new tank checklist and lighting /substrate question.

[new2tanks]

i went to Big Als and the guy told me that i would not just be able to take out the 15W fluroscent tube and replace it with a 40W.he said that i should get a glass sort of sheet place my existing hood on top and then add an additional 28 watts fluorscent light strip which is liek 70 dollars.
i cant afford all this! are there cheaper alternative to get to 2wpg.will external lighing work?

also i just found out that the thermometer that came with my starter kit is the strip type....is that reliable?

 

[RockabillyChick]

yes there are, but it would involve ditching your hood all together.

the way i did it for my 20 long is i went to home depot and bought an $8 48" shop light (you can paint it black with spray paint if you don't like the white) and got two full spectrum bulbs. (try to find 48" bulbs that have a color temp of 6500k or as close to that as you can find.)

my plants love it. i just set the shop light on the top of my tank, and because its longer than the tank, it just balances on top and hangs over each end, where i've put some of my "land" plants. to cover the top, i just have a sheet of plexiglass cut to the top of the tank with spaces cut out for the filters and heater cord. i get about 2.5 wpg and all my plants are doing very well.

ps, i will post pictures of my whole setup later toay.

 

[new2tanks]

new lighting idea

yes there are, but it would involve ditching your hood all together.

how about i keep my 15w lighted hood and throw out the extra piece pf plastic that comes with the hood (the feeder lid).
now to supplement lighting i could have a fluorscnet bulb attached tomy wall....i could focue this into the tank.the only drawback this has is it might befocused on only a small area of the tank and i worry about that in a 20 long.

do u think i could make this work. i could adjust the light (it has a rotatable head) from time to time ensuring that all plants got some light?