Extra Lighting In Juwel 180

[fishstick]

I think there is enough room to fit in another T8 lighting tube in my Juwel Vision 180. What starter kit do I need? Has anyone done this and been happy with the result?

 

[Kevstir]

iv added another tube to mines, i just got an arcadia 25w-30w starter unit from pets at home for £13.99 and a new arcadia freshwater tube, it does look better, the plants do look better for it , the easy way to fit it is get 2 sets of Arcadia reflector clips and bolt them together see picture

Kev

 

[fishstick]

Thanks Kev, I will let you know how it goes, got some spare tubes and clips and £13.99 is ok.

 

[jimbooo]

i have 4 tubes on my rio180, see my journal in sig for details. it's on one of the first few pages.

 

[fishstick]

Wow... another 25 watts makes a lot of difference especially to the green neons - wish I had done it long ago. Even so its still only 75 watts in 47.5 gals so, Jimboo, your 120 watts over a similar area must be amazing. The Vision 180 has a curved front which prevents me adding any more light unless I ditch the lighting bar and put in T5's

 

[grass569]

i have 4 tubes on my rio180, see my journal in sig for details. it's on one of the first few pages.

How did you attach the new lights in the hood i cant quite make it out from your pics

 

[idlefingers]

Once you have all 4 tubes in, is there any space left to feed through or do you have to take the lights off?

 

[grass569]

Anyone know how 'Jimboo' attached the new tubes?

 

[jimbooo]

sorry people, missed the replies.

nothing special. original lighting in normal place. add 2 extra arcadia T8 ballasts with tubes.

- run wires from 2 extra tubes under the sides of the original lighting bar and rest on the centre brace

- then pull the wires tight and close the lid. (you can overlap the end cap wires over the original lighting endcaps to keep them from falling in)

no screws or extra fittings needed.

pics below (i do have the new injection molded brace though. the old one is a little lower so not sure if it would work on tanks over 5 years old)

brace

i have no pics of the current setup (both additional tubes in the front) but it is the same as this with the rear one moved to the front. i have removed reflectors on the front and lined the flap with mylar to make more room)

does that help

i'll take a current pic tonight and add to this tomorrow

 

[grass569]

sorry people, missed the replies.

nothing special. original lighting in normal place. add 2 extra arcadia T8 ballasts with tubes.

- run wires from 2 extra tubes under the sides of the original lighting bar and rest on the centre brace

- then pull the wires tight and close the lid. (you can overlap the end cap wires over the original lighting endcaps to keep them from falling in)

no screws or extra fittings needed.

pics below (i do have the new injection molded brace though. the old one is a little lower so not sure if it would work on tanks over 5 years old)

brace

i have no pics of the current setup (both additional tubes in the front) but it is the same as this with the rear one moved to the front. i have removed reflectors on the front and lined the flap with mylar to make more room)

does that help

i'll take a current pic tonight and add to this tomorrow

Yes this does help thanks it is alot simpler than i thought, looks like Kevstir has done the same but clipped them together to stop them falling in

 

[jimbooo]

yeah you can clip them but i dont see the need (unless you have cats or kiddies fiddling with things). you can just flip the extra tubes over, rest them on top of the original lighting and easily access the tank.

for feeding you can still drop flake etc through the gaps. but as above flipping them over gives the same access as the original unmodified setup.

edit: i have put a scrunched up piece of tin foil between the tubes and the brace to spread the heat and prevent the brace cracking! a point worth mentioning as mine has cracked.

 

[grass569]

yeah you can clip them but i dont see the need (unless you have cats or kiddies fiddling with things). you can just flip the extra tubes over, rest them on top of the original lighting and easily access the tank.

for feeding you can still drop flake etc through the gaps. but as above flipping them over gives the same access as the original unmodified setup.

edit: i have put a scrunched up piece of tin foil between the tubes and the brace to spread the heat and prevent the brace cracking! a point worth mentioning as mine has cracked.

thanks for that i read earlier about that happening.
Ive been looking at some twin arcadia 39w T5 lights and starter pack would these be any good to use. Sorry if this is a daft question quite new to this.

Just thought i have two kids that are quite lively 3 and 1 year old this is why i mentioned the clips

 

[jimbooo]

sorry, no experience with T5 not sure how you'd fit them.

close up's of mine

 

[grass569]

Thanks for all the help i will look into this at the weekend. Just one more question though (for now that is!) whats the best colour/type of tube to both help the plants and enhance the colours on the fish at the moment i have got the juwel originals in and from reading on this forum there suposed to not be much good
Thanks again

 

[Kevstir]

I upgraded to 1 Arcadia freshwater at the rear and 1 Interpet tri-plus for the front, the colours of the plants and the fish were greatly improved over the juwel lights , iv now got another Arcadia freshwater tube at the rear which helps brighten the tank up a bit more