Light Upgrade For Fluval Uno 600?

I have the fluval uno 600, 60cm x 30cm x 35cm with an 18" 15W bulb and I really want to grow decent plants in it which I struggle to at the moment and only have low light plants that still struggle. I have been looking at those double light unit thing but dont really know much about them. Could someone please enlighten me on the topic or point me in the right direction?

ptyson21 said:

I have the fluval uno 600, 60cm x 30cm x 35cm with an 18" 15W bulb and I really want to grow decent plants in it which I struggle to at the moment and only have low light plants that still struggle. I have been looking at those double light unit thing but dont really know much about them. Could someone please enlighten me on the topic or point me in the right direction?

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I had one of those and I know what you mean about the lighting - complete nightmare! I'd thought about trying to source a Duo lid, but apparently (or so I was told by the LFS who'd asked their Hagen rep) the Uno and Duo come in very slightly different dimensions. So, you're only option would be DIY it - maybe you could build your own hood around some new lights.

Tbh I found it more hassle (and cost) than it was worth so...I ended up just upgrading (to a 185l )

I'm not 100% sure what my tank is, but I know its a fluval (going by the hood). I wanted to upgrade the lighting in the hood but I found it a nightmare to do. For a start, the lighting unit is pretty much built in. Sure, it'll come out, but it'll leave a big hole in your hood.

I managed to get an Arcadia I-Bar very cheap on eBay. Currently its hooked onto the top of my tank with the old hood resting on top untill I can build my own hood for it. I'm not looking forwards to that part

Best thing to do may be to measure your aquarium and then go hunting in LFS for a different hood that will fit Either that, or look into overhead luminairs perhaps.

If you can get hold of a Dremel (et-al!) then you may be able to cut away the internal lighting plastic bits and leave yourself with an empty hood, then mount the new light straight onto the plastic lid. Managed this fairly easily on my Juwel hood, looks standard on the outside still.

Cool lads, the whole DIY thingy sounds pretty tricky n installing new light starters also sounds like alot of hassle. I aint got a big budget at all at the moment as im lookin for a job, im a student. I have seen a T5 AQUARIUM OVERHEAD LIGHT 2x24W inst.Halide 2ft Twinl on ebay that would fit my tank but not sure what they are like, anyone know? Do they not let a lot of heat out the tank? They are cheap on ebay i think.

P.S. I have this forum running on two forums by mistake.

ptyson21 said:

Cool lads, the whole DIY thingy sounds pretty tricky n installing new light starters also sounds like alot of hassle. I aint got a big budget at all at the moment as im lookin for a job, im a student. I have seen a T5 AQUARIUM OVERHEAD LIGHT 2x24W inst.Halide 2ft Twinl on ebay that would fit my tank but not sure what they are like, anyone know? Do they not let a lot of heat out the tank? They are cheap on ebay i think.

P.S. I have this forum running on two forums by mistake.

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I have this aquarium in my office, you can probably stick an additional 15 w arcadia into the rear gap, drill 2 holes and pass the screws through to retain the clips, there are press outs in the rear for running cables etc.

Or easier but not as even a spread of light connect two clips back to back (well 4 total) and clip a new tube to lamp to the existing tube), I used both methods to get my uno 800 to have 3 lamps.

I have gone ahead and bought the T5 light unit, all I now have to do is suss out what to do to keep the fish from jumpin out the tank n carpet surfin!!

Here is how it looks now.