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Custom Hood
Subject: Custom hood
> Jeff wrote:
> > I spoke with someone today that said they can make me a custom
> > 55 gal. tank
<snip>
Charley Bay posted:
> DON'T DO IT! :-)
>
> Yes, the price (I think) is fair. You could DIY cheaper, but st
> $400 for a setup that's not this good. It didn't even come with
>
> The only complaint I have... are you SURE you want it for a 55 g
> Those are so darn narrow... if you want to spend serious money o
> hood (I think $300 is serious money), you might want to look at
> (or even 40 gallon) tanks. I think you might be happier in the
>
> I'll never buy another 55 gallon tank again. The one I have is
> narrow for its height to do what I want with plants. If you hav
> for only a 55, though, I understand your decision... this is one
> popular tank sizes; I have just come to dislike its proportions
> decision).
I have to second that opinion. I have 3 55G tanks (2 were given
to me) and while I work with them because I already own them, I
would never purchase another. The shallow front-to-back
measurement means that every time you trim plants, the back wall
is exposed again. As Charley says, if you can't fit a bigger
tank, you don't have much choice, but the cost difference on the
total set-up is not that different between a 55 and a 70G, and the
70's are so much nicer to work with. They're my favorite size for
a 4' tank. 90's are deeper with no more area, and I can't reach
the bottom without a stool, 120's are great because of the greater
back-to-front depth, but again, they're hard to service. 40's are
easiest to survice, but because they are shallow, a lot of nice
plants outgrow them quickly. (BTW, 6 4' bulbs are great over a
70G tank, that's what I use, and I can grow most anything I want.
I have 4 tubes over my 55G, and that seems to be plenty, since my
R. macrandra, Ammania and Didiplis all grow very well. (the R.
macrandra and the Ammania are _bright_ magenta)
Karen Randall
Aquatic Gardeners Assoc.
Boston, MA