I'm buying a 40g breeder fish tank, stand, filter, etc for 70 dollars.. I think it's a decent deal, but it comes with a 15W strip light, which is too inadequate for a planted tank. I'm moving all of low-light my plants to this 40g tank, So, I probably need around 2 WPG, but these light fixtures are really expensive!! Do you guys know where I can find an affordable light fixture for this 40g? I don't have any tools, so I can't do DIY's!
Affordable light for a planted 40g breeder?
- Thread starter lake_tuna
- Start date
Home depot shop lights are the usual budget lighting. I know there are 2' and 4' fixtures, and I'm pretty sure there's a 3' as well. Look for two t8 bulbs in around 6700k.
I checked out Home Depot not too long ago, but I saw only ones you had to mount or hang on the ceiling.. or do I just leave it on top of the fish tank? lol
I have low-light plants: java fern, jave moss, anubias nana, rotala something, a couple of other stem plants, corkscrew vals, floating plants, and a few other types whose name I don't know. I have quite a bit in my 10g's.
I use standard 4' shop lights hanging a few inches above the tanks to grow Amazon frogbit, hornwort, and Najas. Not as decorative as a canopy, but you can't beat the price.
I also have a couple of 24" Coralife fixtures, one uses 2 single T5 bulbs, the other one uses 1 double (4 straight pin) bulb. They work as well on my 3' tanks as the shop lights over the 4' tanks for growing Najas.
I also have a couple of 24" Coralife fixtures, one uses 2 single T5 bulbs, the other one uses 1 double (4 straight pin) bulb. They work as well on my 3' tanks as the shop lights over the 4' tanks for growing Najas.
Do you use glass tops for your tank?
if so, you could go with the fishneedit.com 2-bulb T5 fixtures. a lot of people here seem to like them and their relatively cheap.
Edit:
This specifically, http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-3ft--2lamp-aquarium-light.html
if so, you could go with the fishneedit.com 2-bulb T5 fixtures. a lot of people here seem to like them and their relatively cheap.
Edit:
This specifically, http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-3ft--2lamp-aquarium-light.html
Check out aquatraders just got my light a week ago and have been liking it. I have read many recent reports that the lights are good but 4-5years ago they have some failures so people may say "Aquatraders don't use them they have had many failures" that is true but they have now been fixed.
kj5kb
KEEPER OF CATS, FISH AND CATFISHES
My 40 breeder has 2 36" T10 tubes over it. I built my own hood and rebuilt an old dual 36" fixture. I have loads of red crypts, anubias, and Java fern in there. No CO2.
Not that I expect you to build your own light...but to show that 60W of T10 is plenty. 2 t5 tubes sounds just about perfect.
The ultra-cheap idea is...hang a 4' shoplite over it.
Not that I expect you to build your own light...but to show that 60W of T10 is plenty. 2 t5 tubes sounds just about perfect.
The ultra-cheap idea is...hang a 4' shoplite over it.
