Would like ideas for getting a light into this setup.

[chibikaie]

This is actually an aquaponic setup; the plants above the tank already have a grow light that is working well for them. What I'm wondering is how feasible it would be to get any kind of light into the fish tank (preferably LED) so that I can throw hornwort and moss in without expecting all of it to die from lack of light. I'm not looking for high light or fussy plants, so correct me if I'm wrong in believing that these plants would be OK with low light and minimal fertilization.



I'm not expecting miracles, just wondering if anybody has any ideas. There's a small area to the far left where the grow light does hit the water, but it's a couple feet away. I'm assuming that's inadequate for more than a little algae.

 

[TheFishBoss97]

Idk if you would want to do this, but maybe just get a led fixture, place it on the tank, and then using cheap wood pieces, and screws, make a platform over the led fixture so u can leave the rest on top still

or just move the tank........? and use cardboard boxes/wood to hold up those containers?

 

[XanAvaloni]

As long as you keep the water level where it is (or lower) here's what I would do: get this, and I mean this exact, Coralife fixture. (not necessarily this seller, in fact I would check eBay or other used first). The reason you want this precise model is that it hooks to the side of the tank with slide-out wires. Slide wires out to needed length, then, slowly and carefully, bend them upward until the ends are about the same height as the top of the light, which isn't very high, maybe an inch. Now your wires are holding the light down below the level of the top of the tank, clear of the bottom of the tubs up above.

Light above, light below. It would work. Whether it's worth $50 or so (probably even for used considering shipping) is up to you. You could also just get a desk lamp short enough or with bendable neck, put it in back of the tank and let it shine through. Light from the side rather than above. Plants probably woudn't care.

 

[jpappy789]

I would probably try the desk lamp CFL option first as it's cheap. You might also be able to get away with putting the tank next to a window and see if that's enough...might also be a battle with algae.

 

[chibikaie]

Wow, thanks, you guys have some great ideas! I like the idea of putting a lamp on the side - I don't know why I didn't think of that. The duckweed tub next to the tank just got the axe since its snails all died, so I even have somewhere to put it where I'm not likely to trip on it. Cheap is also a major plus in my book. Okay, you could probably tell that from the clearly used litter boxes, haha.

That's a neat trick with the Coralife fixture. I'm actually intending to raise the water level slightly, but I'll keep it in mind. Very creative!

I, uh, didn't actually fit the drainage holes with bulkhead fittings, so the lower tub actually dribbles water all over half the tank. So I can't move them in any way until I get them hooked up properly (which I can already tell I'll be lazy about doing, since it's working for now and why fix what isn't broken?). Well, that and the space you see is pretty much all I have to work with. I can't think of where to fit the tubs where they wouldn't get in the way except directly on top.

 

[dbosman]

Next version, use plastic egg crate to keep the plants off the bottom of the tub, so water can circulate, and use fewer (like one) holes to empty into the tank.
I think you might get better growth, and very much easier lighting, if you used a long trough along the back of the tank, with a light for the tank in front of the trough. Or maybe something like this.

 

[chibikaie]

Oh, there's only one hole in each box. It's just that when water comes out of the hole, it drips along the side and then runs along bottom of the box before falling back into the tank. Wasn't really a design feature, more of a bug. Yes, I need to get to the hardware store and get some bulkheads. Been lazy about it as I keep getting called in to work and as there's no water dripping all over my bedroom floor, I'm not feeling a lot of pressure to fix it in a hurry.

... I think the hydroton would just fall through the egg crate. And one tub is just a duckweed sump, lol. If/when I upgrade, I will definitely try to get the tubs set back so that I'm not trying to run two sets of lighting. I wasn't originally planning on plants in the tank (not sure if you can tell, but it's a goldfish in there and boy does she like to eat plants), but I'm reconsidering.