Calling all 50 gallon lighting experts

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WildFrisco

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Feb 18, 2004
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I've had 10 gallon tanks for the longest, and now I scored myself a 50 gallon from craigslist (Along with a lot of other goodies). My new tank is 48" wide and it came with a 48" single fluorescent tube strip light. The tank will be a community tank with mostly tetras, and mostly "easy" to maintain plants. I currenty have java fern, rotalla, frog byte, etc. However I might want to tackle the harder plants in the future. What would you guys recommend for lighting? Single, double, or triple fluorescent tube strips?

The All-Glass Aquarium 48" triple tube states that it has an electronic ballast vs a conventional magnetic ballast. More light output, less power usage, longer bulb life. Did I get that correct? The only drawback I see is that it only accepts T-8 sizes.

Or should I just order the 48" twin tube version and use in conjunction with the single tube light that came with my tank? (And possibly stagger the timers on both units). It accepts T-8, T-10, and T-12 sizes. It's not clear what kind of ballast the twin tube versions have. Anyone know?

I was looking at the other kinds of lighting technology because I was curious. VHO fluorescent, T-5 HO, power compact, and metal halide. After the sticker shock, I kind of thought to myself I won't be spending that kind of money, with one exception. Cost of the 48" Custom Sea Life SmartLite is similar to buying a 48" triple fluorescent tube strip light. The 48" model:

http://www.championlighting.com/e/e...ing.html?link=/Products/Lighting/pcsmart.html

Sorry if I'm too wordy and have to many questions. What to do, what to do.
 
www.ahsupply.com

If you want your plants to grow, use compact flourscent lighting. This website offers PC lighting kits. You wire them yourself.

I have no electrical experience, but the instructions and the pictures at that site enabled me to wire it myself. 3 years now and it hasn't caught of fire. :-)

If you build your own hood (just make a rectangle box with some wood) you will have lighting for about $100. Very good lighting, 5500 or 6300K. And 110W of it, or if you go for the 96W bulb kits, over 180W.
 
I would go with that Custom SeaLife smart light, very nice fixture. Or, you could simply go to home depot and get one of the ballasts that has two bulbs. I have two of them(4 bulbs-160 watts) over my 72g and they work fine. Very cheap too, one was like $6 and the other was around $13.
 
Originally posted by NJ Devils Fan
I would go with that Custom SeaLife smart light, very nice fixture. Or, you could simply go to home depot and get one of the ballasts that has two bulbs.
Click to expand...

Yeah for $115 that CSL smartlite is tempting. What kind of ballasts are you speaking of? The kind for standard fluorescent bulbs or power compacts? I don't think hardware stores carry the latter, or do they? OR, do some ballasts drive both standard and power compact flurourescent bulbs? *shrugs*
 
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I'll go ahead mention I've had excellent service through www.marinedepot.com as well.

I purchased 96W PFO retrofit almost 3 months ago for my 38 gallon tank. It's as simple as open up the package and installing the reflector, hook up the lights to the plug, then plug the wire back into the ballast.

I bought my 2x55W setup from AHSupply. They're reputable, but wiring is a lot more complicated to the one I bought from Marine Depot.

Since you have the 48" tank. You'd want this setup PCR255
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium...act-fluorescent_pfo_retrofit_kits.asp?CartId=
BTW, you do need a canopy for this setup.

I've emailed their customer service support twice and received answers within few hours.

Just my 0.02.
 
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