MAKE | HOW TO – Hollow out a light bulb

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By Phillip Torrone
Posted 2006/05/19 @ 9:50 am
Category Art & Design, Craft

John writes – “I have a tutorial on how you can re-purpose a burned out light bulb. The uses are endless, art projects, science experiments, fish bowls for tiny fish, a place to start small plants.” – Link.

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20 Responses to HOW TO – Hollow out a light bulb

nicrosin on May 19th, 2006 at 9:30 am said:

Light bulbs are also great for making vases: http://www.craftbits.com/viewProject.do?projectID=886

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license on May 19th, 2006 at 10:44 am said:

Has anyone tried to make an aquarium out of one? I wonder what kind of fish could live in one.

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- Anonymous on November 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm said:
  
  Yes, people use these to house beta and small shrimp
  
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jhurliman on May 19th, 2006 at 11:24 am said:

Make HOW TO: Build a crack pipe with a screwdriver, a lightbulb and a lighter.

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JohnKit on May 19th, 2006 at 2:00 pm said:

Betta fish don’t mind the small spaces.

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NateMC on May 19th, 2006 at 5:38 pm said:

Easier way to get the powder out. dump some salt in and shake it.

Thank the meth addicts I used to know for that tip.

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yo_tyler on May 19th, 2006 at 9:36 pm said:

Yes, a betta fish could live in a lightbulb. But you could also live in a one man tent, but you wouldn’t want too.

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Terc on May 22nd, 2006 at 11:31 am said:

@license, yes, I have made an “aquarium” out of one. I used a g40 bulb and it’s keeping my beta fish Edison very happy. I’m looking to upgrade to a g60 if I can get one.

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Terc on May 22nd, 2006 at 11:32 am said:

@license, yes, I have made an “aquarium” out of one. I used a g40 bulb and it’s keeping my beta fish Edison very happy. I’m looking to upgrade to a g60 if I can get one.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h34/Tercster/7e2df40d.jpg

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Terc on May 22nd, 2006 at 11:44 am said:

@license,
I have made a small beta fish bowl out of a g40 lightbulb. My beta (named him Edison) loves it.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h34/Tercster/7e2df40d.jpg

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ballookey on May 22nd, 2006 at 3:01 pm said:

The betta might not mind the small space temporarily, but anything smaller than 1 gallon needs to be cleaned every three or four days to avoid fungus and bacterial infections. So my question is, how do you get the fish in and out for bowl cleanings without injuring it? All I’m seeing is the little neck opening, which worries me a bit. I’d also caution that while these fish are often marketed as being tollerant of small spaces and poor water quality, it does in fact adversely affect their longevity and quality of life, without question.

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Robogeek on May 22nd, 2006 at 5:11 pm said:

I wouldn’t do this with a fish, but this looks like a great home for one of those “Biospheres’ with the little plant, snail & sea monkeys/brine shrimp, or triops.

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phorcys on May 23rd, 2006 at 1:52 pm said:

Smaller bowls encourage a more attractive fish because more of their energy goes to their appearance– not saying this is the “right” way to keep a betta, but it is a fact.

Another fact– the betta gill organs do not work like that of a regular fish. no matter how high the oxygen level in the water, if the betta cannot breathe surface air into its labyrinth lung, it will suffocate. Stand the thing up and take the silver part off, and the fish should be fine.

Change the water alot, because the small amount will get toxic quickly– way before it gets cloudy. Betta evolved in rice paddies, so if you can keep it pretty warm, that’s ideal. A cool environment can kill a betta or at least shorten its life. Part of having a nifty tank is not having to replace the tennant every three weeks

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 11:42 am said:

this is cruel not big enough opening and way to small the should have at least 1/2 a gallon dont do this! its cruel to those little guys!

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 11:42 am said:

this is cruel not big enough opening and way to small the should have at least 1/2 a gallon dont do this! its cruel to those little guys!

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 11:43 am said:

this is cruel not big enough opening and way to small the should have at least 1/2 a gallon dont do this! its cruel to those little guys!

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 11:43 am said:

this is cruel not big enough opening and way to small the should have at least 1/2 a gallon dont do this! its cruel to those little guys!

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 12:04 pm said:

this is cruel to the fish dont harm them its like living in a closet!

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 12:05 pm said:

this is cruel to the fish dont harm them its like living in a closet!

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singinggeek94 on August 24th, 2006 at 12:13 pm said:

this is cruel to the fish dont harm them its like living in a closet!

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