Urgent lighting help- don't want my plants to die!

[clb2196]

So, due to a tank crack (which I'll describe in more detail somewhere here at some point) I ended up doing an emergency tank buy last night. I ended up with a really nice 36 bowfront. Rhe problem is the stock hood/fixture can't support anywhere near the 2.4 WPG I had in my old tank. What can I do to get as much light in there as possible, and quickly? Spending some money isn't a huge issue, the tank wasn't that much. I really don't know what I'm doing here.

The other problem is that I need to tank covered- otherwise I guarantee my cats will spend the day fishing.

[coach_z]

so you got just a tank and no hood?
i would pick up a cheap-o hood that fits the tank, and then rip out all of the light and wiring and stuff. run to the local hardware store, buy 4 compact fluorescent bulbs, 4 plugs, some wire a few screws, bunch of duct tape, electrical tape and then go to town squeezing it all in there ;)

until then, you got some spiral compact fluorescents, and a few spare lamps? put the lamps around the tank and turn them on. who says the light has to be on top and not in front of the tank???

sorry to hear about the cracked tank....we will need to hear the whole story in a separate thread

[clb2196]

so you got just a tank and no hood?
i would pick up a cheap-o hood that fits the tank, and then rip out all of the light and wiring and stuff. run to the local hardware store, buy 4 compact fluorescent bulbs, 4 plugs, some wire a few screws, bunch of duct tape, electrical tape and then go to town squeezing it all in there ;)

until then, you got some spiral compact fluorescents, and a few spare lamps? put the lamps around the tank and turn them on. who says the light has to be on top and not in front of the tank???

sorry to hear about the cracked tank....we will need to hear the whole story in a separate thread

No, I bought the hood that came with it, realizing that it would certainly need to be modded. ;)

Ok, so I'm really a dunce about this stuff. I can handle the CFL bulbs. What am I looking at for plugs? How do I connect them to a power source or whatever? I've done some hood mods on the boicube so hopefully I can handle this!

I also miss my biocube's blue led's, so I might try to get some of those in there too.

[coach_z]

i believe that the zigman has a good writeup with pichers and stuff on the forum. lemme search.

[Wycco]

Plants won't die immediately.

Sometimes people put tanks in total darkness for two or three days to get rid of algae.

Hood mods are fairly easy. You can probably use the search feature of Aquaria Central- I know I got help from on here somewhere.

CFLs use the same light sockets as regular light bulbs... They're about $2.50 for a fixture and 4 6500Kelvin CFLs at 22watts are about $11 for a box of four at Lowes.

It's fairly simple- when you take everything out of your hood- attach black wires from the hood to black wires from your light fixtures- and white to white.

Spray paint the inside of your hood white to reflect light down.- screw the fixtures into the top.


--- I know there are better more descriptive details on threads out there.

[coach_z]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196845
zigmans thread ^^ pg 2 has some good pics, i will volunteer him to help you out with any questions ;)

[clb2196]

Thank you. :D You guys are awesome!

I know they won't die right away, but I'm already going to be away from tonight to tomorrow night, so I'd like to get this done asap.

[clb2196]

Ok, so still not sure what I need for plugs... help? And do you think these bulbs (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100663847&N=10000003+90039+530232+4294885087) would work? I'd only need 2.

[coach_z]

pick up something like this (whenyou are at the store, just ask an employee what else you would need etc...hopefully they know something about anything and can answer you):
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productList&No=0&Ne=4294967294&category=Lampholder+Accessories+and+Sockets&N=4294953120

you already have a plug and wiring running into your hood.
flip your hood over, rip everything out.
you should find that you will be inhibited by the wiring that is running through the plastic hood. that is the wiring you should use to wire your socket(s).

feel free to keep asking questions.

[clb2196]

K, so I get something like this (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=75118-1071-6427SU&lpage=none), and somehow the wiring will connect to what I've got? :lol: I will be back with questions and pics onceI get back on Thurs and can buy stuff. :)

[clb2196]

Hm, this is intriguing (http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-lighting/55.asp)! I have one of those extension cords, if I could use those bulbs I linked to above this would be a breeze.

[clb2196]

I did it. :D 80 watts over the 36 gallon, so pretty much the same amount of light. :D They are 6500k instead of 10000k, hopefully that won't matter *too* much. Thread here (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=200542).