simonbrown403
Fish Herder
I,m starting a planted tank, using gf225 and zigs EI method, which needs at least 2wats per gal.
The problem is the record 96 only has one 18wats tube which puts it at 0.8wat per gal.
Big C's light mod probably would of been ok, i could of fit a 25wat tube on top of the 18wat which would of give me 43wats, 1.9wats per gal.
I inherited a load of aquarium gear from a customer i fitted a bedroom for, off a juwel rio 180 bowed front that one of his kids had smashed.
It was Christmas all over again, i got the filter, heater, light unit and a digital thermometer.
IF i could use it to add more light it would give me 50wats at 2.2wats per gal, so there was no harm in trying as the lighting unit was free and wasn't doing much else.
What i did was to dismantle the lighting unit and take the ballast and fittings out, and yes i know the blue light is no good for a planted aquarium, i'm planning on replacing both with new tubes.
I managed to carefully prise the cover off the records lid to reveal the ballast and wiring, it took about 20mins with an array of sharp instruments, and amazingly no cuts on my hand.
Next how to get them under the hood.
At first i thought of using four clip, but that was to messy.
What i did it to cut the ends off the original rio fitting to make two caps, in which i cut two slots for the light fittings to fit and be glued to with araldite.
Once that was done, drilled a small hole in each to pass the wires through and then fit the tubes on to space it ready to glue on to the hood.
To glue it i filled the cup with silicon and pushed it in place.
The wire from the fitting where pushed through some small holes drilled in the compartment for the ballast, and siliconed son no moisture could get in
This is a pic of the ballast compartment.
Once the wiring was finished i siliconed the plastic cover back on.
All that's left now is to buy a couple of juwels clip on reflectors and the jobs a good one
Have a look at my planted tank journal HERE
The problem is the record 96 only has one 18wats tube which puts it at 0.8wat per gal.
Big C's light mod probably would of been ok, i could of fit a 25wat tube on top of the 18wat which would of give me 43wats, 1.9wats per gal.
I inherited a load of aquarium gear from a customer i fitted a bedroom for, off a juwel rio 180 bowed front that one of his kids had smashed.
It was Christmas all over again, i got the filter, heater, light unit and a digital thermometer.
IF i could use it to add more light it would give me 50wats at 2.2wats per gal, so there was no harm in trying as the lighting unit was free and wasn't doing much else.
What i did was to dismantle the lighting unit and take the ballast and fittings out, and yes i know the blue light is no good for a planted aquarium, i'm planning on replacing both with new tubes.
I managed to carefully prise the cover off the records lid to reveal the ballast and wiring, it took about 20mins with an array of sharp instruments, and amazingly no cuts on my hand.
Next how to get them under the hood.
At first i thought of using four clip, but that was to messy.
What i did it to cut the ends off the original rio fitting to make two caps, in which i cut two slots for the light fittings to fit and be glued to with araldite.
Once that was done, drilled a small hole in each to pass the wires through and then fit the tubes on to space it ready to glue on to the hood.
To glue it i filled the cup with silicon and pushed it in place.
The wire from the fitting where pushed through some small holes drilled in the compartment for the ballast, and siliconed son no moisture could get in
This is a pic of the ballast compartment.
Once the wiring was finished i siliconed the plastic cover back on.
All that's left now is to buy a couple of juwels clip on reflectors and the jobs a good one
Have a look at my planted tank journal HERE
