Adding more light

[cloud]

Hi all,

I've been thining of adding a 2nd bulb to my 33g but can't find any two bar hoods out there (my tank is a clear-seal).
Is this the sort of this that, in the main you need to do as a D.I.Y project?

 

[Grey Legion]

Perfecto make dual bulb lights to fit most tank sizes and they look good...kinda pricey but google perfecto and have a look.

 

[anonapersona]

2 light and 3 light nearly same price

Look online, BigAlsOnline.com and DrsFosterSmith.com both have a nice selection of dual and triple lights. Be aware of the width of the strip and see that it fits your top, they sell glass tops that are wider for dual lights and that fits the triple lights also. I suspect the dual lights may rest on top of the hinge and block the light otherwise.

 

[cloud]

Thanks fellas.

I'll check them out. Still not 100% sure if I want to up the light yet. I've got a heavilly/happilly planted tank with medium light. It's nice and subtle in the evening. but in the daylight it looks almost turned off.
I'll post some pics if i can get my hands on a camera and see what people think.
Can is it alright to have 3/2 lights on in the day, and 1 in the evening? And if you can, is it advisable?

 

[Grey Legion]

I myself want to go with a 36" freshwater PC from coralife that would give me exactly 2watts per gallon..

 

[Blinky]

is it alright to have 3/2 lights on in the day, and 1 in the evening? And if you can, is it advisable?

I don't see why not - some PC fixtures come with independent switches for each bulb so you can put them on timers and create a dawn/dusk effect.
The routine on my 65g goes something like this:
9:30am - 20W light stick mounted behind the aquarium (gives just enough light for the fish to start waking up) and the fan for the Satellite come on
10:00am - 96W 6700K bulb in the Satellite comes on
10:30am - 96W 10 000K Satellite bulb and GE 110W fixture (2 - 9325W bulbs) come on
The tank is under full light for 11 hours, until 9:30pm
9:30pm - 96W 10 000K bulb & 110W fixture turn off
10:00pm - 96W 6700K bulb turns off
10:30pm - 20W & Satellite cooling fan turn off.

I'm sure you could have full light for 8-10 hours, with a few hours of lower light in the evening, without harming the plants in any way - timers are your best friend when it comes to stuff like this, the plants and fish will adjust to the routine.