Oblivion

Okay. I want to completely get rid of my entire hood because #1, my fixture won't hold bulbs that are strong enough for plant growth and #2, the stupid glass blocking the light is calcifying like crazy. So I was looking at a Coralife Aqualite 30" w/ a 65w Strip Light Bulb and I was going to get mounting legs with it and make my tank an open top. What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting a single bulb fixture or multiple bulb fixture? I just want to get a single 65w bulb but I dunno...so what's the adv. and dis adv.?

MagpieTear

if you have kids, cats, birds, or a lot of dust I'd not do an open top. If none of the above applies, just be prepared to top it off a lot in the wintertime if you have forced air heat.

Oblivion

I have cats but I'm trying my best to keep them out...thats another problem I have but I don't think my cat would jump in because he is too stupid and would rather jump into it...

Oblivion

So what's the adv. and dis adv. of two strip lights or a single one?

susitna-flower

Several things to think about.

#1 take the glass off and you evaporite more water, this is NOT just a matter of more work for you, but also potential mold generator in your home. My 125 gallon tank doesn't have glass and in the summer my humidity in the house shot up to 75+%. We heat with wood in the winter and right now the humidity is 60% and the windows are all fogged up! NOT healthy...

#2 If you have any fish that jump, watch out, they will be on the floor. I speak from experience here.
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They can be expensive, but look at the new T-5 lighting....Many DIY hoods can be retro fitted for good lighting without doing away with the safety features they provide.

MagpieTear

Another option is to get the lighting you initially said, and a glass top. That is what I did with my 55, and I'm quite happy with the results so far. To keep the calcium to a minimum, I pull the tops when I do my water change, soak them down with ZEP 40 glass cleaner and let them sit while I fill the first bucket. Then wipe the tops down and dry while I finish the rest of the change.

Oblivion

Bah...I just don't like the hassle of cleaning the glass just because of it calcifying badly and I actually kinda like open top better because I can see over into it. I don't think any of my fish will jump but I will have to see.