Lighting Upgrade

[jkc]

Hi Guys,

I did try posting this in the hardware forum a while back and got no response so thought id try here.

I have one of the rena classic 120x50 tanks. Standard lighting that comes with the tank is 4 30w tubes.

I am running pressurised CO2 & I am using reflectors but as the tank is so deep I would love to get some extra light under the hood.

The plants are doing well but I am struggling a little with creating a carpet.

Its excellent when it comes to maintenance as I can lift the lights out the way but I cant see any way I can get extra light under the hood!!

Any ideas??

 

[Themuleous]

I always look longingly at the rena classic range :gruel: they always look great. How you finding it? What the filter like? Ive not heard much about the rena externals they any good?

As to the lighting problem, the tank has loose panels if I remember rightly? Can you not just drill holes in them so you can fit light holers? Then if you use a normal ballast the wire can go out the back? Im farily sure when I looked last it seemed very possible to do. If you post some pics of thtop and hood I'll probably be able to show you what I mean.

BTW how many gallons is it? You'll probably need to add two or three extra tubes to get the 2WPG you'll need for carpeting plants like glosso.

Sam

 

[jkc]

Hi Sam,

Thanks for your reply, Its a superb tank. The main reason I went for it is the height. I keep discus and this just seemed perfect for them. Apart from the lighting the only slight thing that annoys me is that they didnt go 24 inches back only 20 which I think is a shame. The rena external is ok, however I am, and have always been an Eheim fan and also run an Eheim 2026. The water is absurlutely crystal clear!! I tend to clean one filter every two weeks.

I had thought about drilling holes in the loose panels however if the lights are connected to the hoods it may be a little difficult to take the hoods off when I do maintenance etc??

Also with the reflectors currently on the tubes I dont think the light is gonna get through to the tank! Bit hard to explain, ill post some pics later so you can see what I mean.

I was wanting to use the interpet T5 tubes if poss as there more powerfull and shorter than the T8's which I thought maybe easier to fit???,

The tank holds 97 gallons so about 88 after displacement (probably a little less as I have quite a bit of sand (mixed with laterite) in there!

Thanks

James

 

[George Farmer]

Beware the the Interpet PC T5s are notorious for overheating and breaking. There's a long thread on here somewhere about it all - even the manager of Aquatics-Online contributed as the older units were recalled and the customers refunded.

Has the tank got a centre brace? One technique us Juwel Rio owners use is to simply balance extra tubes on the brace, the cables' tension providing sufficient balance and stability.

It's a pity the supplied tubes aren't longer i.e. 42" 38W.

 

[mantis147]

I use the interpet t5 55watt twins. I got them about 7 months ago and ive had no problems. I did read the long thread about them but i must have got the later ones. They have got no signs of over heating as yet.

 

[jkc]

Beware the the Interpet PC T5s are notorious for overheating and breaking. There's a long thread on here somewhere about it all - even the manager of Aquatics-Online contributed as the older units were recalled and the customers refunded.

Thanks gf225, i do remember reading the thread on the problem with these units. Didnt they sort this out??
I assume the units they now supply to retail outlets are the upgraded units?? Has anyone had any problems with these??

Has the tank got a centre brace? One technique us Juwel Rio owners use is to simply balance extra tubes on the brace, the cables' tension providing sufficient balance and stability.
[/quote]

It does have a centre brace running from front to back, I hadnt thought of this idea, I may be able to play with this!! Just need to sort some way of fixing them down.

It's a pity the supplied tubes aren't longer i.e. 42" 38W.
[/quote]



Tell me about it, that would have been ideal!! You would have thought that they would install 42" tubes in a 48" tank wouldnt you!!

Sam, Im not gonna be able to get pics on here tonight but will sort it out this weekend.

Thanks James