DIY hood

**Urkevitz** · 01-19-2004, 08:27 PM

I just built a diy hood, now my lighting is 4 x 4 40 watt NO fluorescents over my 55 gallon. The bulbs are about 4-5 inches above the water. The thing is I don't see a difference in light intensity. Am I better off with just having a shoplight resting on top of the tank? The light is more even, but it doesn't look brighter. I made the hood with 2 shoplights like in DIY section. should I see a difference. And my girlfriend is mad at me for adding a light.

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 01-19-2004, 08:34 PM

Why is your girlfriend mad for adding a light?

4-5" seems kind of high. Why did you build it that high? Mine are just about resting on the top. Did you paint the inside of the canopy white?

**Urkevitz** · 01-19-2004, 11:21 PM

Its that high so I can fit it over my cheap filter. The bulbs are 3 inches over the top of the tank. My girlfriend told me that instead of adding light I should just buy new plants if they die. She didn't want me buying a tank in the first place. The inside is gloss white. There must be more light in the tank because the algae on my driftwood is streaming with bubbles, before it would produce a couple every few seconds.

Rex Grigg · 01-20-2004, 11:40 AM

Sounds like you need to upgrade the GF.

malkore · 01-20-2004, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Grigg

Sounds like you need to upgrade the GF.

ROFLMFAO!

**SCMurphy** · 01-20-2004, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rex Grigg

Sounds like you need to upgrade the GF.

Time for GF 2.0?

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 01-20-2004, 04:15 PM

Your GF ought to have more heart than to massacre batch after batch of plants simply because she didn't want you to upgrade your lights! Phew! haha

Well, even if you do have more light now, like you've noted - it's hard to tell with the naked eye. Even if the bulbs were resting on the top, 4x40w on a 55g isn't a heck of a lot of light. Just keep the water parameters in line and see how the plants grow. If they still aren't growing to your satisfaction, there are ways to get more output from those bulbs.

**Urkevitz** · 01-20-2004, 09:26 PM

She just doesn't understand.

malkore · 01-21-2004, 02:34 PM

and keep in mind that 4 40watt NO bulbs won't look as bright as 110watts of power compacts...PC's simply have a higher output, and a lot of the photos you're seeing online are with PC bulbs in use.

**Urkevitz** · 01-21-2004, 09:22 PM

So far the plants are looking good. Getting small amount of pearling. I may add DIY Co2 soon.

01-19-2004, 08:34 PM	#2
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	Why is your girlfriend mad for adding a light? 4-5" seems kind of high. Why did you build it that high? Mine are just about resting on the top. Did you paint the inside of the canopy white? __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

01-20-2004, 04:15 PM	#7
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	Your GF ought to have more heart than to massacre batch after batch of plants simply because she didn't want you to upgrade your lights! Phew! haha Well, even if you do have more light now, like you've noted - it's hard to tell with the naked eye. Even if the bulbs were resting on the top, 4x40w on a 55g isn't a heck of a lot of light. Just keep the water parameters in line and see how the plants grow. If they still aren't growing to your satisfaction, there are ways to get more output from those bulbs. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

01-21-2004, 02:34 PM	#9
malkore Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 2,165	and keep in mind that 4 40watt NO bulbs won't look as bright as 110watts of power compacts...PC's simply have a higher output, and a lot of the photos you're seeing online are with PC bulbs in use. __________________ Malkore Filstar XP2 PIMP #3 Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Need Help with water pump for ViaAqua hood filtration system?	m500	Equipment	0	08-13-2004 04:02 PM
Replacing an Eclipse hood	mosasaur	Equipment	3	08-09-2004 04:25 AM
55 Gal Flouresent hood Tell me what you think!	mitchell2345	Lighting	3	07-24-2004 07:13 PM
opinions on all glass triple tube hood	nightowl	Lighting	1	04-23-2004 04:06 PM
interesting canopy fan hood hum...	d28 boy	Lighting	6	01-28-2004 05:43 AM

01-19-2004, 08:27 PM	#1
Urkevitz Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,866	I just built a diy hood, now my lighting is 4 x 4 40 watt NO fluorescents over my 55 gallon. The bulbs are about 4-5 inches above the water. The thing is I don't see a difference in light intensity. Am I better off with just having a shoplight resting on top of the tank? The light is more even, but it doesn't look brighter. I made the hood with 2 shoplights like in DIY section. should I see a difference. And my girlfriend is mad at me for adding a light.

01-19-2004, 11:21 PM	#3
Urkevitz Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,866	Its that high so I can fit it over my cheap filter. The bulbs are 3 inches over the top of the tank. My girlfriend told me that instead of adding light I should just buy new plants if they die. She didn't want me buying a tank in the first place. The inside is gloss white. There must be more light in the tank because the algae on my driftwood is streaming with bubbles, before it would produce a couple every few seconds.

01-20-2004, 11:40 AM	#4
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	Sounds like you need to upgrade the GF.

01-20-2004, 09:26 PM	#8
Urkevitz Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,866	She just doesn't understand.

01-21-2004, 09:22 PM	#10
Urkevitz Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NY Posts: 1,866	So far the plants are looking good. Getting small amount of pearling. I may add DIY Co2 soon.