Lighting Idea for cube tank.

Delphinus · #1 01-09-2007, 09:47 PM

I built a sort of "hangman" thing out of 2x4's for my 30" cube. Basically a really large L bracket and I suspended my pendent from that. I was looking for an "L" bracket but I couldn't find one long enough for my liking as I wanted the light perfectly centred over my tank.

It's a bit ghetto though since it's just untreated 2x4's. I just made a little frame for it that sits behind the tank stand and the wall and it basically just leans into the tank, ie. I can slide it out sideways if I need to.

kwirky · #2 01-09-2007, 11:54 PM

30"x30" will be hard to cover with either of those lights without dead spots IMHO. I've got a 150W hqi light that I'll be using for a nano cube I'm planning, and when I turn it on, it doesn't spread well for anything larger than 18x18", really. I'll probably be building the tank 18x18x18" accordingly. And that's with a DIY shoplight pendant, which advanced aquarist rated as the best 150W reflector for an area around 2'x2'.

advanced aquarist has some good reviews of reflectors you could peruse through. I like delphinus's over the tank hangman brace idea. it could allow you to hang a pendant without putting holes in your ceiling.

AndyL · #3 01-10-2007, 12:16 AM

Luminarc reflector, single 175w mogul...

There's various ways to mount without drilling the ceiling, personally i like shelves installed to hang pendants from. One of the older style desklamps (think pixars bouncy one) can support a fair bit of weight. Many have mounted a single (or two) bent peices of electrical conduit. PVC piping same thing.

Dont forget a 24" fixture often will fit a 30" tank - legs often extend that extra 3" each side. Otherwise you could add a piece of square plastic tube on the top of the tanks rim to support the legs.