How Do I Upgrade The Lighting On My Tank?

[Kris T]

I have a Fluval Roma 200, which I'm about to start a fishless cycle on. It's going to be a planted tank, so it needs more light than it has as standard. I've seen a couple of people say they doubled their lighting on Roma tanks by adding two more tubes. I'd really appreciate it if someone who has updated this model (or one with a similar hood) could tell me how they did it, and what parts I need to get.

Thanks in advance!

 

[fatheadminnow]

If you are electronically capable of doing this, you could run two more lights in a parallel circuit.

You would have to get two more light fixtures, and wires, and run it in parallel.

-FHM

 

[dave_oddballs]

would it not be easier and simpler to just get hold of a twin t8 or t5 unit, which ever you want, and get standard brackets. you are pretty limited as to how you can attach it. you are going to have to drill holes in the flaps and fix brackets on there and the lights will lift up as you lift up the flaps. i have a roma 240 and 125 so i can see the problem you have, i wanted more lights on the 240 but there is no way you can add them without drilling through the flaps. i went through lots of ideas but none would leave you with access room to get to your tank!

 

[hollanda88]

would it not be easier and simpler to just get hold of a twin t8 or t5 unit, which ever you want, and get standard brackets. you are pretty limited as to how you can attach it. you are going to have to drill holes in the flaps and fix brackets on there and the lights will lift up as you lift up the flaps. i have a roma 240 and 125 so i can see the problem you have, i wanted more lights on the 240 but there is no way you can add them without drilling through the flaps. i went through lots of ideas but none would leave you with access room to get to your tank!

I superglued the brackets on so it looked better, im running an extra arcadia T8 15W on the roma 90L. Had to fix it to the front flap as it wont go at the back because of the external filter hoses

only problem is that because the lighting is so cose to the water you have to have the cables pulled so tight i can't open the lid lol. they are 100% waterproof though so im not too bothered but you can see the wires in the water if you have them slack

andrew

 

[dave_oddballs]

i would be a bit worried about super glue holding it safely as i do believe it would be poisonous to fish if it entered the water? the original lights hang pretty close to the water so i doubt it would be too much of a problem for extra lights to hang close. i know you said u have t8 lights, but aren't t5 lights thinner? in theory should take up less space, be less intruding when you access the aquarium and hang a greater distance from the water? anyway there is probably other options, its just finding them or working them out.
in my eyes the easiest way would be to get a twin t5 unit and attach the lights to the flaps by whatever way you see best. i think i may be doing so in this way maybe in a couple of weeks so i guess ill find out if it works well or not!

David

 

[Kris T]

Thanks for the ideas, guys!

Dave, what did you end up doing on your 240? Did you use one of your ideas, or just settle for the standard lighting?

 

[dave_oddballs]

i haven't done anything yet as far as lighting goes, been busy with a disease that has killed off my snakeheads! anyway i think i will be going for the twin t5 unit to go with the twin t8's that came with it. im not entirely sure how i plan to attach it to the flap yet. i am one of them people that will try to get everything perfect! i think i am going to put each light on a separate hinge to what the lids open on. so you will open the lid then lift up the light. it probably sounds more complicated than it sounds, just 1 problem would be finding metal to make the hinge out of which does not rust or oxidize!
is getting the twin light unit something you are considering or are you taking a different route?

David

 

[Kris T]

I'm still not sure what to do, but since I wanted a pretty heavily planted tank, more light looks like it's essential...

Now I'm leaning towards putting a single T5 at the back of the tank (under the rear access panel). That would give me an extra 39W, which should be fine from what I read. But like you, I have no idea how I'm going to attach it yet. I don't really want screws coming through the hood...

Do you know if T6 lights make much of a difference? They say they give out 40% more light, and they'll fit in T8 end caps. Worth considering?

EDIT: Found this earlier. Someone with the same problem used this solution: http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/foru...ead.php?t=13515

 

[fatheadminnow]

would it not be easier and simpler to just get hold of a twin t8 or t5 unit, which ever you want, and get standard brackets. you are pretty limited as to how you can attach it. you are going to have to drill holes in the flaps and fix brackets on there and the lights will lift up as you lift up the flaps. i have a roma 240 and 125 so i can see the problem you have, i wanted more lights on the 240 but there is no way you can add them without drilling through the flaps. i went through lots of ideas but none would leave you with access room to get to your tank!

Thats what I said, get two more light fixtures.

But if the OP wants to just use one plug-in, so for a timer, he is going to have to do some wiring.

I guess you could just get a power strip, but than you are going to have more wires to mess with.

Personally, I like a very "clean" look, and would wire the other two light fixtures all into one.

-FHM