lighting in a jewel rekord

[One_Trick_Pony]

hey guys

i have just got a jewel rekord 120 and want a planted tank, i belive that it is not so easy to add extra bulbs to these tnaks? tho i can't now find the thread for it.

so im thinking would it be easy and possble to build another hood for it, basically i have no knowledge of diy but my girlfriend does, i do the cooking!!! any how would it be easy enough to do?

i was thinking of adding an extra bulb for the plants and maybe a moonlight blub as well. i would prefre to use the exitsing hood but doubt that i can if not can some one help a dunce like me to build one, by kind of telling me what i would need to do?

OTP

 

[daza]

Is this the thread you meant?

edit... or this one.

 

[jimbooo]

Ha Ha,

by the way Big C's diy hood is better than mine so follow the second link on the post above.

it makes a huge difference which ever one you choose. so get diy-ing



good luck

PS moonlight bulbs will grow you a lovely pearling tank of algae... dont use them unless it's for 45 mins before lights out. i wouldn't bother if i were you.

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

cheers guys!

 

[Bloo]

PS moonlight bulbs will grow you a lovely pearling tank of algae... dont use them unless it's for 45 mins before lights out. i wouldn't bother if i were you.

As opposed to say 8 hours of normal lighting? I'm considering one of these moonlight kits too and to have it turned on a couple of hours or so a night - though you say it's a no-no and 45 minutes max. Is that from your personal experience ? I'm in no way sarcastic, but would genuinely like to know and it's a serious question

 

[One_Trick_Pony]

yeah i would like to know too a lot of peoppe on here recommade them, but i wanna be sure its ok before i put one in

 

[jimbooo]

to be totally honest i haven't used them before. like both of you i want one in my 40G to bring out the gold nugget plec as he hides all the time.

i've done some research and bought more light tubes than i know what to do with as i keep buying stuff without researching properly (6 spare in the cupboard!!) the problem is the blue part of the spectrum encourages algae and does nothing for plants. hence if you have a moonlight on all day you'll only grow algae. if you have 2 tubes in your hood you could use one freshwater bulb (or anything 5500-6700K ish) to be on all day and one moonlight on a timer to come on just before lights out to simulate dusk. however your loosing 1/2 the WPG potential of your hood by only using one plant tube so only low light plants will grow well.

in my opinion your better off getting 2 plant tubes and having a fully planted tank than a semi planted average tank with a moonlight.

just my opinion, hope this helps.

 

[Bloo]

ah ok well thanks for the explanation and your thoughts I don't have many plants so not too concerned about that. However I have two light tubes (both different and really not a clue what they are but it looks good ). I was thinking to attached the smaller moonlight kit as a third light and only turn that on for an hour or two at night when the normal lights go off. Does that sound like an idea ?

 

[jimbooo]

yep that should be okay just watch out for algae. if you start to see it reduce the time the moonlight is on.

something like this would work:

plant tubes on for 5 hours

all tubes off for 2 hours

plant tubes on for another 5 hours

moonlight on for 1.5 hours just overlapping the plant tubes by 10 mins or so.

the 2 hours of midday darkness is hated by algae so will help to keep it down.
you should set it up so the moonlight goes off at your normal bedtime (say 11pm) and work the timings backwards.

 

[Nik_boyd]

one_trick, what is the hood like on the Rekord 120? is it similar to the Rekord 60 but just bigger?

I've got a Rio 180, and they don't really have a hood as such, just a lip that the light unit and flaps fit into. I think if I want to add extra light, could just add an extra light unit and cut down the back flap. I'm lucky in that I have access to a full workshop of equipment so can modify easily.

 

[jimbooo]

nick:

i have a rekord 60 and rio 180. with the 180 you can just lay additional tubes (with reflectors attached) across the centre brace. no diy needed.

i have 120W on mine ie 3WPG.

heres a pic, no diy needed at all just add ons.

well worth the upgrade.