DIY Metal Halide Lights

Metal halide lights are high intensity discharge lamps, sometimes referred to by aquarists as sun replacement bulbs. The intense light that these bulbs emit is perfectly suited to the light requirements of marine invertebrate animals that photosynthesize. These animals, which include the many different species of corals, were not easily kept in aquariums prior to the availability of metal halide lights. Despite their positive points, metal halide lamps give off more heat than incandescent or fluorescent lights. For this reason, many hobbyists choose to suspend or stand their metal halide lamps above an open aquarium, as opposed to placing them in the aquarium canopy.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium, 48 inches long by 12 inches wide
  • Horizontal metal halide light unit
  • Two plastic leg glides
  • Two strips of 0.72-inch glass, 14 inches long by 3 inches wide
  • Emery paper
  • Small bottle of acetone
  • Clean cloth
  • Clean work surface
  • Soft towel
  • Electrical timer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Use the emery paper to sand the edges of both pieces of glass.

    • 2

      Wet the cloth with acetone and clean both pieces of glass. Wipe off any fingerprints, oil from the glass cutter and dust from the emery paper.

    • 3

      Place the first piece of glass across the width of the aquarium on the right side. Ensure that 1 inch of glass sticks out over both the front pane and back pane of the aquarium. This will prevent the glass strip from falling into the water.

    • 4

      Place the second piece of glass across the width of the aquarium on the left side. As with the first piece, ensure that 1 inch of glass sticks out over both the front pane and back pane of the aquarium.

    • 5

      Upturn the horizontal metal halide unit and place it gently onto a towel on the work surface.

    • 6

      Slide the right leg glide into place on the underside of the metal halide light unit. Do the same with the left leg glide.

    • 7

      Turn the metal halide light unit over and place its leg glides carefully onto the two strips of glass that are resting on the top of the aquarium.

    • 8

      Drape the electrical cable from the metal halide light down the back of the aquarium, on the outside of the glass.

    • 9

      Push the plug from the metal halide light unit into the electrical timer and set the timer to run from 07:45 to 19:45.

    • 10

      Plug the electrical timer into a wall power point. Turn on the wall power point. Switch on the metal halide unit.