I need a light!

[enrique4jc]

Help me pick out a new light for my 29-gallon tank! I'm going to switch to a glass top, and I'm looking for a light unit to use. I plan on doing plants. How much light to I need? Do you have a suggestion of a specific light?

[Squawkbert]

If it's a 30" long tank, you have decent options among both T5 and PC setups.

Just make sure you have a nice reflector and some clearance between the bulbs & glass as the bulbs get hot.

I'd look for a setup that will deliver 40-60W of 6500K (or higher, up to 10,000K - as long as it isn't heavily blue) light. You could go w/ more wattage, but that would likely invite algae.

[enrique4jc]

PC?

[enrique4jc]

What do you think about this one? (link) (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754542)

It's 55 watts with a 10,000k super daylite compact florescent bulb. I think its from All-Glass (now Aqueon). The 30" black one is $78.99. Free shipping, and if I throw in a few extra supplies, I can get $15 off an order of more than $100 right now.

Good light or bad light?

Good deal or bad deal?

[jones57742]

What do you think about this one? (link) (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754542)

It's 55 watts with a 10,000k super daylite compact florescent bulb. I think its from All-Glass (now Aqueon). The 30" black one is $78.99. Free shipping, and if I throw in a few extra supplies, I can get $15 off an order of more than $100 right now.

Good light or bad light?

Good deal or bad deal?
I do not have any experience with the fixture to which you linked.

As Sqawk indicated heat can become a problem and I did not see an exhaust fan on that fixture.

Have you considered:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01004~idCatego ry~FILTFIPCTH~category~Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies-Lighting-Fixtures-Power_Compact-30in_Units~vendor~.html

TR

[enrique4jc]

That looks awesome! Have you used one before?

[Squawkbert]

PC, CF are both short for "Power Compact Fluorescent" (or any two of those words).

If you want to go T5 and are handy, I think 3x 24W 30" tubes hooked up to a nice ballast & individual reflectors would be ideal.

Otherwise, the suggested unit above would also be a good choice, as would a AH-Supply version of the same stuff to be mounted in your own canopy (if you have one).

[jones57742]

That looks awesome! Have you used one before?
enrique:

I have two fixtures which have two bulbs each and have had good luck with them: Please reference the following for my PC fixtures.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~action~view~idProduct~CU01013~idCatego ry~FILTFIPCTF~category~Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies-Lighting-Fixtures-Power_Compact-24in_Units~vendor~.html

Squawk has more experience than I but I have had a bad experience with fixtures attached to a canopy due to weight (I am probably the only person in the world who has run into this as they are apparently very commonplace).

TR

[excuzzzeme]

This kind of light?

[enrique4jc]

Haha...not exactly what I was looking for. Thanks though...seriously.

[Sarge_857]

heh, heres what i did last night. i took my 10 gallon hood (has 2 sockets for 15 watt bulbs) put 2 13 watt compact fluorescent bulbs that run 60 watts of light. and got some glass for a makeshift top, put the hood light on it and blamo, good lighting.

[enrique4jc]

See now, something like that sound significantly less expensive than buying some sort of special light online. Is that kind of lighting sufficient, or does the fact that they are 13 watt bulbs change things? I know it may light up your aquarium well, but will it work for sustaining healthy plant growth?

[Brohawk]

Though I haven't tried it myself, I don't really believe in the spiral type CFs, which i think is the type sarge is talking about. I can't see them giving off as much even coverage to the tank as a tube shaped light would. Plus I'd think the reflectors for a tube light would be more efficient than on the spiral type. Here's what I have over my 29, mounted inside a wooden hood:

1 x 65 watt AH supply
2 x 17 watt 24" regular flourescents that came w/ my original eclipse hood, but I've overdriven them 2x, so they're effectively 51 or so watts instead of 34. Which = 116 watts total, or exactly 4 wpg.

I get great, but not over the top growth, using EI method & DIY CO2 (well, I'm going pressurized this week just b/c I'm sick of the hassle).

[enrique4jc]

Alrighty! I bought the light that Jones recommended, except I got it from Big Al's online for less. Thanks for your help!

[jones57742]

Alrighty! I bought the light that Jones recommended, except I got it from Big Al's online for less. Thanks for your help!
e4:

Please let me know how it works out for you.

TR

[mattmartindrift]

Though I haven't tried it myself, I don't really believe in the spiral type CFs, which i think is the type sarge is talking about. I can't see them giving off as much even coverage to the tank as a tube shaped light would. Plus I'd think the reflectors for a tube light would be more efficient than on the spiral type.


I'm doing a DIY hood now using (4) 18w, 6500K spiral CF bulbs. I plan on putting a mirror above the bulbs to reflect any "wasted" light down, back into the tank. I'll post up how it turns out.

[BoredAgain]

CFLs are great for growing plants, don't let anyone who hasn't tried or knows nothing about plants tell you otherwise.