Newbie to Aquariums

[hdixon]

Hello - I've been given a 55 gallon aquarium which I've cleaned up nice. I filled it to the brim and let sit for a couple days to make sure it holds water well.

I'm trying to decide what type of hood/lighting to get.

The top of the tank has a black frame with a cross "bar" in the middle, so really 2 sections. Each section measures about 23 1/4" by 11 1/4 or possibly 11 3/8.

I've been looking around online but I'm a bit confused about the measurements I see vs what I've got. I'm assuming that with the frame I have I have to get two 24" separate hoods? I've seen measurements of 23.25 x 11.5.

With the tank/frame I have could someone point me to hood options that will FOR SURE fit my setup?

TIA

 

[sanchezkk]

Did you have a reef setup in mind or just a fish with live rock (FOWLR)?

 

[Ian086]

Hello - I've been given a 55 gallon aquarium which I've cleaned up nice. I filled it to the brim and let sit for a couple days to make sure it holds water well.

I'm trying to decide what type of hood/lighting to get.

The top of the tank has a black frame with a cross "bar" in the middle, so really 2 sections. Each section measures about 23 1/4" by 11 1/4 or possibly 11 3/8.

I've been looking around online but I'm a bit confused about the measurements I see vs what I've got. I'm assuming that with the frame I have I have to get two 24" separate hoods? I've seen measurements of 23.25 x 11.5.

With the tank/frame I have could someone point me to hood options that will FOR SURE fit my setup?

TIA

Hi TIA, have you considered getting one made or making one yourself from wood..If you can't make one yourself, do you know anyone that is good at DIY??. I got my friend to build me one. Because he's a mate he only charged me for materials(which were very cheap). This option should work out considerably cheaper than 'buying' one, it certainly did for me!!..You can of course use expensive wood, oak, pine etc but i used MDF.. I'm not sure if you have MDF in the US or if it is called something else!!. The wood is basically made using Sawdust, Paper and glue. It is all compressed together and is extremely strong..This is a few photo's of mine...

 

[sanchezkk]

Hi TIA, have you considered getting one made or making one yourself from wood..If you can't make one yourself, do you know anyone that is good at DIY??. I got my friend to build me one. Because he's a mate he only charged me for materials(which were very cheap). This option should work out considerably cheaper than 'buying' one, it certainly did for me!!..You can of course use expensive wood, oak, pine etc but i used MDF.. I'm not sure if you have MDF in the US or if it is called something else!!. The wood is basically made using Sawdust, Paper and glue. It is all compressed together and is extremely strong..This is a few photo's of mine...

Now that's interesting..... please tell us more.

 

[Ian086]

Now that's interesting..... please tell us more.

What would you like to know??

 

[sanchezkk]

What would you like to know??

Are there any plans online that I can use to build my own?

 

[Ian086]

Are there any plans online that I can use to build my own?

I'm know there's plenty of videos on youtube. My friend is a carpenter, so he just took measurements of the tank and did his thing..I have a few more pic's, if you or others want to PM me, i will happily email them to you...

 

[hdixon]

Did you have a reef setup in mind or just a fish with live rock (FOWLR)?

This will be freshwater, just fish and I'd like a couple plants.

 

[sanchezkk]

This will be freshwater, just fish and I'd like a couple plants.

Well, then you don't need anything but a standard hood setup with maybe some standard T8 bulbs would be fine for nothing elaborate.