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Will a coralife 96 watt fixture 'single' bulb with mounting legs give even light coverage in an 18 inch wide tank ?



The Amazon Nut...

is the bulb around 18" in length?? and how far above the tank does it sit?

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

I'd think it would, but most tanks that are 18 inches wide are 50+ Gallons, except for maybe breeder tanks. This would give you 2wpg at the most. I know coralife has a staggered dual 96w or 64w....This would probably give you more lightand fit the tank better.

Edit: I just read your other post and saw you were in fact getting a 40 breeder - I have thought of this too. I like it because of that extra 6 inches of width. It would be a ton easier to aqscape. I was looking (in the store I work at) at the aforementioned staggered dual 64w coralife with daylight bulbs. I think this would fit great over that tank.

Good luck

Last edited by mattyboombatty at 24-Jul-2005 13:56

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I'm not sure of the exact length of the bulb, but the light strip itself is 36inch long, the strip would sit at about an inch above the tank with open top.

40 gal breeder dimensions are 36Lx18Wx14H.
Yes, chosen for a bit more room which I badly needed.

The tank and flourite are already obtained both used,
half the flourite is sorted now and the tank has to be heavily cleaned due to calcium deposits..

I'll check for the staggared setup. Thanks for the questions and help so far guys

There are a couple less desirable options..

Option 2: using my 24 inch double strip (30 watts) with a 36 inch single strip (20w ?) 50 watts total..and glass top
make some kind of reflectors.
Option 3: 2 36 inch double shoplights then build into a canopy. Make reflectors..

I will have to use option 2 until 1 or 3 is done.




Last edited by DaFishMan at 24-Jul-2005 15:00

The Amazon Nut...

DaFishMan,

Just curious, do I interpret your statement

the strip would sit at about an inch above the tank with open top

right, if I assume you place no top on the tank?

Just asking, because the Coralife Safety Notes state:

[font color="#000080"]These fixtures are for use over covered aquariums only.[/font]

That means that you should have a glass top for the tank. As much as I know, all Compact Fluorescent lights require a glass top to avoid moisture from getting into the light fixture.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yes you interpreted it correctly, but since you put it that way I might do a partial glass strip the size of the light, leaving the front and rear open. Thanks

The Amazon Nut...

I say it would work....if it's not enough 36" is a convenient size for adding an extra shop light strip if needed

Jebo lights come with an acrylic shield that slides into the strip under the bulbs. It can then be used over an open top aquarium. Jebo isn't very good at cooling their lights though and could use about twice as many fans as they tend to install. Covering only part of the aquarium won't work if you have any bubble wands/stones or put it too close to an hob filter. The splash from the water will angle enough to get up into the light fixture and it will make puddles on the glass under the light. I've had lights setup that way a few times. Even though the glass underneath was wider than my light one of them is just coated in hard water deposits. Covering the tank also holds in heat and evaporation keeping your tank at a stable temp, the room it's in cooler, and less top offs needed. While I do think an open top aquarium would be cool there are too many downsides for me.

Thanks Tryst, if I do get the coralife, I'll be holding my other light strips for awhile in case additional boost required.. With most of my plants I think if I go too much past 2.4 watts I'd be looking at a maintanance nightmare LOL..

"Jebo lights come with an acrylic shield that slides into the strip under the bulbs." - I almost got one of these today, I was the first to post to an ad.. asked practically begged to hold the items I wanted.. Today the guy decides first come first serve, shorty after I left for tai chi class. I come home, the light, co2 unit sold.
Woulda got the light for $50.

"bubble wands/stones or put it too close to an hob filter" - I use no bubblers as that defeats the purpose of co2 (of which I only have a small non-pressurized unit) with that in mind I also pre-sponged my hob to make it flow/drip, no more waterfall, also keep water level way up, my glass piece on the 29 does get marked up as you mention. The downsides you mention do make sense to me. I'm still weighing out the options and your questions suggestions are helping me.. Thanks and feel free to share more thoughts.

The Amazon Nut...