Upgrading Lights on Juwel Vision 180

[SarahBravo]

I'm about to order some additional T5 lights for my new tank, but I've realised I haven't measured it or anything (it's still in the box). Will 2 T5s with reflectors fit on one hood flap, or will I have to put one on the front flap and one on the back? It's not just the width of the flaps, it's that blinking curved brace bar they have going front to back that if making me think they may not fit on one flap.

However, if the lights would fit on one flap, would doing this this affect the plants badly? Does it matter which flap? Or would it be best to spread the lights out as much as possible?

I was just trying to avoid having wires running via two flaps because it will make the flaps/light unit difficult to remove if I want to do serious cleaning etc.

Thanks!

(PS Put this here instead of Hardware cos I thought you guys were more likely to be light experts!)

 

[Bloo]

Hi Sarah - I'd like to know too as I'd also like to upgrade the lights on my Vision 180 - so if you do yours, could you snap some pics and post them please ?

 

[SarahBravo]

Yeah, no worries B)

 

[jimbooo]

not sure if this will help having not seen the vision version.

heres my rio180 upgrade

with reflectors fitted (T8 tubes) the extra front and rear tubes rest perfectly on the original two central tubes with wires running under the juwel light to the cut outs on the back.

sorry that last pics huge but you can see the wires more clearly

may be of use, may not

good luck with it

 

[SarahBravo]

That does help a lot, thanks Jimbooo. I was thinking I'd have to bolt the light units to the flaps, but I don't. Excellent!! Thank you!!

 

[Bloo]

Hi Jimboo - thanks for that - but how dow you attach the second set of ligths on each side - I don't quite get it ?
Or does it just rest on the cross beam ?

 

[paulioo]

They just balance on the support beam.
They shouldn't fall into the water so long as the wires are pulled tight behind the aquarium, if you catch my drift

Anyways i've did the same without any problems.

paul.

 

[cheesemaker]

I'm thinking of doing the same to my Rio 180.

Instead of resting it on the crossbeam ( i'm clumsy, I'm sure I'll fry my fish), I'm thinking of securing the extra tubes with reflector clips onto the cross beam.

The other option is to secure the clips onto a flat plastic card or something, then velcro it onto the beam.


what do you think?

 

[SarahBravo]

The trouble with doing it onto the beam is that it would take very little to get it off balance and push one end into the water. Looking at Jimbooo's pics, I thought about getting a couple of thin strips of metal or plastic, bolting them (with Arcadia little plastic light fitting bolts) to the existing Juwel reflectors, then bolting the new reflectors to the strips. Also maybe drilling through both reflectors where the edges meet and putting bolt there as well, in the middle. Having a strip at either end will make it a lot more stable, plus you's be able to lift the unit out as one piece.

Somethin' like this:

 

[George Farmer]

Try getting 6 tubes into a Rio 125 - there's a feat!

 

[nodding_dino]

I still can't work out how you did that...4's a squeeze!!!

 

[Bloo]

Good little image there Sarah and I like the idea !

 

[jimbooo]

Hi Jimboo - thanks for that - but how dow you attach the second set of ligths on each side - I don't quite get it ?
Or does it just rest on the cross beam ?

[snapback]861931[/snapback]​

Hi bloozoo and Sarah,

when the reflectors are attached to all 4 tubes the "extra" tubes sit with their reflectors overlapping the middle ones if that makes sence, the weight is supported by the centre brace but not balancing as such. you would have to physically push one end down to contact the water, it could never happen by accident (unless kiddies or cats are envolved). for safety you could just drill through both reflectors at the overlap and stick a juwel plastic nut and bolt through at each end.

seriously though all you need is tube, ballast and reflectors. as you'll need these what ever way you choose to fit them you may as well do it this way first and decide from there. You'll be surprised how stable it is. i got the idea from gf225, his are fitted this way, i was extremly dubious at first like you but after 10 mins of fiddling it's absolutly fine. the other benefit of this fitting method is for access you can literally lift up the front tube and flip it over (onto the reflector side) and rest it on the plastic centre piece between the original tubes. you then have the same ammount of access as if you had the original lights only.

hope that helps and sorry for the delayed reply

 

[Bloo]

Great stuff sounds like a plan Jimboo

 

[Newplanter]

I'm about to try something similar with my Vision 260. I'm getting the power compacts - and apparently attaching them is as simple as drilling two small holes in the flaps. Then using something heat resistant (if possible) to create a loop for the lights to 'sit in'. This, combined with the cross bar, should give you a margin for safety for preventing light/water/electricity disasters. Not sure what I'm going to use to tie them in yet. If the light sockety (I'm so techy!) things are big enough I guess I can use any kind of garden twine to hold them. If they're not - I'll need to use something like coat hanger wire to hold the bulb (I figure that's safe up to about 300 degrees!)

Any other suggestions anyone can give me - obviously welcome!
R