Additional Tank Lighting

[Snetty]

I've currently got 1 15w light in my Tropical tank which works out to under 1wpg which is obviously no good. I want to add another 30w minimum really, but it's so damn expensive to buy 2 more of what i already have. I've had a look around the various online stores (anything I buy will have to come from the net really) and i'm now just confused. My tank can only accommodate lighting with a total length of 26cm's, which also leaves me rather limited with options. Is it possible to run 2 lights off one starter unit (apart from anything else I'd like to minimise the amount of damn sockets I need to use).

Can anyone make any recommendations?

 

[Bloo]

Can you give us a photo of what your hood currently looks like ?

 

[bobf]

I'm pretty sure you can't run two tubes off the same starter, though I have seen starters designed for twin tube applications.

Since you seem very limited for space anyway maybe it's worth looking into using a white cold cathode? Pretty small, very cheap and low power too!

Have a look at the pinned topic from smithrc and just think about substituting white for blue.

From DIY section

 

[Bloo]

I think just about any hood can be adjusted and convered to accommodate more tubes - however you will definitely need more (or double) units. As bobf says, you can't run two tubes on one starter that's only made for one tube.

One my own (stupid hood) I went from 2 x 15W to 3 x 18W by making some modifications.

Original

Gutted

Modded

 

[Tcian]

You can check out AHSupply.com to see if they have any conversion kits that will fit your hood. They have a good selection of DIY lighting kits at fair prices. I bought a 2X36 watt kit for my 29 gal high tank and was impressed with the way it worked out for me.

 

[Snetty]

the hood is just completely plain and open. The only issue is the length really. Anyway, was chatting to some guys on the chat channel and they pointed me in the direction of a thread about using standard low power lighting. That'll mean a completely new hood which I'll have to build to accommodate the extra height that it'll need (I don't want non-waterproof fittings as close to the water as my current hood would make them).

Anyway, thanks to the guys in irc.