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Go with two of those 13 watt cfl bulbs and use a 10.5" domed reflector. What type of fixture(s) were you gonna use?
For fixture, I was planning on using an Aqueon Economy hood, or those clamp on lights that many people keep using, like the ones that you could purchase for cheap at Walmart. If you don't mind me asking, is a domed reflector some DIY project thing I would have to deal with? I don't know too much about reflectors. Is there any link you could provide me as to where I could purchase a 10.5" dome reflector?Go with two of those 13 watt cfl bulbs and use a 10.5" domed reflector. What type of fixture(s) were you gonna use?
I use 2x 13w CFL bulbs on a 20g of mine, and has worked just fine for a year now. I use the thinner domes though.
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My question is, is it okay to place those brooder dromes on top of a glass canopy, or is it better to have it them like an inch above? I'm curious because I have no idea how hot those lights get. By the way, what type of plants are you growing?I use 3 brooder domes on my 20 long with 13w CFL's. I rest them on a strip of glass so they are pretty close to the surface. I keep floating plants in this tank also to break up the light.
Home Depot or Lowes should have them. If you can't find them locally, order them online:For fixture, I was planning on using an Aqueon Economy hood, or those clamp on lights that many people keep using, like the ones that you could purchase for cheap at Walmart. If you don't mind me asking, is a domed reflector some DIY project thing I would have to deal with? I don't know too much about reflectors. Is there any link you could provide me as to where I could purchase a 10.5" dome reflector?
Yeah, you can put them right on top of the glass. The domed clamp lamp reflectors do a decent job of dispersing heat.My question is, is it okay to place those brooder dromes on top of a glass canopy, or is it better to have it them like an inch above? I'm curious because I have no idea how hot those lights get.
Dang, that really sucks that you lost what you typed.I have a 10 gallon with 2 10W CFLs about 4" above the top of the tank. I just lost what I had typed because I went and logged in.:angryfire. 2 13W was too much for my tank. Eh, I'm ambivalent about the wattage you should run. The thing is, those CFLs put out a lot of light in the configuration including a 10-1/2" brooder dome aluminum reflector. I think that where you are using a lot of light, you have to have adequate ferts or the plants will stop growing and the algae will start.
I don't mind a timer. I bought a time from Walmart.You might be able to get the 10.5" dome reflectors cheaper from Tractor Supply but they do NOT have on/off switch like the ones from Home Depot. If you put them on a timer then that doesn't really matter.
I rest my brooder lamps right on the glass. I think my domes are the 10" ones or close to it. I watched the temps of mine using an infrared temp gun. If I remember correctly the dome itself only got up to the 80's F so not really "hot". Originally I used a full 20 long glass top but I removed the hinge and did not use the plastic flap so there was an inch or so front and back of open space. Currently I am using just the back section of glass centered on the tank solely to sit the lights on. part of the domes is above open water now but mostly on the glass...no moisture issues but I only keep this tank around 70-72. If I find 10w CFL's I might downgrade. I was getting some green algae on the floramax substrate but between the floaters, ramshorn snails and maybe the ghost shrimp it is mostly gone now.
I don't have much for plants as I was going for more of an open look on this tank and it is still fairly young (started new years eve!). I have frogbit floating, 2 anubias, dwarf hairgrass (looks great but not spreading...somewhat expected in low tech), and then I have a really cool chain sword? -I should have this plant ID'd as I'm not sure exactly what it is. It is very short with narrow leaves that is sending runners and plantlets all over. Some leaves are reddish brown...I'm letting this plant do what it wants as it doesn't seem likely the dwarf hairgrass will carpet fully...Should get a pic up.
Thanks for your reply. Based on your personal experience, like how much do those lights increase the heat of the water?Home Depot or Lowes should have them. If you can't find them locally, order them online:
Bayco SL-302B3 10-1/2-Inch Brooder Clamp Light with Porcelain Ceramic Socket - Amazon.com
Yeah, you can put them right on top of the glass. The domed clamp lamp reflectors do a decent job of dispersing heat.
I have only been dosing Flourish Comprehensive and Root Tabs. My plants stopped growing and I had problems with algae. Now my substrate is MGOCPM and I'll have unlimited ferts for a couple of years.Dang, that really sucks that you lost what you typed.Are those 2X10W CFLs too much light for your tank now, even though they are 4" above the top of your tank? If you don't mind me asking, when it comes to ferts, which dosing method do you use, and which ferts you you purchase? I just bought some dry ferts, and I'm not sure which dosing method would be best for a 10 gallon tank. I'm trying to go for a method that would be ideal to dose 1 time per week. I keep hearing all these things about the Estimative Index, but I'm not sure if there are other more efficient methods.
The domes are these:That's a really nice tank and I'm glad you're sharing a picture. Which domes would you advise me to buy and from where? By the way, as for the plant that you have all the way in the back of your tank and in the middle, is that a Dwarf Rotalla? I am a bit of a newbie, and I think that plant is pretty sexy.
In my current setup, the majority of the dome is resting on the one larger section of the glass lid I am still using. I took the front section off of the glass off and have the remaining section centered on the tank (I meant to take a pic last night, sorry). The lamp itself is completely blocked from the water by the glass. There is a very small chance the lamps could fall partially into the water but my tank is in a place where the cords and such are not touched or bumped. I don't have any small kids, do have dogs but they stay out of things. The lamps don't move but I may still look into making something to hold them in place for piece of mind. Ideally I would make something to hang them from and not use the glass at all. I have floating plants and to much humidity can start to break down the surface foliage which is why I took most of the glass top away.Isn't it dangerous to use clamp on lights on an open tank? How long does a floramax substrate usually last? Would you have to completely replace it when it runs out of nutrients? Thanks for your reply.
They don't increase the temperature of the water at all. The amount of heat produced by the 14 watt cfls I use doesn't really affect anything. Besides, all the heat escapes upward and is dissipated by the aluminum reflectors.Thanks for your reply. Based on your personal experience, like how much do those lights increase the heat of the water?
I didn't buy mine from Home Depot because on their website the 10.5" lamps were almost $15. While at Tractor supply they were only $8.99. Here's a link to the ones at Tractor Supply: http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp...ory_rn=&top_category=&urlLangId=&cm_vc=-10005 ... I see now Home Depot online has a 10.5" for $9.97 but says online only so not sure what they actually have in the store.I don't mind a timer. I bought a time from Walmart.How much have you payed for the ones sold at Home Depot?