Nd Aquatics Tank. Hood Conversion!

[hamfist]

Right, many of you may know of my new ND Aquatics 5x2x2 tank which came last week for my SA cichlids.

Well, I've generally been pleased with it. However, I just didn't like the hood layout. It was big and bulky. I couldn't take it off or put it on, on my own as it was just too heavy. Nor could I do anything particularly involving in the tank with it on, as the access was just not good enough.
Here's what it looked like...

So, feeling like I really wanted to get this tank looking perfect, and (sort of) having the funds to do so I decided on a refurb !

So, I bought an Arcadia Classica luminaire with 2 x T8 36W bulbs and some 44mm pine strip from B&Q.
So the hood is now in the shed. The pine stripping had 2 coats of diamond hard varnish and then was stuck onto the glass around the top of the tank with aquarium silicon. The luminaire was then mounted on the sides of the tank.

Here's the pics ...

I hope you'll agree that the whole effect of the thing is a lot less bulky. There is also a lot more natural light getting into the tank, and I can get much better access to the tank, period.

 

[N0body Of The Goat]

Nice conversion sir!

 

[Big_eyes]

Looks a million times better!

I hate how they make the tops of tanks so big, it's always so overpowering and takes over your viewing.

 

[ChilliPepper]

That's really good

We're looking into doing a similar thing. The lid is sooooo heavy, it makes my bad shoulder act up even more. I struggle doing water changes or any tank maintenance without my boyfriend here, really. Can just about manage to lift it up and fold it back to feed them It is the only thing I don't like about their tanks.

We'll probably keep the original trim and just take off the lid/hinges.

I like what you've done with yours though, it really looks so much better

 

[snowflake311]

I like it the other way it looks all finshed. But this way looks fine too and makes cleaning easy.

 

[hamfist]

I like it the other way it looks all finshed. But this way looks fine too and makes cleaning easy.

I see where you're coming from. However, the biggest advantage is tank maintainance, which is so much easier this way.
It literally takes two people to lift the old lid on and of. My wife is disabled and can't help me, and my daughter is too weak. So I would need to get someone round to help each and every time I wanted to take the hood on or off !

 

[meguro]

the colour doesnt match

 

[hamfist]

the colour doesnt match

Close enough for me !

The lighting in the pic actually accentuates the difference. In real life they look rather closer in tone.

 

[Big_eyes]

the colour doesnt match

That's being very picky

 

[Verminator89]

hamfist which lighting did you go for in the end? I'm just browsing light units now from Arcadia and i've narrowed it down to two now.

Arcadia OTL T8 1200mm
Arcadia Classica T8 1200mm

Both the same in my eyes, swaying toward the OTL more than classica i think. I think i read you went for the Classica somewhere, can't remember though.

 

[ChilliPepper]

So, I bought an Arcadia Classica luminaire with 2 x T8 36W bulbs and some 44mm pine strip from B&Q.

 

[Verminator89]

**slaps self on the forehead**

Ta

 

[hamfist]

The cheapest CLassica's around are from a seller on ebay. THey still get sent direct, brand new, from the manufacturer to you. A great deal. The ebay seller is called Peteramos1. He communicated well with me too.

£123 all in, including p&p for the 1200mm.

 

[Verminator89]

I think i'm going to go for this Hagen Glo x2 39W T5HO. Seems like a pretty good detail, George Farmer over on UKAPs just linked me straight to it So i think thats what i shall be going with.

 

[ChilliPepper]

I think i'm going to go for this Hagen Glo x2 39W T5HO. Seems like a pretty good detail, George Farmer over on UKAPs just linked me straight to it So i think thats what i shall be going with.

I've got two of them and they are great. Only downside is there is no on/off switch on it.