LightingScience of Aquatic Lighting - Aquarium lighting is essential for healthy aquatic plants. Discuss proper aquatic lighting for your plants and fish here.
I recieved my new lighting today from AHS. I bought two 2x36 kits from them with their hood. There was some assembly required but it is much much brighter.
My old lighting
My new lighting
Did you know that I have fish in my fish tank?
I guess going from 20 watts to 144 watts is a big deal \/
I have some pictures of the assembly process. If anyone wants to see them give me a shout.
Ok here is assemly process as requested. Its not all the steps but hope it helps/shows someone. You have to assemble everything but the instructions are pretty good. If you are mechanically inclined its not a problem at all. The whole process took me probably 1 1/2 - 2 hours taking my time. I had to undo some of my work to make the wiring look better.
Again this is AHS's black 36" hood, and two 2x 36 kits
I have two 5500k lights and two 6700k lights
All the parts (lots of parts)
The underside of the hood
The reflector mounted in hood
Protective coating removed from reflector
The ballasts mounted and some wiring started
Working on the second reflector
The left side complete
All done
And here it is all on.
5500k is in the top right and bottom left
6700k is in the top left and bottom right
probably because it was taken in the dark. Causing it to look bright. What is the size of the tank? How many watts are you running per gallon. Maybe you might be going over just a tad bit.
40 gallon tank 144 watts 3.6WPG
I realize the picture is really bright but it is also blurry. I will take another one tommrrow when the light comes back on. I think the camera is way out of focus.
40 gallon tank 144 watts 3.6WPG
I realize the picture is really bright but it is also blurry. I will take another one tommrrow when the light comes back on. I think the camera is way out of focus.
Definately not too much light, might want to adjust with a white balance is there is one. I assume once some of that plants grow in and more is added that it will produce more shade/blockage from the lights for the fish to hide in. One of my favorite sun blockers for the african glass catfish in my tank are tiger lotus leaves.
I hope you are using CO2, plan to fertilize NO3/PO4/Fe+micros, and will be adding more plants with that amount of lighting. Otherwise, you'll be experiencing huge algae outbreaks...
I got my new lighting today (pictures) 
but it is much much brighter.
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