Help... Too bright can't see my fish

[kwandrsn]

Ok I upgraded to led lighting and I am using eggcrate for a lid to keep jumpers in. I don't want a canopy cause I would be removing it weekly when I do water changes and what not plus I don't have to ability to cut the bow front. All I own is a hack saw and a circular saw any ideas



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[kwandrsn]

And also my bed is on the right and when I look over I get blinded by the leds as well

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[spscrazy]

I had the same problem in my living room tank is right across from where I sit needed a instant fix I taped a piece of aluminum foil across the front bottom of the led keeping away from the vents worked like a charm maybe not the prettiest fix but not so bad

 

[Dana]

To make a bow front, just use several thin strips of wood. Put some glue in between each piece then laminate them all together. Now you can bend them and clamp or nail them to the curvature you need. When dry just cut off the excess at the ends to size you need. Just my two cents

 

[Dana]

Another thing to help, is to make a quick jig. Trace the bow onto a piece of poster board then cut. Now trace the bow onto a flat piece of wood, and use some small pieces to screw onto the flat piece along the back side of your tracing. Now when you've got your laminate glued, you can set on your jig and push it against your blocks. If you don't have clamps just screw some blocks along the front edge to hold until glue dries.

 

[kwandrsn]

Cool. I may end up buying a cheap jig saw from harbor freight and cutting a curved piece. I only want the sides and front though. I want to be able to slide it off easily to do my water changes and I have hob filter and I don't want to have to raise the light up to remove it ya know

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[Dana]

A jigsaw will only cut an inch or so thickness. How will that help?
Not sure what the plan is....

 

[kwandrsn]

cut two curved pieces out of a 2x6 and make kinda a frame and then wrap it with paneling

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[Dana]

Ahh god idea. Sometimes the obvious stuff escapes me lol

 

[kwandrsn]

I would love to have a while canopy it just isn't functional for me. I have to lift 5 gallon buckets if water high enough as it is

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[Spaceman Spliff]

looks like you need to cut down on the reflections...use black eggcrate instead of white. Then put some black posterboard on the wall between the light brackets.

 

[Dana]

I understand. I finally invested in a pump, some hose and a couple of PVC pipe fittings to mak a hook. Now I just drop pump into bucket, hook the top on my tank and plug in. No more dumping buckets for me lol.
I'm sure you could make a simple slide on/off canopy

 

[kwandrsn]

looks like you need to cut down on the reflections...use black eggcrate instead of white. Then put some black posterboard on the wall between the light brackets.

Well I lose any light by using black instead of white?

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[Reef Rover]

I agree with Dana. Forget lifting buckets, a small cheap pump and some tubing. Add a couple zip ties to hold it on the pump and you'll never lift another bucket to fill the tank. Just be sure to check the head pressure on your pump. As far as your lighting issue I think a canopy would be best but I wonder how much some tinted lexan from your local hardware store attached to the light would work.

 

[Dave A]

It looks to me like your fixture may be way to high for the optics. All that light on the wall is light that could be in the tank. Try lowering the fixture to about half as far from the water.

 

[kwandrsn]

The reason why its so high is the fixture says it covers a 24" tank and mine is 30" so I was told to raise it higher to get the sides

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