Modification To Tank Lighting...

[andyhardie]

Hi
Has anyone any idea how to improve the lighting in my tank on the cheep!!!
At the moment I have a tank 48"x15"X12" with one 40 watt tube in the hood which I think is about 1 watt per gallon?. The hood is, and here lies my problem, a purpose built Marina hood in black plastic that looks really nice. The tube is a T8 but I would like to double my lighting at least and get to 2 watts per gallon. can anyone suggest a cheap way to maybe modify the hood? There is a Dymax 120 cm aquarium overtank luminaire light. The unit comes included four 55watts 12000k power compact lamps, total power is 220 watts but I wonder how expensive these compact lamps are and if they are any good? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[rabbut]

Any chance of a pic so we can see what we're working with?

 

[andyhardie]

Any chance of a pic so we can see what we're working with?

OK here goes, I am quite new to the site also so I am very ignorant...

Well I had a go and they uploaded but I cant see them???

 

[rabbut]

You usualy host them on a different site (I use photobucket.co.uk) and then put a IMG tag in here to display the image. I've nover uploaded pictures into the hardware section directly, so can't help with that...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[andyhardie]

You usualy host them on a different site (I use photobucket.co.uk) and then put a IMG tag in here to display the image. I've nover uploaded pictures into the hardware section directly, so can't help with that...

All the best
Rabbut

Hi Rabbut
Well I uploaded it and it came up as a new post...DOH but at least you can see my tank its titled pic uploaded Ihope. sorry to the panel for my ignorance. please delete by all means if it is in the wrong place...

 

[andyhardie]

You usualy host them on a different site (I use photobucket.co.uk) and then put a IMG tag in here to display the image. I've nover uploaded pictures into the hardware section directly, so can't help with that...

All the best
Rabbut

Hi Rabbut
Sorry for the delay but it has taken this long to learn photobucket etc etc and involved everyone up our lane!!

This is the inside of my tank and I am so chuffed I can now put photos on here!!!
Major leap forward in iT...
Now back to the advice if you havn't lost interest after all this time??

 

[rabbut]

Can't realy see anything to mount to. The only place that I can see is blocked by the starter...

The only way I can see is to build a whole new hood from ply and some timber...

I'd mebe think about waiting for a few people to read this. Mebe someone like Rooster may have a brainwave...

All the best
Rabbut

 

[andyhardie]

Can't realy see anything to mount to. The only place that I can see is blocked by the starter...

The only way I can see is to build a whole new hood from ply and some timber...

I'd mebe think about waiting for a few people to read this. Mebe someone like Rooster may have a brainwave...

All the best
Rabbut

Thanks anyway for your help...

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Im pretty sure you could retrofit the hood to take 2 T5 Tubes at 39W each to give a decent output. You would need a new ballast, end caps and need to rewire it all yourself, but its not too hard. Squeeze in reflectors if you can.

 

[rabbut]

Yes, that is an option. If you get the electronic balasts that are more efficient, you won't need a starter, so the space it's using could be occupied by a tube. The T5's are thinner also, so both would fit that space, probibly with individual reflectors. See, told you someone would have a good idea, good thinking Spiceweasel69

Rabbut

 

[Spiceweasel69]

It will be a squeeze as i say. Your biggest problem is mounting the tubes or holders. If you can get hold of IP67 end caps (Arcadia ultraseal or similar) you should be able to mount them. I have another thread on this somewhere too.

If not, the end caps can sit freely and you can purchase tube clips to hold them - bt do ensure there are sufficient and there is no way the fitting can fall into the water.

 

[three-fingers]

I've modified one of these at work, and I have a smaller one myself that I've taken apart for cleaning.

After you unscrew the top bit off, it's very easy to just remove all the stuff inside (it also just unscrews) and mount clips for a couple of compact T5 starters if you want very hight light (but you will have to install a computer fan at each end for cooling, otherwise the plastic can begin to warp), or clips for a single long T5 tube and reflector.

The ballasts I used were these kind: [URL="http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/aquarium-lighting-28/control-units-184/arcadia-ultraseal-light-controllers-single-double-6666.html"]http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/aquarium-l...ouble-6666.html[/URL].

It's very, very easy to do .

 

[andyhardie]

Well a big thanks to everyone. I am now scouring ebay for bits to do the modification. This really is a great forum with very very helpful people!!! It restores your faith!! :

I suppose my next post in a few months will be how do I get rid of algae....