Help with Lighting

D

daisyduketuf

AC Members
Feb 28, 2006
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I also need to order lighting for the 75 gal. Should I get single or double lights. I would like to keep a few hardy plants but will mostly have the fake ones. I really just need lighting that will make the tank look nice, even some moonlights or nocturnal lights would be nice. I don't have a lot of money to spend, about $125 tops.
Thanks again,
Trina
 
Perfecto Fluorescent Double Strip Light- 48" (Black)
Instant-start fluorescent light has white reflector which projects more light into the tank. Posi-grip sockets hold lamp firmly in place. Unit can be used with timer. New rubber boot protects switch from moisture, adding years of life to the hood and making it safer. Bulbs Included! $80
or
Current USA Satellite 48" 2 x 65 Watt Power Compact-Single Strip W/2 Lunar Lights. This Current USA Satellite Power Compact Fixture is a single strip light which contains 2 SunPaq SmartPaq bulbs and 2 Lunar Lights. Lunar Lights are small LED's which sit in the fixture above the bulbs. The SmartPaq Lamp is a combination bulb comprised of 10,000K and 460nm Actinic. The SmartPaq bulb produces 3 times the output of standard fluorescent bulbs and has double the life (12 months). This model has one switch. $110

Which One?
 
The perfecto light will probably be two 32 watt bulbs. less than 1wpg.
The Satellite would give you almost 2wpg and it has the lunar lights that you want. The only problem is you would have to change the actinic bulb to a better spectrum for the plants. You can also find it cheaper than $110
$97.99 from here.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx

More light and features for less than $20 more seems like a better deal to me.
 
tai95 said:
The perfecto light will probably be two 32 watt bulbs. less than 1wpg.
The Satellite would give you almost 2wpg and it has the lunar lights that you want. The only problem is you would have to change the actinic bulb to a better spectrum for the plants. You can also find it cheaper than $110
$97.99 from here.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx

More light and features for less than $20 more seems like a better deal to me.
Click to expand...
The SunPac bulbs for that are 22-25$ each, add that on and you are talking 40-45$ difference, not 20$

Roan
 
I was hoping that was not too good to be true. Dang! :rant2: I wanted those lights. :sad: I guess I can order it and save for the bulbs. What bulbs were you talking about to replace the subpac bulbs for plants? Thank you very much for the replies. I think I will order it anyway. I can use my old lights until I can get those high dollar bulbs.
 
you can either have a 45 dollar difference now, or have your plants not do well, and have to pay the differance and depreciation on the single bulb system later. Honestly, I'd spend the extra money now and get the wattage you need to be able to grow plants.
 
tai95 said:
The perfecto light will probably be two 32 watt bulbs. less than 1wpg.
The Satellite would give you almost 2wpg and it has the lunar lights that you want. The only problem is you would have to change the actinic bulb to a better spectrum for the plants. You can also find it cheaper than $110
$97.99 from here.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/MainPro/Itemdy00.aspx

More light and features for less than $20 more seems like a better deal to me.
Click to expand...

I bought the Salellite from thatpetplace. I thought it was the same light, but this one says it has two switches whereas the one at Bigals only has one. This one also says it comes with the bulbs. :bowing:
Thank you for your help. I would still like to know what to change the actinic bulb to for plants.
 
for plants the 8,000k. it brings out the green best from my experience.
 
daisyduketuf said:
I bought the Salellite from thatpetplace. I thought it was the same light, but this one says it has two switches whereas the one at Bigals only has one. This one also says it comes with the bulbs. :bowing:
Thank you for your help. I would still like to know what to change the actinic bulb to for plants.
Click to expand...
The one with two switches is the Dual Satellite with 4x65w bulbs for $217.99. The one with one switch is the Satellite with 2x65w for $97.99. Which one did you buy or did they ship you the wrong one? ;)

If you bought the 2x65w bulb Satellite, it comes with 2x10K Daylight bulbs. You need to switch those out for TWO of the 6700K Daylight bulb:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...ht/T1/F36EA+0434+0027/EDP/42648/Itemdy00.aspx

If you bought the Dual Satellite, 48" 4x65w, then That one comes with 2 actinic and 2 10k Daylight. If that's what you bought, don't use the actinic lights at all. If you replace all those bulbs with the right ones, you will be at 3.5wpg and algae city. That's way too much light for what you want to do.

You need to replace the Daylight bulbs with the same ones I linked above. 10K is not the right light range for plants.

You're looking at another 40$ for two of the bulbs.

Roan
 
too bad you ordered already. i would have went to home depot and found a 48" t5HO holder that would hold 4x54W t5's. then you could broaden your spectrem. I just got my Teklight 6x54W for my 90G reef tank and it's awesome but with bulbs it was like $400+. IMO, if i was going to do it for a planted FW, i would have definetely tried home depot or lowes.
 
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