New Light Unit Installed,need Suggestions?

[ptyson21]

I have just installed my new T5 2x24W light unit and Idont know whether to build a hood or just get a condensation tray and put a hinge on it? Please could you help? there is a pic on this forum: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?s=&amp...t&p=1581394
I cant seem to upload pics on the DIY forums but others so thats y i have done it like this. My tank is 60x30x35 fluval uno 600 and with the way it sits in the shelf there is 1.5cms of space at the sides.
CHEERS
Paul

 

[ptyson21]

Anybody,Please!?!

 

[SkiFletch]

If you have non-jumping fish why not just run it open topped?

 

[Underwurlde]

Looking at the level of your water, I doubt your fish will be able to jump out. If that picture is with your new T5's then I'd just leave it as it is. Many people leave it like this. Looks quite nice like that, just tidy up the wires etc.

Andy

PS - & Put your heater lower down & at a slight angle: \ (couple of inches above the substrate).

 

[ptyson21]

Yeah I have a 3d background on the way for it so that will hide the wires. I wanted to up the level of my water a tad. I have tetras, danios, pleco and guppies will any of them jump?
Why should I adjust my heater? Gonna move it next to the filter soon anyway when my background arrives.
Cheers Paul

 

[Underwurlde]

Why heaters should be mounted at 45° angle:
You see the thermostat is at the top of the heater. As the heater heats up the water it will rise and if mounted vertically the just heated water will go straight past the thermostat giving the thermostat a false indication (or more importantly an unstable indication) of the temperature of the surrounding water.

It is the heat of the water of the entire tank you are trying to target & stabilize, not just the immediate locale of the heater. Also for this very reason the heater should not be placed in a stagnant region of the tank, better still in a fast flowing region. Again the heater should be placed in the middle of the tank, not at the bottom, not at the top so that the temperature sensed by the thermostat is a true meridian.

Similar situation to having a thermostat in a house mounted above a radiator. Yes the heat you set is correct for immediate area, but in the rest of the house it is all over the place. Conversely if the thermostat is one end of the room and the radiator the other, and then the temperature you set on the thermostat will be a truer indication of the temperature of the room as a whole.

 

[ptyson21]

Cheers for that mate, very imformative, ill change it when i get the chance. As for the jumping fish do you know what ones have the tendency to jump or is it just random suicidal fish?

 

[Underwurlde]

I don't think any of those fish are jumpers, however fish that do not normally jump may do so if the water conditions are poor. Also, shrimp are particularly good at combining sensitivity with jumping!

 

[ptyson21]

Cool cool mate cheers, well i wasnt plannin on gettin any shrimps, lol!!