Ai.M Back To Nature Light Hood Mod to Fit Standard 24" Fluorescent not 23.5"

[HappyGuppy]

I am posting this on the forum here because I just want this information to be online for anyone in the world searching for how to modify an Ai.M 620 Back to Nature cube aquarium to accept the standard 24 inch fluorescent tubes, not the unusual 23.5 inch tubes that come standard with this tank.  I search online for a solution and discovered that many people have a similar problem but I haven't found a solution.  After days of ponder how to fix my lighting issue I finally figured it out, and am posting the solution here.

First remove the hood from the aquarium, and obviously unplug it from electricity.

Remove the clear acrylic light cover.

Remove 5 screws, two on left, two on right, and one in the center.  The other screws are holding parts in place so don't remove those.  The white panel holding the light fixtures should now loose so you may lift it from the black cover. 

Pinch the T8 light socket sides to release them from the panel and then slide them through the hole out.

Using pliers (I used needle nose) bend back and forth until you break the little strip against the rectangular hole the T8 sockets sat in.  Make sure you don't have an pieces left, you want it to be completely straight with the rest of the panel.  Later when you put the T8 sockets back in you'll be able to push them back farther so that the standard 24" tube will fit.

Again using pliers break off the little bit of plastic on the T8 socket that went into the little hole.

Replace the T8 sockets, pinching the sides, until it snaps back into place.  Push the socket so that it sits farther than before.

Replace the panel and put back the screws to attach it back to the hood.

Push the T8 sockets as far as you can against the hood.

Replace your fluorescent tubes.

Replace your clear acrylic light cover.

Plug the hood into the wall to test that it all works correctly.  (((DANGER:  IF YOU ACCIDENTALLY LOOSENED THE WIRES THEN OF COURSE YOU HAVE A RISK OF ELECTROCUTION.  I ACCEPT NO RESPONSABILITY FOR YOUR OUTCOME OF USING THE INFORMATION I POSTED HERE.  JUST SHARING THE INFO OF WHAT I HAVE DONE TO FIX MY OWN PROBLEM.  I hope that this helps others).

If everything works well then replace the light hood onto your tank.

Enjoy.  Now you can use the standard 24" fluorescent light tubes for your aquarium instead of the nearly impossible to get short 23.5 inch tubes.