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Post by tamara on Jan 15, 2013 18:37:41 GMT -5
We've got a 10 gallon aquarium from an Aqueon kit that will hopefully become a breeding tank for sparkling gouramis in the near future. We want fast plant growth so it fills up with plants. Would I be correct then in figuring we need stronger than typical lighting, even though these fish are shy, and that we can depend on the plants themselves to provide the fish with enough shade to be comfortable? Anyway, we currently have a fluorescent that came with the kit--I think the box said "natural spectrum" or something. We don't have the specific packaging from the light itself anymore. It doesn't look like a super well-lighted tank to me. What I'd like to do is replace the cover that came with it for a clear one such as this (20" long): www.aqueonproducts.com/products/aga-glass-tops-hinged-glass-tops.htm#Then the existing light I believe will fit over the middle panel, and we could in theory put a narrow strip over the front panel. It would need to be removed each time we open the aquarium of course. I don't have the glass cover yet but I believe it would need to be only 2" or maybe as much as 3" wide. I was looking at the T2's. Do you have a recommendation for how to do it? The "#302; 11 Watt HO Fixture for T-2, INCLUDING bulb!" looks like it's a good length. However, from the photo I take it one still needs something to mount it onto. Any suggestions?
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Post by Carl on Jan 15, 2013 20:05:51 GMT -5
Tamara; The T2 is currently designed as a retrofit for existing hoods, canopies, etc. If you can still salvage your existing hood, then place it on the new glass lid, which by the way you can easily make yourself with to pieces of cut glass. See: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2007/03/aquarium-silicone.html(I have a video in this article showing how to do this too). Otherwise a Canopy placed on the aquarium or simply the light (which is directional) is placed on a shelf or similar object just above the aquarium. I would suggest two 11 Watt T2 Lights for best results Carl
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Post by tamara on Jan 15, 2013 21:09:16 GMT -5
Thanks for the link to a DIY glass top. What I wanted to do was to keep the existing lighting as-is, with the bulb that came with it, and add a T2 to the front of the tank somehow. There is no shelf above so I'd need to have it in some sort of fixture I suppose. Are you suggesting it would be better to throw out the bulb I have and put 2 T2's inside the existing light fixture? Would they fit? BTW This is a picture of what my tank looks like. The piece that contains the light is separate and just sits on the top. www.aqueonproducts.com/products/deluxe-aquarium-kit.htm
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Post by tamara on Jan 16, 2013 11:04:04 GMT -5
OK, I think what I will do is to replace my top with an all-glass top (that video you linked to is excellent). Then I'll go down to a local plastic shop and get a plastic remnant (hopefully I can find one that's smokey grey) to make a box for the T-2 light (s). I could coat the inside of the box with some silver reflective tape to maximize the light that goes into the tank. Is there any consideration I need to be aware of? The fixture can adhere directly onto plastic? The fixture itself stays plenty cool? Would it be better to have some air gaps at the bottom of the box to allow air circulation, or to leave it flush to the tank cover?
I guess now I just need to decide whether to go with my original plan and add a 1-bulb fixture in front of my existing one, or scrap the original and replace with a homemade 2-bulb light strip.
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Post by Carl on Jan 16, 2013 11:46:02 GMT -5
Tamara, The T2 #302 fixtures come with a built in adjustable reflector, however additional reflective tape would not be a bad idea too. The fixture comes with mounting screws, however I have used glue or even two sided adhesive tapes to adhere these fixtures to plastic hoods as well so as to not have screw holes. These produce little heat, but a gap of at least 1/2" between fixtures is suggested to allow for what heat that is produced to escape. Carl
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