Hello guys, here is the story if you want the whole story, but reading this post should be enough.

Because of high heat in fluorescent bulb's compartment, i want to drill holes in my aquarium lid like i was suggested:



But i do not know how many should i make, of which diameter and which drill bit to use. I thought about installing small PC cooler but person said holes would be sufficient.


Thanks to those who are willing to help.

I'd have thought a 5mm Hss drill bit would do the job..

Make sure you drill from the under side of the lid out so as not to hit any wiring.

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Verwood Handyman
I Know it says I'm On-line, but I might have just left myself logged in, whilst I'm out....

Guys i want to show you lid in more detail (available in HD):



As you can see, there is a steel (or metal?) attached to compartment's "ceiling" which is held by 1 philips screw. I think i should first take it out, drill it and then place it back in order to mark holes which are about to be drilled on plastic. There is only 1 wire coming out and it is not integrated betwen steel and plastic so i should not worry about hitting it.

That metal part is probably just a reflector for the light? Very thin aluminium i expect.

If you think thats what you need to do, i would remove the metal, cover the outside with masking tape, and mark out a nice neat pattern/grid Some plastics can crack if you push too hard, so use a nice sharp bit. I would drill from the outside out of ease, wont make much difference.

I am no expert when it comes to fish keeping, but the light on ours barely gives off any heat at all....

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Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?

And what about drilling the metal? Or maybe you meant to completely get rid of it? If so, how would i get light reflection?

so am i understanding this properly
you have a low energy bulb fully enclosed to stop light but give out heat??
if you ventilate you are reducing the heat output and increasing the light output?

if this is the case then its badly designed and thought out but off course you know that

aahh its a light not a heat source
drill big holes about 8 x8mm and place a baffle off perspex/steel /ally what ever you like around 12mm above the surface and overlapping the holes by 12mm
i assume the surface facing the tank is non vented and transparent

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we are all ------------------still learning

No, i have 15W fluorescent bulb, sealed by plastic which is to protect bulb from water splashes and evaporation. But alas somehow water still could get in earlier or evaporation if to be precise since there was a lot of heat produced in bulb's compartment which caused water to rise in temperature and evaporate on surface thereby causing evaporation to reach into bulb's compartment through gaps in plastic's sealing rubber i assume, which i now filled them with silicone:



Heat however can still not escape so i was adviced to drill holes to reach convection.




8 holes with 8mm in diameter, correct? What do you mean by transparent surface? Are you talking about surface of aquarium lid or under the lid?

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I'm n00bie in DIY

just thought you might like to make a feature of the escaping light
8 holes gives you 2 squares or 2 diamonds or any other pattern you like
you are going to see the light what ever happens so why not use it ??

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we are all ------------------still learning

Oh, you thought that plastic is a surface? Well it acts as a sealant and placed below lid. If i drill holes in that plastic, then water splashes will get inside which might cause evaporation.

i do understand its the lid you want to pierce i was just saying the light will escape through the holes so why not make a feature off it

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we are all ------------------still learning

Yes you mentioned escaping light and something like squares and diamonds patterns but i do not understand what are you coming to. For aesthetic purpose to install transparent plastic and diamond so i would get glowing effect of escaping light?

Q-max cutter, small as you can get, nice clean hole.

Not familiar with such. I am not from US or UK.

It's what I would suggest. You could use an ordinary drill that you can find in your region but it may not be as clean a cut. How about LED lights that do not give off the heat of fluorescent lights

Like this one?

http://bit.ly/sgYS1t

6.2 cm x 3.7 cm x 3.7 cm are dimensions. But what is the diameter? Is it 3.7 cm? Also it is E27 when i need E14. I could buy E27-to-E14 adapter like this one though:

http://bit.ly/upwE6O