compact T5 tubes

[RYO]

Im in the process of rebuilding my 60L tank. Ive upgraded my lighting from 2x15w t8 tubes to 2x36w iterpet t5 compacts (daylight + tubes)
The main problem i have is fitting the lights to the hood (the supplyed clips are pants)
How have other people fitted these and are there any reflectors that fit.

 

[houndour]

Yep I had the same problem fitting them. They're meant for the thin metal hoods I think.

What type of hood to you have?

I have wooden hoods on both my tanks and have the t5s for both.

What I did was screwed the eye part of 'hook and eyes' in the hood roof. Used the clips that come with them and attached the clip to the eye with a cable tie.

I've also seen since someone else do it another way...
I believe they used arcadia reflectors, but not 100% sure, they attached the reflectors to the woodern hood with screws I guess, but then attached the t5 brackets to the reflector. If you see what I mean?! Not too good at explaining.

I personally use Mylar as my reflector.

 

[zig]

If i had a camera i would show you how i did mine, but as i dont i'll try and explain.

I done it Pretty similar to hondour auctually, btw i use ordinary arcadia T8 reflectors couldnt find any for the Interpet PC T5 range and IMO they work very well.

First of all i worked on the reflectors, I got them at the best angle etc and then drilled a couple of small holes through them and then drilled straight through the hood, i then fixed on the reflectors with suitable screws to the hood.

The clip that came with the interpet tube i managed to push through the opening in the arcadia reflector (the opening is for the arcadia clip which will come with the reflector but it obviously wont fit the T5, so use the one supplied by interpet) i cant remember exactly how this worked but i was able to make it stay attached to the reflector (auctually i think i remember now, when i was attaching the reflector the clip went on first and made a sandwich between the reflector and the hood, and then i screwed it down, sorry my lights are on and i cant have a proper look)

So by following the above you now should have the reflector attached and the single clip supplied by interpet in place.

On the other end where the the ballast fitting meets the tube i got a cable tie and put this on the underside between the hood and the reflector and tied the light fitting in place and tightened it, i then inserted the tube in the light fitting and clipped it in place at the other end, job done.

Anyway i hope you can follow that, you will figure it out, the only thing i really had to do was drill a couple of holes through the reflector and the hood, the rest you will work out if you tie one end with a cable tie, the cable tie does not go on the tube only on the fitting at one end and the clip holds the other end.

Edit: btw the cable ties work just fine as long as they dont touch the tube, the tubes get to hot and would eventually melt them.

 

[RYO]

What type of hood to you have?

At the moment its a plastic hood, but im in the middle of making a new hood out of marine ply somthing similar to this http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...&st=0&p=864483&

zig cheers for tip on reflectors i have a couple of t8 18"spare

Now all i have to do is finalise my hard scape,sort out my glosso,hairgrass and riccia (all floating in other tank at mo) and keep wife from finding the bills

 

[George Farmer]

Sounds like a great project mate - very "Nature". Have you considered running a journal?

BTW I have 72W in my 125 litre! I assume you'll be CO2 and EIing.

 

[RYO]

Yes m8 i have a diy co2 unit already, i was able to run 30ppm pretty steady on the old tank so i should be ok (not sorted out my free pressurised yet )
As for the EI ,ill go with the Potassium nitrate as both my tanks show nil kno3 befor a water change, my Phosphate shows up at 2 ppm so ill give the Potassium Phosphate a miss at the moment .
Ive been dosing kent botanica grow and kent fe weekly.
Lol as for a journal would love too exeptnot sure on using multi photos from the browser suppose i can multi post
now to order rest of plants- ELEOCHARIS PARRULUS (DWARF MINI HAIR), ALTERNATHERA ROSAEFOLIA , BLYXA JAPONICA (DWARF SOFT RUSH) AND EUSTERALIS STELLATA .
Think more reading for insperation from mr Amano needed too.

 

[George Farmer]

as for a journal would love too exeptnot sure on using multi photos from the browser

[snapback]895760[/snapback]​

I use the image uploader http/imageshack.us/. Just copy and paste the link into your post as many times as you need.