36 Gallon Bowfront Light

[Titan17]

Here is something that I just thought of...the center brace. The 36 gallon bowfront has a center brace running right through the middle. Will this have a lot of effect on the amount of light that I get? I understand it will have some effect just kind of would like to know how much of an effect everyone would think that it would have.

[azjenny]

Originally Posted by Titan17

Here is something that I just thought of...the center brace. The 36 gallon bowfront has a center brace running right through the middle. Will this have a lot of effect on the amount of light that I get? I understand it will have some effect just kind of would like to know how much of an effect everyone would think that it would have.

It does create a shadow down the middle. I saw on another forum, someone with this tank had cut out the black plastic brace and replaced it with plexiglass. I was thinking about it, but I won't do it unless I do it before I fill the tank because I'm too nervous about the weight of the water in the tank without the brace, even for a few minutes. However, I do remember them saying that they did the work while the tank was full, so it can be done. Sorry I can't remember where I saw it.
I don't know anything about actual effect on the growing of the plants though, this was just aesthetic....

[djscotty]

If you look at my picture, I was thinking the same thing but you cannot tell that the brace is even there. The light spectrum still looks even.

[squidsquiggle]

I use one of these, inside a diy gutter fixture. I was lucky enough to have a local store that sold them, so it was much cheaper than the other options I could find. I do have to use co2, and I still get a bit of algae on the slower-growing leaves, but so far it's worked great for me. There's a link to the tank in my signature.

[biglos201]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

You will be lucky if you don't reach medium light! With that much light it is very hard to avoid algae problems, you need CO2 for sure, and the plants you can grow isn't much different if at all different from when you use low medium light. Around 40 micromols of PAR is a great lighting level to use - you get most of the advantages of higher light, and most of the advantages of low light, except that using CO2 is a very good idea with that much light.

I've awoken this post from the dead! I too have a 36 Gallon with the stock lighting 8000k bulb and just ordered a 17W Florasun 5000k bulb to switch out the stock one. Do you think this will even work for my Roseafolia , Anacharis Narrow leave and and other Anarcharis?