Compact Fluorescent...

Mouflon44 · 10-11-2003, 9:49 AM

Where is the cheapest place to buy compact fluorescent fixtures?
Do HD or Lowe's carry any high output fluor or CFs? Our local Lowes only has only NO flour. I'm looking for the cheapest way to span an 8' by 3' area with adequate lighting for a planted tank.
I had thought of maybe getting 4 - 3' fixtures and spreading them out width-wise about 2' apart. Would this do if I used CFs?

djlen · 10-11-2003, 10:31 AM

There really is no inexpensive way to light with CF, especially with an area of that size.
www.ahsupply.com can give you a variety of suggestions as to how to do it with DIY hoods that would save a bit, but the lighting itself will be expensive.
Much also depends on the depth of the tank. If it's more than say 24 - 30" you will need more wattage to reach the substrate where many of the plants will be.

Len

Mouflon44 · 10-11-2003, 11:16 AM

Thanks djlen, that's kinda what I was afraid of. Is there no magic left in the world?
I want my cake and eat it too!

I can hear my wife now.... " I thought you said you were going to keep it cheap and get a freshwater tank!"

...but honey I neeeed the HUGE tank... and the flourite, and the CF lights... and umpteen million assorted other gadgets...

djlen · 10-11-2003, 1:59 PM

Sooooooooooo..........how deep is it and how many gallons......so we can all drool??!!??

You could start with NO lighting and upgrade later.

Len

125gJoe · 10-11-2003, 2:39 PM

I need pics!
Just joking, but it would be nice to see the "project"...
Good choice (or best) on substrates..!
Can't really help on the lighting.. I got my CF's at Custom SeaLife and most likely there are better prices elsewhere. You might want to check them out anyway..

Mouflon44 · 10-12-2003, 3:28 AM

Sorry, no pics to take yet(except a pile of lumber). This is going to be an in wall plywood planted freshwater tank.
As I have it planned at the moment, the dimensions will be 96x36x26(about 400 gallons). Because room is of no concern I started out planning a 96x48x26(about 520 gallons). I decided to scale it back after looking at the added cost of the extra foot of width. More fluorite, more light, more gallons to filter, more evaporation, plus, I can't recall reading where anyone else has a tank that wide. Maybe there is a reason? I guess the water would have to be extra clear to appreciatively see thru 4 feet of water to the back. I would have to take my shoes off and wade in it to plant plants in the middle front.

Spanning that large an area with a top or lighting system complicates the issue too. A friend of mine welds aluminum and stated he could weld me a 4'x8' frame to mount my lights and we could mount a remote-controlled hoist in the rafters above to raise and lower the whole thing whenever I needed to "work" on it. Still thinking that one over.

But I still haven't decided for sure. Anyone have any opinions on 3' width as opposed to 4'? would it be worth it? I considered building a rather large background using the styrofoam or "great stuff" methods to take up a large portion of the back and therefore reduce some of the area...

I will start on the stand this coming week (12'x4' regardless of tank size) and after that I will be forced to make a decision. My friends/helpers are already becoming impatient with me, but I want to reduce my regrets as much as possible. It took me 5 years to finalize my house design,(my wife was ready to kill me), but the "tank room" was in it from the beginning and after one year, my regrets have been very minor. Needless to say, I have been waiting on this project for a looooong time.

Would you rather go with $400+ worth of flourite and skimp on lights till a later date? or use a cheaper composite substrate and go with nicer CF fixtures across the top? Or do you sink your money in Ehiem filters? how many filters for 500 gallons? Diatom Vortex filters? I'm getting dizzy.
I have made one concrete decision, no CO2 for now. That can definitely wait until I get some experience under my belt.
Dang, I got a little longwinded, sorry, I'll shut up for now.

PS- I will try and document this project for any interested.

Timmain42 · 10-12-2003, 11:34 AM

Consider the width of your tank (at least 36" from front to back). Are you going to have access to both the front and back sides? If not, you may have problems. For example:

I have a 96"x24"x24" tank, planted and well-lit. However, since it's REALLY in-wall, I can't get to the front side of the tank, which means that I have to access all the plants in the front from the back side of the tank... my arms can barely reach! I'm trying to imagine what reaching across three feet of space and down two feet will be like...

I hope you can remove some water from the tank when you're working on it, so that if you fall in, the displaced water won't flood your house.

edit::sorry, not quite on topic, but it crossed my mind as I was reading those tank specs.

125gJoe · 10-12-2003, 3:45 PM

Patience, save up some money, but I'd stick with the Flourite...

JLudwig · 10-12-2003, 7:34 PM

Quote:

Would you rather go with $400+ worth of flourite and skimp on lights till a later date?

Flourite really depends on what you're trying to grow... if you plan on mostly stems, I would can the Flourite and go with corse blasting sand (looks a lot better too IMO). Flourite is great for stuff like swords, crypts, B. longifolia - heavy root feeders. But for bunch plants those roots do nothing than anchor the plant down. I've talked to a few pros who really feel flourite is a bit overrated (in varying degrees of course!)... if you only plan on having a few root feeders, maybe use Jobes/Flourish tabs in just those spots...

BTW - Those who I talked to who don't use flourite are dosing over 3ml Flourish / 3ml Flourish Iron per 30 gallons daily (this is the low end): they are really hammering their tanks with traces.

djlen · 10-12-2003, 8:47 PM

I use flourite and Still "hammer" the tank with traces and especially Fe. I can't believe how Crypts respond to Fe.
It's a beautiful thing.

I hope you don't regret those dimensions. That tank is going to be a bear to maintain. I simply couldn't do it. My arms are just too short. I have to take off my t-shirt to work the substrate in my 55's and they are only 22" deep. I'd have to buy a snorkel to work in your tank.

Len