skippi

Ok so if I design my own baleste for my 55 gal and put in 2 40watt bulbs, this would give me like 1.45wpg and if I do this, the lights would be wider then the glass portion of the standard hoods I have right now. what can you use for protecting the lights from water and make a hood from would need to still be able to feed my fish easily also..

Isabella

I have no idea about constructing your own ballasts ... all I can tell you is yes, 2x40W would give you 1.45 WPG in a 55 gallon tank (~1.5 wpg). That would be OK for a low-light/low-tech tank. You can really go to Plant Geek and ask them about it, I am sure someone will know there.

skippi

thanks Isabelle I will try there to see if they know anything that would help.

atmmachine816

I think if the light is a few inches away from the water it's fine in fact it's better over open water because then the light is more powerful because the glass takes part of the spectrum out.

Isabella

Atm, yes it is better to have an open top tank in terms of more light getting to the plants. But that should be done only if you're sure none of your fish will jump out. For that, there are lighting fixtures with special legs that you attach to the tank sides (for example, Coralife or Current USA fixtures). If you know your fish can jump out it is better to keep a cover over your tank. The best cover for a planted tank is a glass one. The plastic ones get dirty and scratched over time - and you cannot remove the stains and scratches. With glass tops, you don't have that problem - they're easy to clean.

skippi

ok so with glass tops do they open like the regular hoods so you can feed the fish easily I have never seen one

Isabella

Yes, they open just like regular hoods