A
Anonymous
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140 gallon planted LED lighting conversion , next step.
So, I have been slowly converting from T5HO to FENNEX RAY2 LED strips. The tank is 7 foot long. In the back 1/3rd top of tank there are overflows and large returns. So, since the beginning I had issues lighting the back of the tank choosing fixtures to not only span the length but also illuminate the entire back for even coverage. I've tried 11 inch T5 fixtures, to illuninate darks spots only to find these burn through bulbs at the rate of 1 a month due to manufacture defects in design (so annoying). It's impossible to fit a quad T5HO since the tank is a LONG & only 16" front to back minus 4-5 inches for equipment. Then allowing room to open the Vera-Tops. Anyway, I find that these thin strips alow me to shift fixtures around, choose different spectrums & fit different lengths making it easier to get an even light throughout the tank. This tank is also 2 feet in depth so there is always issues getting enough light to the bottom.
Here is a current picture. I have removed a duel 4' , duel 3' T5HO replaced with FENNEX RAY2 fixtures. The system still needs 1 more 4' fixture to span the back between the overflow and water return. Right now there is still a duel 4' T5HO sitting in the back.
I have noticed even lighting with the 3' & 4' FENNEX side by side where the 3' T5HO was never as bright as the 4' fixture . That had always bothered me so there is a nice perk.
You will notice both sides of the 7' tank illumination are exactly the same. Note: the middle of the tank seems darker only because there is a huge African fern blocking light. This fern also has a layer of red root floaters taking refuge within the leaves that are near the surface. So the gigantic hollow bog wood is a shaded area where the Angel fish have made home and many otocinclus take daylight refuge. Still enough light penitrates to alow healthy growth for Crypts ,Tiger lotus, Anubias , and various fern species.
So, I have been slowly converting from T5HO to FENNEX RAY2 LED strips. The tank is 7 foot long. In the back 1/3rd top of tank there are overflows and large returns. So, since the beginning I had issues lighting the back of the tank choosing fixtures to not only span the length but also illuminate the entire back for even coverage. I've tried 11 inch T5 fixtures, to illuninate darks spots only to find these burn through bulbs at the rate of 1 a month due to manufacture defects in design (so annoying). It's impossible to fit a quad T5HO since the tank is a LONG & only 16" front to back minus 4-5 inches for equipment. Then allowing room to open the Vera-Tops. Anyway, I find that these thin strips alow me to shift fixtures around, choose different spectrums & fit different lengths making it easier to get an even light throughout the tank. This tank is also 2 feet in depth so there is always issues getting enough light to the bottom.
Here is a current picture. I have removed a duel 4' , duel 3' T5HO replaced with FENNEX RAY2 fixtures. The system still needs 1 more 4' fixture to span the back between the overflow and water return. Right now there is still a duel 4' T5HO sitting in the back.
I have noticed even lighting with the 3' & 4' FENNEX side by side where the 3' T5HO was never as bright as the 4' fixture . That had always bothered me so there is a nice perk.
You will notice both sides of the 7' tank illumination are exactly the same. Note: the middle of the tank seems darker only because there is a huge African fern blocking light. This fern also has a layer of red root floaters taking refuge within the leaves that are near the surface. So the gigantic hollow bog wood is a shaded area where the Angel fish have made home and many otocinclus take daylight refuge. Still enough light penitrates to alow healthy growth for Crypts ,Tiger lotus, Anubias , and various fern species.
