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Hello,
Thanks for reading my post. I have a 30 gallon gourami tank that I would like to fill with live plants. I have one of the best aquarium plant stores I have ever seen 2 minutes from my house and I am not taking advantage of it. (I live in St. Louis, Missouri, the place is Aqua World)

I need MUCH better lighting. So I did some research and have found several options.
http://chrys.addr.com/aquarium/diy.htm

I fitted my 10 gallon neon tetra tank with a Incandescent 2 bulb hood. I added two high 10 watt Natural light bulbs. It looks wonderful, and so far the plants I have added look great. The tetras are a bit nervous I hope they will get over it.

So my two options are buy a cheap irradescent hood convert it to use 3 or 4 flourescent bulbs (I think I can do it).

Or build a wood hood. My dad is an electrician and I am a computer tech so the wiring doesn't scare me. The cost and weight does. I am also concerned on how best to protect from moisture. (I do know about the water proof caps.) Although I would love adding those Moonlight LEDs.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=46314&item=4373072129&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

So I have two questions.

First are those bulbs ok to use with plants? as long as I continue to buy natural ones and not soft ones?

Second does anyone have a cheap but nice looking DIY plan to getting 50+ watts of light in my tank safely? I am a teacher and my salary doesn't allow for much. I am hoping to spend around $100. I like working with my hands and I have the tools to do most any project. Its roughly 12 x 30 top but I have a huge emperor 280 on the back so it probably needs to be open in the back.

Thanks for reading,
Joshua Hovis

Linking your post for easier access:

diy.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://chrys.addr.com/aquarium/diy.htm

Here's another link that might prove beneficial to you

http://www.ahsupply.com/index.html

Jim

---

Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

Thanks for adding the links.

So would I need the
1 x 55 watt Bright Kit™

I that would almost give me 2 watts per gallon.
It fits my price range too!
Thanks,
JH

Hi,
Let's look at the 10G tank first. Did I understand you to
say that you fitted the hood with two of the compact bulbs?

No wonder the tetras are cringing. With the shallow depth
of a 10G tank one would have been more than sufficiant to
grow nearly any plant. The water is so shallow that it will
not scatter or absorb the light that much as it makes its
way from the surface to the top of the substrate. In a
shallow tank, you can get away with less wattage/gallon
than a tank that is 18, 20, 24 inches deep.
What you initially did when you turned those two lights on
would roughly be the same as if you were in a pitch black
room and suddenly turned on sets of flood lights. You
shocked the fish. Those tetras are more comfortable with
some overhead plants that give them cover from aerial
predators.

You might want to unscrew one of the bulbs for a while,
till the plants start to grow and provide some cover,
and then add the second bulb.

The 30G tank sounds like it will be in excess of 3+ watts
per gallon. If you are going to provide that much light,
you are probably also going to have to provide CO2 for the
plants as well. You can grow a lush green jungle at 2 wpg.
However, while Carbon and Nitrogen limit plant growth,
light is the fuel for the system, and if you provide that
much fuel, you will need to also provide the nutrients
so that they can use it.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

So your saying that 20 watts is too much for my 10 gallon. I do have plenty of full grown plants in that tank. They have plenty of shade.

I will try unscewing one of the bulbs to see if that helps. Although I think the neons are just stupid compared to the female bettas I used to keep.

I am trying to just get 2 watts per gallon in my 30 gallon. I have no clue what method. I have been looking at the
1 x 55 watt Bright Kit from AH Supply
But that should be just under 2 watts per gallon.
Thanks
Joshua

Sorry for the double post...

What about a
Single Satellite 30 inch 1X65W
it has moonlights built in.
http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power_satellite.html#top

I hope the link works.
Would that provide enough light for my tank?
If I use the legs would I loose too much light?

Thanks,
Joshua

Hi,
I "lost a post" I thought I hit the post reply button
and seemed to have lost it.

When I clicked on that link, I was led to a canopy selection
chart. All were for canopies designed for Salt Water tanks.
In particular for those that housed Live Rock and Corals
and Invertebrates. Those critters all need very intense
light. They use it to develop nutrients, and algae for them
to feed on and to provide their brilliant coloration.

That light is far too intense for our Fresh Water tanks and
plants. For your 10G tank, one of the regular canopies
that normally uses a screw in incandescent bulb would work
fine, provided you used a DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT screw in
compact flourscent bulbs from nearly any major hardware
store.

For your 30G tank (which is what I also have) I would
either purchase a canopy or build a canopy that housed
one or two, 22 inch compact flourscent bulbs.
You will need to screen one end of the canopy, and put
a computer, muffin, type fan on the other because they
do get warm. Mine houses two and I have elected to
use two 65 watt, 8800K Compact Flourscent bulbs.
I have them on timers (one for each) and have one set
for 10 hours/day and the other to come on at 10am and
off at 2 pm giving me 4+ wpg for the tropical noon
time, and 2 wpg for the remainder of the day.
The fan is connected to the 10 hr timer so its on all
the time a light is on.

I would fill the tank to the plastic trim so that no light
"leaks" out the sides, and by the same token, I would not
use the legs (unless absolutely necessary for cooling) as
that allows too much light to escape out the sides instead
of being directed downward into the tank. And, the light
comming out between the canopy and tank can be "blinding"
and interfer with viewing the tank from a distance.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Frank,

First of all thank you for the time and effort you have spent explaining, I really do appreciate it.

On my 10 gallon.
I am using the screw in Daylight compact flourscent bulbs. Unfortunately I am using two. The tank is heavily planted providing the much needed shade for the fish. I tried unscrewing one of the bulbs and it just left half my tank dark. If I must I will do one of two things. Purchase two smaller wattage bulbs (currently each is at 10 watts). Or puchase a new hood the can better distribute one bulbs light. (which incandescent hoods are cheap and that should be easy).

On my 30 gallon.
I am leaning towards the satellite compact light.
It has one 65 watt 8800k bulb w/ fan
It also has the moonlight led (novelty I know)
I realize I should go with a two bulb configuration but thats double the price.
I am also purchasing a glass hood to keep the light on instead of using legs.
I always keep the water full as the emperor 280 makes too much noise when the water gets low.

Thanks for the help,
If I am still going the wrong direction please help,
Thanks,
Joshua

Hi,
Actually, if that 10 is indeed heavily planted then I think
I'd go with the two bulbs that you have and let the plants
grow a green canopy over the surface leaving swimming room
in an arch of plants underneath. It should be awesome.
Put the bulb, back in and don't mess with it. My initial
thinking was that it was a tank with just one or two plants
in it and that the fish were being "blinded" so to speak.
But from your comments, that is not the case. I have over
4 wpg on my 30 and I'd kinda "dim" in the swimming are due
to the mat of plants growing along the surface. My low light
plants are really taking off now that the light reaching
them has been reduced.

Let me know how that light for the 30G works out. I've
been tempted to try the "Moonlight" thing as well though
I doubt it would do any good on the my tank, I'll have to
wait for the second tank to try it.


Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 15-Apr-2005 16:35

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hi, i adopted that idea from diy.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://chrys.addr.com/aquarium/diy.htm
and now it's better light. I made it like this http://www.koolpages.com/myaquarium/aquarium%20light%20images.html

Hope the information will help you. Didn't pay more than 40 bucks but requires some work and time which is OK.

Mr... you should cover the tank with glass (one or two corners cut to pass tubes, powerhead wires, airline tubes) and get a piece of aluminum canopy, those that are mirror reflective made for fluorescent bulbs... get a fluorescent tube and the ballast and make a wonderful light canopy.

The wood will rotten if its not treated well, and will look awful after a while.