Lighting Upgrade (fluval Flex)

Starting off I loved the Fluval Flex series! My girlfriend actually got me a Fluval Flex 9 gallon as a Birthday & Xmas gift. Currently this is my only tank due to college rules (we are only allowed 1 tank up to 10 gallons) The stats on this tank are great. It comes with a sweet built in filter in the back and a lid with a light capable of growing some plants.

The standard light is a 36+3 RBG LED, 7 watt, 7500 K color and is remote controlled.

Now me being me I love a good bit of overkill when it comes to everything. So I measured and started looking for a light I could install in the small confines of the lid. I came across the Fluval Nano plant spectrum led. They also make a reef version of the light for the same but I decided to go with the plant version.

The specs on it are 63 LED, 15 watt, 7500 K color, and controllable through a Bluetooth connection to the Fluval smart app.

I’m willing to admit I may be bias towards Fluval... but I really like their products for my next tank setup maybe I’ll try another brand. I also didn’t want to just throw out the original light because it’s still a functioning light. Using my brother’s 3D printer I made some light mounts for both. I used PTEG filament which is food safe because I would hate to poison my tank because of the mounts even though they aren’t touching the water condensation still drips from the lid.




The original mounts are the black ones which I left alone. The grey are the 3d printed ones. To secure them in place I used a drill and put two small holes through the plastic lid. I then ran two small black screws from top down.




I repeated the process with the new light. My only concern is if the light melts the plastic and falls into the tank so I will definitely be watching it for deformation over the first week. The PTEG is melted at 235 C when printed with but deforms at at 85 C which I’m hoping the light won’t reach...



Original light



New light

 

Interesting post. I also have a Fluval Flex (9g) and found out fairly quickly that light inside the hood is not all that great depending on plants and such. I did away with the entire hood and now use a clip on light (Aqueon Planted Aquarium LED) and plastic wrap, but I always felt like I was "wasting" the hood not using it..

My other problem however would be the power source.. My room has 6 tanks in it, 5 with a light, 4 have filters, 3 have heaters, and one has an air pump. The number of outlet taps and extension chords is a little absurd. So in my case battery powered would almost be a necessity.

 

Interesting post. I also have a Fluval Flex (9g) and found out fairly quickly that light inside the hood is not all that great depending on plants and such. I did away with the entire hood and now use a clip on light (Aqueon Planted Aquarium LED) and plastic wrap, but I always felt like I was "wasting" the hood not using it..

My other problem however would be the power source.. My room has 6 tanks in it, 5 with a light, 4 have filters, 3 have heaters, and one has an air pump. The number of outlet taps and extension chords is a little absurd. So in my case battery powered would almost be a necessity.

If it wasn’t for the power issue I wouldn’t mind printing up another set for you. Even so if you really wanted I can attempt to make some brackets for the light you are using and you can mount it like I did with mine. I would need some measurements if I can’t find them online tho.

 

If it wasn’t for the power issue I wouldn’t mind printing up another set for you. Even so if you really wanted I can attempt to make some brackets for the light you are using and you can mount it like I did with mine. I would need some measurements if I can’t find them online tho.

I very much appreciate the offer! The light I use now is a solid piece so I don't think there would be any way to fabricate brackets and make it fit, plus it gets pretty warm like almost hot to the touch. For the moment my set up works great, the plastic wrap hopefully being replaced by glass at some point but that's really it. I've considered just using some silicone to attach another light if I can find one suitable but it isn't pressing.

 

I am team fluval too! haha I have a fluval sky light for my 29 gal and I love it. maybe it is the millennial in me but I love the app. Unrelated to lights, but can you tell me what the plants are towards the front of your tank that look kind of like grass? I am still a newbie when it comes to this but I really like the look of it.

 

I am team fluval too! haha I have a fluval sky light for my 29 gal and I love it. maybe it is the millennial in me but I love the app. Unrelated to lights, but can you tell me what the plants are towards the front of your tank that look kind of like grass? I am still a newbie when it comes to this but I really like the look of it.

It’s dwarf hairgrass it’s a carpeting plant and I’m hoping I’ll get a nice little lawn in the front.

 

Starting off I loved the Fluval Flex series! My girlfriend actually got me a Fluval Flex 9 gallon as a Birthday & Xmas gift. Currently this is my only tank due to college rules (we are only allowed 1 tank up to 10 gallons) The stats on this tank are great. It comes with a sweet built in filter in the back and a lid with a light capable of growing some plants.

The standard light is a 36+3 RBG LED, 7 watt, 7500 K color and is remote controlled.

Now me being me I love a good bit of overkill when it comes to everything. So I measured and started looking for a light I could install in the small confines of the lid. I came across the Fluval Nano plant spectrum led. They also make a reef version of the light for the same but I decided to go with the plant version.

The specs on it are 63 LED, 15 watt, 7500 K color, and controllable through a Bluetooth connection to the Fluval smart app.

I’m willing to admit I may be bias towards Fluval... but I really like their products for my next tank setup maybe I’ll try another brand. I also didn’t want to just throw out the original light because it’s still a functioning light. Using my brother’s 3D printer I made some light mounts for both. I used PTEG filament which is food safe because I would hate to poison my tank because of the mounts even though they aren’t touching the water condensation still drips from the lid.

View attachment 515104

The original mounts are the black ones which I left alone. The grey are the 3d printed ones. To secure them in place I used a drill and put two small holes through the plastic lid. I then ran two small black screws from top down.

View attachment 515105

I repeated the process with the new light. My only concern is if the light melts the plastic and falls into the tank so I will definitely be watching it for deformation over the first week. The PTEG is melted at 235 C when printed with but deforms at at 85 C which I’m hoping the light won’t reach...

View attachment 515106
Original light

View attachment 515107
New light

Love this idea and would definitely love a bluetooth light on my small flex, but I don't know if coukd drill new holes in the cover with the same success as you did. What would be near her is if there was some kind of square bracket to hold that nano light on with some kind of arms that fit into the original light brackets!

 

Any update on the Fluval nano light mounted to the hood? Does it get too hot? How’s it with the water condensation. I been looking for someone to have a thread on this because I wanted to do it also!

 

Any update on mounting the Fluval nano plant LED under the lid?