Lighting for my new 4ft

My new 4ft tank arrived over the weekend. I'm only setting it up at month end, but since I've never set-up a full tank larger than 90cm, it's a learning experience.

The tank has standard dimensions. There's a black trim around the top and bottom of the tank. Along the top, there are glass strips to support glass slides, and below these are 2 open-topped glass "boxes" (for lack of a better description) running the length of the tank for the lights to fit in. I wouldn't be able to fit a grey ballast in the boxes with a light attached, but a light lying by itself with the endcaps on will fit no problem. What I want to know is, assuming there's slides on the tank and they're closed, would it be safe to lie the lights in those boxes? Would they be at risk of shattering, since they won't be held in place by a ballast, and they'll be exposed to alot of condensation.

If this won't work, then I can simply buy a canopy. I'm just looking at the above option since the tank was designed to go canopy-less.

 

I personally think it's a bit risky with water and open electricity in a tank.
A member on MASA was unfortunately killed by his tank coz of electricity in the tank after he earthed it.
It's not entirely the same scenario but risky non the less in my opinion.

Either buy the canopy or just a light fixture that you can hang from the ceiling(Which is usually gorgeous if you have a rimless tank.
My opinion for what it's worth.

POST PICS
Maybe one of the DIY geniuses can have a look at your possible DIY options.
Also what are your plans for the tank ?

 

Cool, thanks. Ja, I thought it might be safer to go the canopy route; I've just never had a tank like this one.

This will be a tropical community. Most of the fish from my 3 ft tropical community will be moved to this tank. Then the 3ft will house my spotted climbing perch, hoplo cats, ancistrus and some african butterflys.

 

What are the internal dimensions of the "light box"? 4ft lights are 1147mm long so depending on what endcaps you are going to use, your tubes might not fit in there anyway, taking the dilema out of your hands. Internally my canopy is 10-20mm bigger than my tank to accomodate the lights.

If the light boxes will fit the tubes then you could always get Terry clips (http://www.google.co.za/search?biw=...j2j1.4.0.ernk_rr..0.0...1.1.9.img.L2cEO0Q3Dfs) which would raise them off the glass.

 

I use 90cm lights in my 4ft tanks (my only other 4ft is my brackish tank, which has a canopy). I'm not 100% sure of the internal dimensions, but the boxes are essentially the same length as the tank.

 

Yup...you will need to use 3ft lighting then. Will the clips I suggested overcome your problem?

Can you post a pic of the tank? Very very curious to see these boxes.

 

if we are talking about normal T8 tubes - I even submerge mine but I am sure to not let the 220volt find its way into the water column. So the extra humidity on the tube should be fine - btw i have the normal end caps ... no clue if this can work with t5 tubes.


Just to be sure I am talking about these electronic ballasts not a electromagnetic ballasts.

 

Yes, I'm going to be using those ballasts like in the pic.

I'm away from home tonight, but will try get some pics when I'm back.

 

@f-fish - No, the pins for the T8's are further apart than the T5's so the ballasts are not compatable and the wattages are different so even if you jimmy'd it you would be underpowering the tubes (won't switch on) or overdriving them (causing them to wear out quicker).

 

LOL - no no .. I was on about submerging T8's with the electronic ballast not near the water. I have some Dazz T5 but need to wire them up at some point but will not be submerging them (they feel more fragile than a T8)

 

@f-fish - Not sure if your answer was to me but I was answering your question.

Sorry, being dumb...You are wondering if you can submerge a T5, not if T8 endcaps will fit T5 light tubes....:embarrest:

 

all good ... submerging the T8 is also a mixed bag, sometime brands suffer (dull quickly etc) while others seem to like the lower temp.