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Old 09-21-2008, 02:17 AM   #6 (permalink)
confuted
Planted Tank Obsessed
 
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Cambridge, MA
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Comment, people! I'm not writing this for my own amusement

To add some more light to my tank, I decided to hang a 24" shoplight from the ceiling. Mounting it was a bit tricky, as I was drilling through drywall over the tank and didn't have anything good to stand on ...

... but eventually, I got it up there. It's a little off-center, but that's ok; that asian ambulia on the left grows fast enough WITHOUT more light. Really, I'm trimming it weekly. The fixture also hangs a little crooked, but by moving where the power cord dangles, I can straighten it, so that isn't a big deal.

I used two hooks that came with drywall anchors rated to 35 pounds each in the ceiling. From there, I took 1/8" galvanized steel cable from Lowes and added little metal pieces to make loops and hammered on some ends. I forgot what those things were called, but they were sold right by the cable. On the light end, I used the s-hooks that were provided with the shoplight and more loops in the cable. To adjust the height, I employ a simple knot held in place by friction - it's just one half of a square knot.

I replaced one of the bulbs in the shoplight fixture with a bulb with a bluer spectrum. I tried replacing both, but that was too blue, so I need to find another source. Right now it has one bulb meant for aquariums and one that came with it (rather yellow). My tank has four bulbs total, and all four of them are different

I think perhaps I should lower the light a little more, as some light spills over onto the top of the other fixture, but then the light spread would be more uneven. It's a toss up - thoughts?

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