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Lighting a 80cm (31.5") tank

Discussion in 'General Plant Topics' started by metasyntax, Dec 14, 2006.

  1. metasyntax

    metasyntax Junior Poster

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    I have a 80cm x 35cm x 45cm (31.5"x13.8"x17.8") tank that I'm having a hard time deciding how to light. I think I've settled on 2x36W setup in a linear fashion [-- --] but the fixture would be ~34"-35" in length. I was hoping for some other suggestions, or recommendations. The tank is 126litres/33.2 US gallons and is trimless. I will be DIY'ing the lighting so I can be flexible.

    Thanks,
    Glenn
     
    #1 metasyntax, Dec 14, 2006
  2. turbomkt

    turbomkt Lifetime Charter Member
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    I've got one of these.
     
    #2 turbomkt, Dec 15, 2006
  3. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
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    You can make a DIY hood and add 2x 55 A&H lights also.
    Stagger them so they overlap and spread them out front to back of the tank also and angle the reflectors for the best spread and different angels.

    If you have two light close together:

    -----------
    -----------

    vs

    -----------


    -----------

    So more light will hit more leaf area, vs just a "hot spot"(like a MH).
    You get better foliage and fuller look due to more angles of light hitting the plant leaves.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #3 Tom Barr, Dec 15, 2006
  4. metasyntax

    metasyntax Junior Poster

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    Well since it's only a 32g tank, I want to keep the lighting reasonable so hence the 2x36W (it's actually a AHSupply 2x55W bright kit, but the bulbs are dead and need to be replaced anyway).

    If I understand you I should make the dimensions of the hood similar to the footprint of the tank, then put one bulb at the front left, and one at the rear right. Then angle the reflectors to cover the tank as much as possible.

    Code:
    top view
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    @turbomkt: That fixture looks nice, but in Canada it's ~110-130 :(

    Thanks,
    Glenn
     
    #4 metasyntax, Dec 15, 2006
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