Very cheap low lighting affect

[crackatinny]

I was after a coloured low light affect for my new tank, after considering many alternatives, it seemed it was not going to be cheap, that was untill I was in a local discount variety store and seen a christmas star light, basically it was a metal from with a 1 metre rope light attatched with cable ties, I snipped off the cable ties and fixed the rope along the inside front of my hood, result was a very nice low light red affect. all for the low cost of AU$6.99.

Make sure it is the non flashing lights.

[Lady Hobbs]

There are colored tube covers in big hardware stores like Lowe's and Home Depot. Only cost a few bucks. The bulb just slides into these "shatter guards".

http://www.covershield.co.uk/ They look like this. I used to use them in my kitchen so if a bulb shattered, glass wouldn't go flying.

[jeffs99dime]

you could also get some l.e.d's at radio shack and retrofit them into the hood. works well. very inexpensive as well.