Need more light...

Beeker

Beeker

Aquariaholic
Oct 8, 2004
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I have a 75 gal. tank and the temp usually stays between 68 and 72 degrees F. I know I need more light since I plan on putting some plants in the tank. Where can I find a decent yet inexpensive lighting hood?
I am planning on setting up my 10 gal. tank. I have the filter and hood already but I don't know if I will need heat for it.
This may sound silly but, do aquatic plants require a certain temperature?
 
home improvement stores sell 4ft 2 bulb flourescent shoplights for 15 bucks. Get 2 of them and you're good to go. Just make sure they fit over your tank. Be sure to pick up some daylight bulbs and warm/cool whites while you're there depending on your prefs. You can also overdrive the lights if you get fixtures with electronics ballasts inside to get more light but I think 4 x 4' bulbs will let you grow a good variety already. Man I wish I had room for 4' lights.
 
I could fit a couple of 4 ft bulbs over my 75 gal. tank, but I need a hood to put them in. I don't have a decent hood for them.
 
You could make a hood out of plywood, gut the fixtures and put it in the hood. or just hang the fixtures from the ceiling with chains, or get those right angled metal brackets for making shelves and screw them into the studs behind the tank and hang the fixtures from them
 
Most of the available plants will do well between 72° and 78°. 68° is a bit too low...
for many fish as well.
Two shop lights would give you 160 watts NO, over your 72gal. which is low light and would limit your choices of plants. I suggest thinking about CF(compact fluorescent) lighting for a tank of that size. If you have an existing hood, you could pull the inadequate lighting you presently have and retro-fit it with the CF fixtures.
It will cost more, but be worth it in the long run, IMO. CF is much more effective lighting, especially in a larger, deeper tank.

Len
 
Thank you, Len. I also saw a nice hood on Big Al's. I think I may take the easy way out. Besides, my birthday is coming. :)
 
50 watts will be more than enough for the 10 gallon. i'm running a 150 watt on my 46 gallon, so i'd imagine you need in the range of 250-300 watts for the 72? Sorry, no experience with larger tanks.

But don't skimp on a heater, pick up something quality because a bad heater will give you more headaches and cause you more work than you can imagine.
 
Thank you.

I saw a nice hood on Big Al's. Do they have good heaters there too?
What are the good brands of heaters?
 
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I don't have a hood on my 90. I just have glass canopys.
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I have the one black light strip(single) that came w/ my tank, and I bought the white one(double) for $10, and the bulbs for $8 a piece. Alot cheaper than the $200 strips the LFS tried to sell me. I plan on spray painting it black one day, if I ever get up the energy and time to do it. My tank could probably use a bit more light and less oxygenation, but it works for my fish and my easy plants.
 
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