ok so I have made a couple of tweaks the major one being that the first light bulb was a 120 watt greenhouse buld. This actually started to scorch the plants within the first day. So I switched to a full spectrum compact florecent that gives of 90 watts of light for 26 watts of power. The glass coil is inside a diffuser so it's still very bright but not as harshly bright and far less hot. We put a thermometer sticker on the outside of the tank. With the old bulb it got so hot it would not register. Now it stays within registrable range, though it still stays above 80F when the light is on. the plants are really looking better after a day with the new bulb. I will have to take a picture tomorrow after the timer kicks the light back on.