DIY Lighting> plants.

mcox3

mcox3

Veritas Aequitas
Dec 26, 2006
929
0
0
40
Phoenix, AZ
I'm looking to purchase a light for my 125 gallon aquarium, but dont want to break the piggy bank. (possible?)

the aquarium is lightly planted with Java fern, anubias, mondo grass, anacharis and amazon swords.

how many WPG would you recommend I give my plants?
Fluorescent or Incandescent?

also, should I use some sort of fert?
 
use a high iron substrate or the eco complete or flourabse... you want about 2 watts per gallon so you can acctually see the growth...

mondo grass is not a true aquatic plant and will rot in the tank over time..

and i always recommend PC (power compact flourecents) for DIYers who a slightly new.... but its always reliable...

check out www.ahsupplies.com
 
Here's a great article to get you started: http://www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html

Also, I use a simple flourescent 48" hardware light fixture. I think I paid something like $25. I have the Plant-Gower's bulbs for lighting (~$8 ea.)

I just spray painted it black (poor pic, but you can see it here) - before fish and live plants:

DSC00629.jpg
 
substrate: pea gravel, silver sand and a few pond pebbles... will this be okay?
 
For true aquatics, Yupper :D
 
okay, since i need 250w... and i've only seen 40w light bulbs... this would mean 6 lights would put me just below 2watts p/g... at 240w... sufficient?
 
mcox3 said:
okay, since i need 250w... and i've only seen 40w light bulbs... this would mean 6 lights would put me just below 2watts p/g... at 240w... sufficient?
Click to expand...

And here is where the costs come in. Aquarium lights offer larger watt ballists and specialized higher wattage bulbs to get the same 240W out of 3-4 bulbs...

It doesn't take much to get up over $300 for a **** light! :eek:

I can get away with my lights b/c I only have a 75G tank w/ Java Fern, Java Lace, and dwarf Vids -- All low light plants.
 
thank you all for all the input. greatly appreciated.

i'll let you know what i come up with...
 
If I were you, I would purchase the 4 * 96 or 3 * 96 watt light kit from AHSUPPLY.com

It would total around $250.

before buying anything though, see rexgrigg.com
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom