Tank Hood Upgrade To Two Tubes: Options

[nry]

Hi all,

I currently have a single T6 tube in the hood for my Juwel Rekord60.

I would like to upgrade this (and the CO2 system) so I can have 2 tubes, but the home-made method I have seen online for this means I end up with the same type of issue that I have now: both tubes are at the front of the tank so plants all grow forward: plants at the back of the tank get reduced lighting.

I know there are luminaires available but they seem a tad expensive, plus I don't know if I like the idea of 'bare' bulbs showing, the reflections and additional brightness in the tank location is not really ideal. Are there 'normal' hoods for aquariums that can be bought which house two tubes? I can't find any around the usual online shops, nor on Google.

A slight debate in my mind is a dremel (et-al) and some DIY to make my hood accept two tubes, though I'd need a new power unit for the lamps. If I cut away all the internals of the current Juwel hood then I could likely make it house 2 T6's or 2 T8's without much of a problem, I'd simply be losing the existing Juwel ballast etc etc. but the hood would look as it currently does from the outside.

Advice welcome!

nry

 

[nicklfire]

Hey dude,

In my opinion lighting is probably one of the single most important things that you can do for your planted tank. I know your going pretty planted since you are upgrading your co2 method (maybe injection??). Anyways.. this is nothing i like to dink around with , ifyour serious about the planted tank do yourself a favor and save alot of frustration and go out and buy coralife light setup for your tank. For about 150$ you can buy somthing good and highend... And you'll leave all your frustration behind you, aswell you'll have a sleek looking lighting system..
just my 2 cents

 

[nry]

It already is pretty heavily planted, most things grow well, but some plants lack the heavy growth they originally have when delivered. Cabomba, rotala etc all get fairly spindly, but do grow pretty rapidly. I use a Tetra Optimat system at present but it isn't exactly the best for maintaining a steady CO2 level. Given I only have a 54litre tank I am thinking of the Nutrafin setup, seems a cost effective choice.

I'm also in the UK, best option I've seen is the T8 Arcadia Luminaire, around £70 for a two-tube setup. It's the additional light into the room from an overtank setup that puts me off this though: I know it is a much better option for the plants than I have now but I like having the tank covered and light only coming through the sides of the glass rather than the top of the tank.

 

[vinylman]

I wouldn't worry about the extra light from an Arcadia Luminaire; I've just bought a 4ft/2 tube one and it really does direct the light down into the tank. I previously had a standard one tube hood and the difference in just doubling the light has to be seen to be believed. My plants love it. Please try one.

 

[nry]

With the luminaire, have you covered the tank at all? I've lost fish recently when I had the lid off for a while, don't fancy leaving it uncovered permanently: would a sheet of glass be sufficient?

 

[vinylman]

No, I haven't covered the tank; I have Cardinals, Pentazona Barbs, Pencilfish and Dwarf Neon Rainbows, so there's no recognised 'jumpers' in there. I don't mind the evaporation, either. The tank is 4ft long and I lose around half an inch between water changes (every 10 days). If you get a glass cover, get two small ones rather than one large one. Go on, you know you want a Luminaire, don't you?.

 

[SuperColey1]

Like you I don't like the idea of Luminaires with open sides, and jumping fish, therefore I have been investigating lighting upgrades.

Unlike your hood mine already takes 2 bulbs, but only 18W each and over a 30 inch 125Ltr this gives minimal light plantwise.

Options I looked into also included your idea of cutting out the plastic ballas recess and fitting tubes in the centre powered by control units rather than hodd mounted ballasts (This is not the way I chose, but only because my hod means that i can put T5 power compacts in there.

I would suggest to you, cut the plastic ballast recess away, and then get a 55W T5 Power Compact Starter Unit (£20+postage from Tamar Aquatics website), then buy a Daylight Plus 55W buklb from either Aqua Essentials website (or the cheapes is Surrey Pet Supplies' Website) then fix the 1 unit in the centre of the hood, with the control unit hanging somewhere, or like mine will be, in the cabinet underneath.

These bulbs are 22" so should fit inside your hood and if not the 36W version is 16"

Oh and yes people, the housemove is over, and at last internet is connected, and will be doing a write up of my lighting upgrade, in the next week or so as long as the f*****n bulb arrives.

Andy

 

[nry]

Like you I don't like the idea of Luminaires with open sides, and jumping fish, therefore I have been investigating lighting upgrades.

Unlike your hood mine already takes 2 bulbs, but only 18W each and over a 30 inch 125Ltr this gives minimal light plantwise.

Options I looked into also included your idea of cutting out the plastic ballas recess and fitting tubes in the centre powered by control units rather than hodd mounted ballasts (This is not the way I chose, but only because my hod means that i can put T5 power compacts in there.

I would suggest to you, cut the plastic ballast recess away, and then get a 55W T5 Power Compact Starter Unit (£20+postage from Tamar Aquatics website), then buy a Daylight Plus 55W buklb from either Aqua Essentials website (or the cheapes is Surrey Pet Supplies' Website) then fix the 1 unit in the centre of the hood, with the control unit hanging somewhere, or like mine will be, in the cabinet underneath.

These bulbs are 22" so should fit inside your hood and if not the 36W version is 16"

Oh and yes people, the housemove is over, and at last internet is connected, and will be doing a write up of my lighting upgrade, in the next week or so as long as the f*****n bulb arrives.

Andy

I missed this reply but got to the same conclusion about the T5 power compacts: I am unsure if the 55w will be way too bright and possibly too long, the hood ends are sloped in slightly and with the power plug bit they may not fit. The 16" 36w seems a better choice, and should be simpler to mount than 2xT8's? I have recently got a Nutrafin CO2 unit going and will shortly have a permanent test arriving: if I can manage a decent and stable CO2 level then hopefully the lighting upgrade should not pose too much algae risk! I'll need to look into better fertilisation too, currently using Seachem Flourish ~3ml every other day: the T5 gives me more light than I was thinking but that's not really a bad thing long term providing CO2 is OK! Another advantage with the T5 is price (cheaper!) and also it leaves more space under the hood than two huge T8 tubes and reflectors.

Can you get specific reflectors for the power compacts? I may just continue as I do now and line the hood further with shiny stuff, works well enough at the moment.

 

[SuperColey1]

See my Journal in my signature. page 6 I have just completed my upgrade.

I use the existing T8 reflector I had but cut it because the bulb is red hot and the end cap part mustnt be under the reflector.

Andy

 

[nry]

See my Journal in my signature. page 6 I have just completed my upgrade.

I use the existing T8 reflector I had but cut it because the bulb is red hot and the end cap part mustnt be under the reflector.

Andy

Fair enough, is the end cap for the power compact starter water tight? I'm assuming it is! I am curious on the need for any venting on my hood, time will tell I guess.

 

[SuperColey1]

The end cap is very tight yes.

I only put the Power compact in yesterday but I could feel from the outside of the plastic hood that to the touch it is very hot, so I might work out some way of putting a vent in without losing too much water through evaporation. (cheapo way as usual I should think. drill a circlet of holes in the top and cover with gauze on the inside lol.

Andy

 

[nry]

The end cap is very tight yes.

I only put the Power compact in yesterday but I could feel from the outside of the plastic hood that to the touch it is very hot, so I might work out some way of putting a vent in without losing too much water through evaporation. (cheapo way as usual I should think. drill a circlet of holes in the top and cover with gauze on the inside lol.

Andy

Pretty much what I was thinking, George did something very similar with his last nano journal. If I put the holes above the reflector than they may serve well without the need to cover with anything. Reckon I need to buy a Dremel et-al to do all this, I've no clue how Juwel put my hood together as I see no sign of screws etc to remove the existing ballast etc.

 

[nry]

All has arrived, even have someone who will loan me a Dremel! Manually held the light/reflector over the tank last night and the improvement is very noticeable: interestingly within 5 minutes of having the light over the tank my Anubias started to pearl which was nice but I didn't expect this plant to do much! I should be starting the upgrade work in a week or two so I'll try and do a photo-journal of it all.

 

[SuperColey1]

Does the Juwel have the lights on an Ibar? if so this just unclips as a one piece.

If there is a recess in the middle of the inside of the hood with the end caps coming from the sides of it then the opening for the electrics is on the outside where you would probs see a panel which is removeable.

 

[nry]

Mine has a single tube with the brackets at either end. Haven't looked too much at it yet though I will have an investigation later today when I do the water change for this week.