Those last 3 in the post above are the new layout. I just edited my post and added them. I took pics of each end so you can see the PVC tunnels that dead end into the glass on the sides. You can just see the inlet from the front. i have a small piece of flat rock I found that I'm soaking to cover the inlet to the tunnel on the left side.
I also grabbed a smaller diameter pvc tube today but havent added it yet either.
I need to get a better camera b/c this one sucks its old and has 3mega pixels and no zoom or focus, lol.
I swear every hobby you learn about other things besides the main hobby, like photography in this hobby.
Anyway so far I'm just waiting for the plants to get situated(crypts to melt/ect..). I hope to see if this lighting is "enough" to keep things alive.
I was reading up on LED lighting today, something I will look into. I had a new ballast to ODNO these bulbs but I took it back b/c I can get a similar one cheaper. I also want to wait and see how this works stock 1st.
I like this fixture because its 8.5" wide and most 2 bulb fixtures are only 4" wide. I'm using glass tops now and the hinge is black plastic/metal so a 4" wide fixture would put both bulbs basically right on top of this if I wanted the light centered. W/ this fixture its has "parabolic" reflectors that are painted white and spaces the bulbs to each side of that hinge. I know its not much but its deff better that a regular shoplight, at least 1 step up. I would say that a normal shoplight is ~1wpg or slightly less(w/ T8 bulbs), even less w/ T12's. I think I'm slightly above 1wpg with this light.
This is the "shoplight" I'm using now, it has a decent .95 ballast factor, electronic, instant start ballast.
American Fluorescent Lighting, Residential Lighting, Commercial Lighting, Decorative Lighting
This company makes some OK 4 bulb T8 ot T5 fixtures that would be OK for an aquarium but I checked the pricing and its not worth it
American Fluorescent Lighting, Residential Lighting, Commercial Lighting, Decorative Lighting