DIY lighting...
- Thread starter BioHazard
- Start date
yeah, second the cfls. if you're looking for a cheap (i.e., ghetto) enclosure, plastic window boxes from home depot work well. also, it's best to use a lot of small cfls rather a few big ones. it's far cheaper in the long run and you won't run into the same heat issues.
Thanks for all the great info! I'm beginning to feel more confident about doing this. I think I'll try to run 4 cfl's over my 30 gal. If I use 20 watt bulbs, that should give me 80 watts total, or 2.7 watts per gallon. That should be good to grow low and medium light plants. I could also do 2 20 watt and 2 30 watt for a total of 100 watts, or 3.4 watts per gallon. I'll have to do some research, see what would be better.
Geez, no wonder you had algae problems! 8 watts per gallon... I bet you have that thing super planted!
CFLs are very inefficient at getting light into the tank due to their shape. I use them in an incandescent hood, but if you're starting from scratch anyway, I wouldn't use them.
If you can build a decent, simply canopy out of wood, I would look at the AH Supply retrofit kits. I've used several, they work great and come with everything you need (except a switch...but I use timers on all mine so I didn't bother).
If you can build a decent, simply canopy out of wood, I would look at the AH Supply retrofit kits. I've used several, they work great and come with everything you need (except a switch...but I use timers on all mine so I didn't bother).
or go to the hardware store and pick up a florescent fixture.
some are wired others will need wiring.
I like ah supply great light out put
some are wired others will need wiring.
I like ah supply great light out put
The problem with AH supply, is that the kit for two lights costs 70 bucks. Then, you still have to spent 18 dollars per bulb, and then you have to pay shipping. I want to SAVE money, not spend it. For not that much more, I could just get a prebuilt used light, or even a new light.
Plus, it comes with a ballast. I though you didn't need a ballast. This is why I keep getting confused.
Plus, it comes with a ballast. I though you didn't need a ballast. This is why I keep getting confused.
Most newer fluorescent bulbs require a ballast to run. Some fixtures just have it included in them. The screw-in CF bulbs require ballasts to work, but they are included in the bulb so you don't see it or need to buy it separately.
The bottom line is that looking at an AH Supply Kit, you can get the same amount of usable light into the tank with about half the wattage compared to screw-in CF bulbs. This is due to high-efficiency reflectors and bulb design/shape. I.e. if you had 40W worth of screw-in CF, you could accomplish effectively the same light level with about 20W of straight-bulb fluorescent with a high efficiency reflector.
The bottom line is that looking at an AH Supply Kit, you can get the same amount of usable light into the tank with about half the wattage compared to screw-in CF bulbs. This is due to high-efficiency reflectors and bulb design/shape. I.e. if you had 40W worth of screw-in CF, you could accomplish effectively the same light level with about 20W of straight-bulb fluorescent with a high efficiency reflector.
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