Lighting question

airangel · 03-12-2010, 10:09 AM

Hi All
New to this forum but not to keeping fish. Hoping I've found the right spot for my question.

I'm restoring some old Metal Framed aquariums and am seeking suggestions for lighting them. For anyone familiar with these vintage beauties, there is not rim for glass strips to sit on. Currently I'm working on a 20g high (24" Lx16" H).

The plans are to make this an FW angelfish tank, plants will be low light (i.e anubias/java ferns on driftwood).

Looking for fixtures that would fit this type of aquarium and any suggestions anyone familar with these old tanks has on fitting glass over the top to prevent evaporation.

My other vintage project is a 5g that has an original SS full hood and slated bottom (Metaframe ValueLine) tank.

Thanks for any tips, suggestions.

Judge · 03-12-2010, 10:21 AM

Hi Airangel welcome to FTF. I just spent a few looking to get an idea what you are looking for. Check out the link. It is an acution that is old/ended BUT if this is the kind of light that will work I can probably come up with a way to make a more "modern" light to work...let me know.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VTG-DUAL-LIGHT-C...#ht_500wt_1182

airangel · 03-12-2010, 10:25 AM

Hi Judge
Yep, watched those ebay vintage strip light auctions ..that seller had a few, most sold for quite a lot less too.
I had thought about getting a black modern plastic strip light and spray painting it metallic to match the frame. Another option I thought was those AquaLight/Coralite with legs, would have to spray paint those as well to match. Not sure on Aqualight but Coralite's do have legs.
Not sure how I can get glass to fit as the tank doesn't have rim for glass to sit on and plexiglass might bow in the center.

Judge · 03-12-2010, 10:44 AM

WOW, glad you went back and added that pic!!

What a great looking vintage tank. I will see what I can come up with..let me think on it!

airangel · 03-12-2010, 10:51 AM

Thanks

, neat isn't it. I grew up with the old Metaframe slate bottomed ss framed tanks. The original hoods could fry the first few layers of skin off your hand if you touched it (no vents in the hoods/strips)

I am hoping to get a few more (just need to arrange transport) and those are another 5g and a 10g, both slated bottoms.

Am not rushing to buy something ..doing a lot of researching so put on the thinking cap as far as strip lights and even to get some type of evaporation protection top on the tank. Link (hope I did it correctly) showing the 5g project.http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/a...view=slideshow