My main point is a lot of aquarium hood/lights are overpriced pieces of junk. Odyssea is one brand name of cheap aquarium lights that has a lot of fire reports and other problems in the past.

Then again I am running ballasts that have absolutely no casing on them at all

Hanky

I have yet to see or hear about a light fixture that is completely water proof if dropped in the tank. Theres very little difference between indoor and outdoor fixtures really mostly a foam gasket and cardboard ring that goes around base of bulb. were not even sure what he plans on doing with this light though.

redchigh

I'd cover all exposed wires with aquarium silicone, and then spray the entire lamp with 'Krylon Fusion' paint.

Inside of the reflector should be white, but the outside can be any color.

Also, don't use incandescent bulbs- Go with CFLs. A 23W CFL produces more light than a 100W incandescent, lasts at least 10X longer, and produces about as much heat as a 10W bulb- it's WAY cooler.

Big Fate

Eh, i'd have to disagree with this one. I work on lights and ballast for living and run into all types of fixtures. Some vast majority being CFL's which are always in the ceiling upside down hanging. They last any wheres from 2-3 years. Which is pretty decent IMO.

Also Humidity is not a problem unless you make it one. Use a glass top, so evaporation is not an issue for ur light fixtures.

The only way it would "arc" is if it had wire nuts holding the wires together and one came loose to hit the actual fixture.

Glass top= No Catastrophe lol

Chris7

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