how to create a dual temp display for your tank and hood

I built this to read the temp for my lights and my tank.. i think it looks pretty cool

Buy a car thermo temp reader with dual temp display:


Decide where you are going to place the thermo:


Cut the rectangle where the display is going to be. This method was HELL of a difficult.. I ended up having to sand and fill A LOT!! Only advice I can give is to cut the hole abit smaller and sand off the rest:


Now see how it looks:


Create a back piece to block out the light on the inside:




Now to make the temperature probe water proof. I had an old filter pipe connector that I modified.


Modified the probe to fit:


Now fill the probe with epoxy glue to make it water proof. This step is pretty tricky..try mixing both solutions in the pipe connector instead of mixing it outside then pouring it in.


Next, remove the back cover to drill some ventilation holes so that temp readings will be more accurate.




Install and paint everything and there you have it! dual temp display for your lights and tank.


*pls note, the temp for tank of lights may not be accurate. Use at your own risk.

The lights wont be that accurate because the sensor is not close enough to the lights in the center.for me it was about 3-4 degs off..

I did however test the tank temp with the digital reader and a traditional thermometer. Both came back with the same readings.

 

oh ya, and before you pop the probe into the water, soak it in a cup of water for a few days.. just to leach out the chems..

 

awesome stuff man. just a quick question for the sealing of the probe in the plastic fitting, can one not just use clear silicone, that would make it waterproof and is also safe for your fish.

oh on a side note i think you need to be more careful on the diy stuff dont wanna loose all your nails

 

Awesome stuff Shihr! I LOVE DIY sutff...

 

ya, silicone would work.. but its really messy imo.. the epoxy gave a smoother look.. also, the epoxy was more ready to sink because air bubbles dont get trapped.. u could probably use a stone or something to weigh it down if u use sillicone i guess..

HAHAHA.. ya, i jammed my finger in a door 2 months ago.. hadn done that in like 14yrs forgot how it can HURT LIKE HELLLLLLL..... haha..

 

thanks shibby..i love it too.. if you can think it, you can make it

 

Well said! I'm very depressed after this sump build as I've realised that that the custom stuff has more or less reached a brick wall as far as my tank is concerned... All that's really left is my nitrate reactor and backdrop and I'm done. Then there'll be nothing left to DIY... :-(

 

meee toooo i keep looking at my tank and think: what can i do next... NOTHING

 

And for us DIY nuts that's the worst feeling ever... Lack of possibility... The only answer will be to sell and start again... bigger... better...

 

and thats the problem.. we always selling at a loss..

 

Not in my case... ;-) I import most of my stuff from China at 10% of the local price...

 

Nice DIY man!! NIce!!

 

thanks..