Thinkin Of Changing Light, Please Help?

[ptyson21]

I have the fluval uno 600, 60cm x 30cm x 35cm with an 18" 15W bulb and I really want to grow decent plants in it which I struggle to at the moment and only have low light plants that still struggle. I have been looking at those double light unit thing but dont really know much about them. Could someone please enlighten me on the topic or point me in the right direction?

 

[danski]

i think something in the k rating of 6500k-6700k to 8000k(ADA) is good for plants. if you can aim for about 2wpg that should be decent for growing most plants. the double light thing? what is it? there are several light fixtures that can be double. flourescent,compact flourescent,HQI,etc..depends on your budget for some.what are you planning to do? high tech,low tech? all need to be thought about...dan

 

[SuperColey1]

Check out my journal. It is a Fluval Duo 800 but it could help you as the hood is very similar.

Andy

 

[nry]

If you are in any way adept at DIY it should be simple enough to strip out any current lighting in your hood and bolt in something like an Interpet Power Compact T5, £35-ish for the starter, tube and new reflector and it would give you 36watts. You could go a bit smaller and get 24watts. 36w would probably be better suited to use with a CO2 system, maybe the Nutrafin kit, again 'cheap' for around £16.

www.aquatics-online have the range of lights etc, got mine from there a few weeks ago:

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...ct-lighting.asp

 

[ptyson21]

Cool lads, the whole DIY thingy sounds pretty tricky n installing new light starters also sounds like alot of hassle. I aint got a big budget at all at the moment as im lookin for a job, im a student. I have seen a T5 AQUARIUM OVERHEAD LIGHT 2x24W inst.Halide 2ft Twinl on ebay that would fit my tank but not sure what they are like, anyone know? Do they not let a lot of heat out the tank? They are cheap on ebay i think.

P.S. I have this forum running on two forums by mistake.

 

[nry]

Cool lads, the whole DIY thingy sounds pretty tricky n installing new light starters also sounds like alot of hassle. I aint got a big budget at all at the moment as im lookin for a job, im a student. I have seen a T5 AQUARIUM OVERHEAD LIGHT 2x24W inst.Halide 2ft Twinl on ebay that would fit my tank but not sure what they are like, anyone know? Do they not let a lot of heat out the tank? They are cheap on ebay i think.

P.S. I have this forum running on two forums by mistake.

The light starters would be external ones so they'd sit outside the hood, maybe in the cabinet if you have one. All you do is rip everything out of the hood, drill a couple of holes, and screw in the new reflectors: the screws hold the reflector and tube clips so install, clip and turn on the power. I looked at luminaires myself but decent ones were hitting £70 plus for a twin-T5 setup. The PC etc cost £35 and 30 minutes of my time so there was no arguement. Plus I am not keen on an open topped tank as I have lost fish through them jumping out during water changes.

 

[ptyson21]

Ignore this pic, it is a picture of my tank setup for a seperate forum that I have running at the moment coz I cant upload on it so its linking to this one. Cheers

 

[Maximumbob]

If my tank was sitting on that shelf i'd be really worried. It bowing already!!!

I think it would be advisable to reinforce it or put the tank somewhere else!!

For example - my juwel rekord 60 litre tank weighs about 60 kilos.. maybe a touch more.. thats the weight of a small adult. Its actually heavier than my wife!!!

 

[ptyson21]

My tank has been there for about 10 months n it seems fine. As part of the reconstruction that could be taken into consideration and I could make it stronger. Any suggestions post them on: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=189195&hl=

 

[nry]

It isn't the shelf that worries me, the bottom of the aquarium is not being supported evenly across the whole of the base which will be putting wierd and dangerous pressure and stresses on the entire aquarium glass.

 

[ptyson21]

It isn't the shelf that worries me, the bottom of the aquarium is not being supported evenly across the whole of the base which will be putting wierd and dangerous pressure and stresses on the entire aquarium glass.

Yeah it has crossed my mind mate, what would you suggest I do? You know anywhere you can get cheap cabinets? I aint in the best money situation at the mo.

 

[SuperColey1]

I bought this one off ebay for £45 including the delivery.

brand new, solid pine flat packed but simple to put together.

It has a 125Ltr tank on top of it at the mo

Heres a pic

and this is where I bought it

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...p;rd=1&rd=1

 

[nry]

If you are happy that the shelf it is on is strong enough then you could get a sheet of polystyrene and place it below the tank, it should help to even pressure out slightly. Ceiling tiles are good if you can get flat ones with little or no texture.

 

[ptyson21]

Is it worth the hassle to get rid of half the tank water so that i can even lift it? I am running a thread at the moment for suggestions on how to make my tank look like its in the wall, like at cupboard or somethin.

As for supercoley1 it looks good mate, i should maybe look at that if i dont get any good suggestions about converting my cupboard, Cheers.

 

[nry]

If you can add some support to the centre of the aquarium shelf then that would be best, shouldn't be too hard to box the tank in, depends on how you can handle access though.