the lights I am planning to use on my 75 are T-5 HO flourescent
Drs Foster and Smith's T-5 bulbs and fixtures.
from the research I did on them I am planning to use just two 4' bulbs on the tank that now seems proverbial in that its allways planned but never done
:sad 
they seem to have all the benifits of power compact without the drawbacks, the fewer bulbs than NO, and ballasts used to produce the light seems like it would make for less heat, not to mention their smaller size that makes reflectors for them more eficient-less restrike on the bulb.
they aren't real common yet so finding a way to diy them might be harder, but I thought the difference in electricity to run was a selling point that somewhat made up for the difference in initial cost.
I was planning to make my own parabolic reflectors, I can scan my diagrams in and send them to you if you want, Matak.
hehe the hang glider comment was just for jest but I was trying to make a point to consider unusual ways of dealing with it.
it gave me a thought
after I got done laughing about it...
you could have a board that you put across over the tank between the built ins that you could hang a sling to support some of your wieght on to leave your hands free. would save those close calls leaning way over trying to reach something in the back... might be a chalenge to design your cabnets so it looked normal and still worked with your board when you needed it. and finish that board so it doesn't look to out of place with your nice cabnetry
and cleats around the edge of the stool if you are going to need one. wouldn't want you to loose your footing with your weight on the sling if you were up on the stool. those raised edges around the stool would give you an idea of where you are on it as well, so you don't have to be feeling around with your feet to figure it out.
I'd consider two stools. one that is the right hight so you can work in the front of the tank without bending over to much... you don't want to be up to high on this one. and the other one high enough so you have your belly over the top of the tank when you lean over it with the sling support and are reaching for the back of the tank.
make them nestable and a partition of the built in section to put them away when you don't need them would be the ideal arangement.
Drs Foster and Smith's T-5 bulbs and fixtures.
from the research I did on them I am planning to use just two 4' bulbs on the tank that now seems proverbial in that its allways planned but never done
:sad they seem to have all the benifits of power compact without the drawbacks, the fewer bulbs than NO, and ballasts used to produce the light seems like it would make for less heat, not to mention their smaller size that makes reflectors for them more eficient-less restrike on the bulb.
they aren't real common yet so finding a way to diy them might be harder, but I thought the difference in electricity to run was a selling point that somewhat made up for the difference in initial cost.
I was planning to make my own parabolic reflectors, I can scan my diagrams in and send them to you if you want, Matak.
hehe the hang glider comment was just for jest but I was trying to make a point to consider unusual ways of dealing with it.
it gave me a thought
after I got done laughing about it...you could have a board that you put across over the tank between the built ins that you could hang a sling to support some of your wieght on to leave your hands free. would save those close calls leaning way over trying to reach something in the back... might be a chalenge to design your cabnets so it looked normal and still worked with your board when you needed it. and finish that board so it doesn't look to out of place with your nice cabnetry
and cleats around the edge of the stool if you are going to need one. wouldn't want you to loose your footing with your weight on the sling if you were up on the stool. those raised edges around the stool would give you an idea of where you are on it as well, so you don't have to be feeling around with your feet to figure it out.
I'd consider two stools. one that is the right hight so you can work in the front of the tank without bending over to much... you don't want to be up to high on this one. and the other one high enough so you have your belly over the top of the tank when you lean over it with the sling support and are reaching for the back of the tank.
make them nestable and a partition of the built in section to put them away when you don't need them would be the ideal arangement.
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