Help with lighting
- Thread starter 2004jetta
- Start date
huh? how else are you going to get 4 bulbs for around $10? plus if you lay them on their side and use a decent reflector... well lets just say they can produce a decent amount of light if used correctly. the price of the right fixtures for a t-5 alone covers my first year of electric for my tanks. cfl can also be put in most household lamps if necessary. it's a cheap, easy solution to figure out if you need more light before buying a $300 fixture you might not need.
most people who go planted don't last long enough for the best equipment to pay off. granted this forum will definitely help that ratio. we still see everything for sale threads in the classifieds from time to time though. many of which include a description of how much work or what algae they can't overcome.
don't get me wrong if i had the cash for a nicer setup i would absolutely go t-5, but more for looks and ease of use than efficiency which is immediately offset by the price of the fixture alone.
plus cfl leaves a great deal of versatility. you can change the bulbs to get the correct wattage necessary instead of letting a $300 fixture and $20 worth of bulbs sit there never to be used if you go overboard. or instead of another fixture you just get the higher wattage bulbs.
i'm not saying it's the best way to go but it's not a bad starting point by any means. buying things twice is never my goal but cfl isn't the end of the aquarium world either.
Yeah, I'm pretty much going on $0 for the hobby, so when I can get a whole entire new light setup for less than $25 (2 extension cords@2.00, 4 bulbs@4.00, 4 socket to plugs@1.00) I jump on it. And basically what dundadundun said, easily 'disposable' if you decide to get out of the hobby, and he can play around with the lighting to meet your needs.
Agreed on the cash for T-5 as well haha.
Don't know how much I'd like to have a professional looking tank then a drilled up ghetto hood with styrofoam stands underneath it.
Agreed on the cash for T-5 as well haha.
Don't know how much I'd like to have a professional looking tank then a drilled up ghetto hood with styrofoam stands underneath it.
Wow didn't think the thread was still alive. About the 60", and the retro's, and the CFL's; this will be in the living room so it has to be presentable. There are no plans for the canopy as I prefer the open look without one. I also elected the 48" over the 60" for aesthetic reasons. Also I think I'll have an easier time finding 54w bulbs than 80w.
