Fluval Edge

[aquila]

So I've just finished setting up and planting my new Fluval Edge, with the intention of having it as planted nano with just shrimp, maybe a betta or something, just as a focal point for the living room to take attention away from the gigantic goldfish tank, lol!

I've used Tetra complete substrate with a layer of fine gravel over the top, planted it with Elocharis Aciularis, Cryptocoryne Wendtii and HC 'Cuba' as a carpeting plant, and plan to dose with EasyLife liquid carbon and fertiliser.

Got it all set up and planted last night, went to turn the lights on and - whoops. The two little halogen bulbs throw out two spots of light into the tank, which looks very atmospheric and pretty but the plants at the edges of the tank are practically in shadow.

Obviously the design of this tank precludes most additional lighting systems. Is there anything at all I can do to add more light? I was thinking along the lines of an anglepoise lamp or something that can be directed over the top glass?

Many thanks for any suggestions. I love the design of this tank and really want to make it work, but by god is it impractical!

Picture (not mine!) to show you what it's like...

 

[aaronnorth]

Obviously the design of this tank precludes most additional lighting systems. Is there anything at all I can do to add more light? I was thinking along the lines of an anglepoise lamp or something that can be directed over the top glass?

that was going to be my suggestion, and possibly the only one.

 

[youngfisher]

Some LED lights inside the tank?

 

[aquila]

Obviously the design of this tank precludes most additional lighting systems. Is there anything at all I can do to add more light? I was thinking along the lines of an anglepoise lamp or something that can be directed over the top glass?

that was going to be my suggestion, and possibly the only one.

Damn, I thought that might be the case. Is there any particular kind of bulb or lamp setup that I should be looking for, that would be most effective? The tank is set in a corner on a coffee table so it will actually look fine with a lamp angled over it, so I'm not worried on aesthetic grounds, just want to ensure that these plants will grow!

To whoever said LEDs, there's nowhere to secure them to inside the hood part as that's taken up by a HOB filter. Nice idea though.

 

[aaronnorth]

With LED's i think he meant these:

but they still wouldnt be enough.
Any lamp will do as long as the bulb is white, and it isnt a high wattage. I would go above 18w.

 

[JoshuaA]

It's a good point though I never noticed how dim they were. Perhaps you could try an Arcadia Pod light but it would have to infront of the lid sideways to get maximum penetration into the tank. Hmm... bit of a pickle that one.

Edit: I'm so confused what has happened here!

 

[Rafael Dilone]

Well what i would do is get reflectors for the Halogen bulbs that can be somewhat attached to the lighting fixture. I have a fluval edge store display tank at the aquarium store i work in and we did the same thing. Its more of a DIY thing but im sure you can manage to do it