Maximum Lighting For A Rio 180?

[njw]

I have a RIO180 and currently, I have 2 Arcadia original tropical 30w tubes with reflectors fitted. I want a heavily planted tank, and i think I currently have less the 1WPG .

From what i can remember, the hood for the rio 180 takes a maximum of 2 30w tubes (the labels have all peeled off so i cant tell). Is it safe to put bigger tubes in this hood? I like the neat/tidy Jewel hood, but are their alternatives that still keep the tank "sealed"? Or, does this make heat a problem?

 

[ChrisP]

I have the same tank, your currently running about 1.25WPG and you can easily get it to 2.5WPG.

You basically have two choices in doing this, you can do it a cheap method or you can go the expensive method.

Cheap Method.
Buy your self a double starter unit from eBay, 2 tubes and 2 reflectors. Attach the relectors to the flaps on the Juwel hood with the supplied plastic nut and bolt, then connect up the starter unit. Hey presto you now have 4 tubes giving you 2.5WPG which I am finding is perfectly adequate to grow just about anything I have tried so far.

Expensive Method.
Contact a Juwel dealer and buy a double lighting unit for the tank. They will give you a new lighting bar with a lighting unit to hold 4 tubes and the smaller flaps so it all looks neat and tidy.

Or you could do away with T-8's and hang a halide from the ceiling and leave the tank open top.

-Chris