Improving Lighting In A Rena Aqua 20

[Shred]

I'm moving house soon and I'm going to have to cut my tanks down to 2 (maybe 3 if I'm a good boy ;p) small tanks, the ones I have at the moment are Rena Aqua 20s. However the lighting in them is terrible. Its a little 12V 10W bulb that does basically nothing, and I'd like to have plants in my tank other than anubias and java fern to be honest. I wasn't too worried about it before but since the two bulbs ran out I've had to get new ones, which seem to be even duller than the ones boxed with the tank.

Heres an image of the current lighting system

and an image of the tank and hood

, shown, as ever, with two massive goldfish in it

Is there any way I could buy a replacement hood with a tube light in it to fit on this tank? I guess I would have to take of the current hood fitting using something to disolve the silicone?

If anyone could provide me with a link to a store that sells spare hoods I would be grateful, and also if anyone knows the proper way to remove the hood and silicone that info would be useful too.

 

[Shred]

Well I dont know if anyone is actually reading this but I'll just talk to myself! After a lot of searching I think I've found something suitable.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOYU-T5-8W-x-3-Aquarium-Overhead-Tank-Lighting-Lamp-/160341941881?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item25551fde79

I've only managed to find it for sale on ebay though, from hong kong...

EDIT: Argh, apprarently it only fits tanks up to 35cm, mine is 40cm

If anyone can find anything similar please let me know.

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDIT:

Well, according to this post: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/311804-ebay-boyu-light/page__p__2582977__hl__boyu%20overhead__fromsearch__1&#entry2582977

it should fit any tank up to 17" yay

 

[lljdma06]

Sorry I missed this thread. Happens sometimes. Glad you were able to find what you were looking for. Don't let shipment from Hong Kong intimidate you. I've received many supplies and even live plants from Hong Kong and Singapore and have had no problems thus far. The world is, I think, getting smaller.

 

[Shred]

Not a problem! Don't suppose you know anything about removing the hood and silicone from my tank?

 

[lljdma06]

Not a problem! Don't suppose you know anything about removing the hood and silicone from my tank?

Sorry, Shred, I'm not a huge DIYselfer. Might be an occasion to visit the hardward and DIY section, though.

 

[Shred]

*wooooosh* so, anyone over here know anything about removing the hood and silicone?

 

[Deek]

Silicone normally just pulls off, then i use a razor blade to remove trace of if, you do get proper stuff had it at work before but it will probably melt plastic. Are you going to remove the hood completely or just retrofit better lighting on it and then refit it ?. I used a little LED strip to brighten my little tank a while ago think plants blocked all light at back so stuck LED's at the front, got them from www.ledmoonlights.co.uk they do them in a few colours i have the triple kit in blue on my big tank for moonlighting but they do white as well.

Hope this Helps

Deek

 

[Shred]

Thanks Deek yea I want to remove the hood and fitting completely so its just glass on the top.

 

[Deek]

Yeah should be ok with a razor blade then for the sealant, i normally hold blade with plyers as i got a nasty one last year when i redone sealant on a leaky tank. I've got a 28L i removed the lid from and made a cover from perspex did have to modify a few bits for the HOB filter and the arcadia compact lamp fixing, tank is a bowfront though so took ages to get perfect.

 

[Shred]

Finally got around to doing this. Used a hacksaw to remove the plastic frame, then a razorblade to remove the silicone, took aaaaaages.