need recommendation: Lighting setup for planted 30g tank

[coach_z]

Hello - if you recall some of my posts i am doing a lot of changes to my tank and a lot of these things i know very little about...for now..

I am looking to see what some of you would recommend as a lighting setup for a 30 gallon planted tank.

I am looking for something that is relatively inexpensive,

or even a bulb that can fit in this: http://www.petco.com/product/5667/All-Glass-Aquarium-Deluxe-Full-Fluorescent-Hoods.aspx it is the 30" version

Thank you!
-chris

[toddnbecka]

I simply hung a 4' shop light over my 38, and put 2 plant bulbs in the fixture to grow hornwort. That's about as inexpensive as you can get (and still have decent watts/gallon), but the tank is in the basement.

[irishspy]

This might be beyond your price range, but I really like the Coralife Aqualight fixtures (http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18369/si1383022/cl1/coralife_freshwater_aqualight_deluxesingle_30_stri p?&query=coralife+freshwater+aqualight&queryType=0&offset=0) (<-- Click). :thm:

[coach_z]

This might be beyond your price range, but I really like the Coralife Aqualight fixtures (http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCatalog/ctl3684/cp18369/si1383022/cl1/coralife_freshwater_aqualight_deluxesingle_30_stri p?&query=coralife+freshwater+aqualight&queryType=0&offset=0) (<-- Click). :thm:

no i that's not out of my price range at all.

i included a link above to a product that i already have, would this be compatible with it? or do i need a different type of hood or something?
-chris

[avionics30]

Check this out.... This is a good seller on ebay and I have one of their lights on my 110. Good prices too!

http://cgi.ebay.com/36-Power-Compact-PC-Aquarium-Light-96W-Odyssea-NEW-LEG_W0QQitemZ300286690469QQihZ020QQcategoryZ46314Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[coach_z]

does this seem like a good option for a planted 30 gallon tank?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~category~Coralife_24_Inch_Aqualight_Co mpact_Fluor._Retrofit_Kit_W__1_65W_50_50_Lamp_Stra ight_Pin_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Lighting_Retr ofit_Kits_Power_Compact_24_Inch~vendor~Coralife~Se archStr~~action~view~idProduct~ES53208~idCategory~ FILTRTRPTF.html (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem%7Ecategory%7ECoralife_24_Inch_Aqualigh t_Compact_Fluor._Retrofit_Kit_W__1_65W_50_50_Lamp_ Straight_Pin_Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies_Lighting_ Retrofit_Kits_Power_Compact_24_Inch%7Evendor%7ECor alife%7ESearchStr%7E%7Eaction%7Eview%7EidProduct%7 EES53208%7EidCategory%7EFILTRTRPTF.html)

thanks for the help!
-chris

[avionics30]

Chris,

Are you trying to fit this in a canopy? If so, Yes, this would be cool. It's a bit low on the watts side. That's my opinion though. I typically favor high light. That's why I sent you the ebay link. Happy tanking!

[coach_z]

avionics - thanks for your responses, your ebay link was a good help but i couldnt find anythign from the seller that appeared to fit my tank. It is a 30" wide tank, it currently has a 30" wide hood with a 24" light/balast/thingy in it. (the hood is pictured in my original post)

this is funny, i thought that i would have a difficult time trying to find out what plants and stuff that i want...but i am having difficulty trying to place a light on top of the tank! lol

I had plans to hit up the LFS yesterday but i am going to do it today instead, hopefully that will help me figure soemthings out...i am the type of person who needs to actually see thigns to figure them out

-chris

NOTE: I guess i should have started a thread titled "What the heck should i buy to put on top of my tank in order to light it for a planted aquarium" and the content should have been: please list everything i need

[avionics30]

Ahhh! I see. I assumed that you had a standard size tank, hence the link size that I sent. They do have a 30" light that is reasonaby priced. If your hood already has lights, you may just want to go with retrofit items and add to it or just replace what you have. Good luck to you! Happy tanking.

[coach_z]

i never knew i had a nonstandard sized tank....i now know why i was having a difficult time finding things!

My tank is right next to a window, can i mildly underWPG my tank and just open the shade next to the tank?

[avionics30]

Haha! It's not that it's not a standard size. Poor choice of woording on my part. There is the 30 gallon and then the 30 tall. That's the big difference. Surface area in your tank is smaller than the 30 long. Anyhow, I'd be careful with the sunlight. Typically a good rule of thumb is to no set up an aquarium near a window. The light spectrum is different plus you cannot control the photoperiod as you would be able to with a light. I have to admit that I hade my 110 across the room from a window and it does get exposed in the evening for about an hour. Not too bad but not completely ideal. I have not had anyissues though. Judgement call I guess. See how it works out for you! If you get algae, I'd think about closing the blind.

[coach_z]

lol to confuse you even further the tank is 30Wide x 20High x 12Deep

i know the tank location is not ideal but i have 2 choices:
1 - put the tank by the window
2 - have no tank

thank you for your help

[avionics30]

Haha! I guess there are three different sizes then. Good luck to you!

[coach_z]

i decided that i was going to go with a Nova extreme (30 or 24") or a 24" hagen glo setup from the LFS

the nova extreme is not as pretty as the Hagen, but it has two bulbs which i like and is a bit less expensive.