jessandbilly

I have a well established 55 gallon aquarium.
It is planted, but not as heavily as I would like.
At current I am using the stock light fixture.
The stock lighting is 2 18" 15Watt T5's.
The hood is split into 2 seperate compartments, which is making it very hard for me to upgrade.
I went to Lowe's over the weekend and picked up 2 light fixtures.
They were 24" Long T12's
The thing is, how we'll have to redo the whole hood to get these to work.
In the long run, I'm thinking I can take this fixture back and maybe buy a whole kit for cheaper.

However, like I said I am having trouble finding something to fit this aquarium due to the fact that the hood is "split".

I am including a picture to help you get the idea of what it looks like now.
I want to add at least 2WPG.
I do have a DIY C02 setup up currently.

Thanks for your help.

By the way, great site.

mathas

Do you know if the tank was made by Perfecto or All-Glass/Aqueon? Each manufacturer offers glass tops, but the center brace is slightly wider on AGA tanks than Perfecto tanks, so you'd want to buy a kit from the appropriate vendor.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...fm?pcatid=3790
or
http://www.aquariumguys.com/glasscanopy5.html

With that, any 48" fixture will work, such as

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...71&pcatid=9871
or
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...oducts_id=1419

Nate McFin

Welcome to Fishlore!
I just bought a set of lights from these guys after doing a ton of research. They get great reviews and have top quality stuff. I would go with T-5's if I were you (thats what I went with)
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/
I went with the 48 inch solar T5 3x54 watts
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...27db0ec38c12bf
They also have 24 inch solar T-5 in various degrees of wattage.
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/index.php?cPath=71_136

Note that it is possible with these fixtures to run 1,2, or 3 of the bulbs all at once or put them on timers and have a noon time blast.
The 3x54 also has cooling fans.The outer housing is metal and is the same housing coralife uses. Therefore you can use the adjustable legs like these...
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...oducts_id=1339 or the tilting type like the actual coralife brand


For more of a DIY thing you might try AHSupply another company that get great reviews. Both use great reflectors and ballasts.
http://www.ahsupply.com/index.html

Mathas- You Ninja!

7.3IDIDSL

Ive also got a 55 Gallon tank with the split hoods. I bought a perfecto glass top for my 55 and put a 48" Glo T5HO fixture on top with 2X54 watt bulbs.