inexpensive 10g lighting?

[LunchBox]

Hi I'm in the planning stages of a 10g planted tank and have been looking around for an inexpensive lighting option for the tank. I've seen the AHSupply 2x13 watt compact flourescent retro kits, which including bulbs is about 34 bucks before the cost of the hood itself.

so the big question is, has anyone come up with any good DIY type lighting plans that can light a 10g on the cheap? I'd like to stick under 30 bucks if I can, but if it turns out to be impossible obviously it isnt' an option BTW, from what I priced out, a hood plus the AHS retro kit come to about 60 bucks all told, which is why I'm looking for cheaper alternatives.

one thing I was thinking about was going down to the BORG (home depot) and seeing if they have the 13 watt CF ballasts and fixtures for cheaper than AH supply, but I haven't been there yet.

thanks for any help!

 

[Cathy G]

I have the #1 Cheapo 10g! Just buy the incandescent hood and screw in 2 compact flourescent "Daylight" bulbs from Walmart. They run about $4.44 a piece. You'll find them in the bulbs section, look for the Daylight ones - they will say full spectrum on them. THe package gives the bulb a k rating of 6500. I had 2 15 wts over my 10, but felt that was too much light. So, now I have 2 10's, these came from the fish/aquarium dept. are longer and also full spectrum - same price. These bulbs work just great.
Cathy

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

You could buy a glass top for the 10g and:

- place a fluorescent fixture on top
- place a shop light on top
- shine a compact fluorescent desk lamp (or 2) throught the top

 

[carriebourdeau]

:idea: You people are so clever!!!

It makes me want to try a planted tank. Right now, I only have the fake stuff, but I love the look of real plants. It just seemed like so much extra equipment and bookwork! :read:

But maybe not! If I had a 10 g up and running already:
3 hatchets
1 glass cat
1 mystery snail
1 mini algae eater

I've got a combo of black gravel and black marbles (substrate<-- is that the right word??), a Top Fin cheepie filter, 2 Penn Plex anemone and 2 silk plants.

Would it be really hard to establish plants? Should I just wait until I come across another aquarium, get that up and running with plants THEN add fish?

THANKS.

 

[LunchBox]

I have the #1 Cheapo 10g! Just buy the incandescent hood and screw in 2 compact flourescent "Daylight" bulbs from Walmart. They run about $4.44 a piece. You'll find them in the bulbs section, look for the Daylight ones - they will say full spectrum on them. THe package gives the bulb a k rating of 6500. I had 2 15 wts over my 10, but felt that was too much light. So, now I have 2 10's, these came from the fish/aquarium dept. are longer and also full spectrum - same price. These bulbs work just great.
Cathy

that's a good idea for some reason I never think about the incandescent style hoods

You could buy a glass top for the 10g and:

- place a fluorescent fixture on top
- place a shop light on top
- shine a compact fluorescent desk lamp (or 2) throught the top

that's also a few great ideas! I had been looking at the glass tops for other reasons, but I would have never thought about using desk lamps with the CF bulbs over it.

these are great ideas guys. thanks a lot!

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

:
Would it be really hard to establish plants? Should I just wait until I come across another aquarium, get that up and running with plants THEN add fish?.

It doesn't have to be hard. There are lots of easy-care plants and if you keep it simple you won't even need fertilizer.

If your tank is already cycled, you can add plants now when you get sufficient lighting. Using the setup you have now (gravel substrate) you could easily grow java moss, java fern, and anubias because they don't need special substrate. You just tie them to driftwood or decorations (or float the moss). A 10 gallon tank needs about 15 watts of fluorescent light to grow most low-light plants.

 

[tricksterpup]

Hi I'm in the planning stages of a 10g planted tank and have been looking around for an inexpensive lighting option for the tank. I've seen the AHSupply 2x13 watt compact flourescent retro kits, which including bulbs is about 34 bucks before the cost of the hood itself.

so the big question is, has anyone come up with any good DIY type lighting plans that can light a 10g on the cheap? I'd like to stick under 30 bucks if I can, but if it turns out to be impossible obviously it isnt' an option BTW, from what I priced out, a hood plus the AHS retro kit come to about 60 bucks all told, which is why I'm looking for cheaper alternatives.

one thing I was thinking about was going down to the BORG (home depot) and seeing if they have the 13 watt CF ballasts and fixtures for cheaper than AH supply, but I haven't been there yet.

thanks for any help!

Check out and see if you can find any Coral life T-5 lights at your LFS. I paid for a brand new setup for my 20 gallon $30. And it is working wonderfully for my tank. I do not think you need to go out and spend and arm in a leg on a DYI. There are plenty of great light setups for cheap, you just need to look.
I personally like the look of the light and I have really good plant growth.
The fixture is less than an inch thick. So expect a small light fixture with lots of power.

 

[LunchBox]

Check out and see if you can find any Coral life T-5 lights at your LFS. I paid for a brand new setup for my 20 gallon $30. And it is working wonderfully for my tank. I do not think you need to go out and spend and arm in a leg on a DYI. There are plenty of great light setups for cheap, you just need to look.
I personally like the look of the light and I have really good plant growth.
The fixture is less than an inch thick. So expect a small light fixture with lots of power.

that's encouraging! I was afraid my little 10g was going to cost more than my 29 to get set up

I'll have to see if I can find those at the LFS around here. I have a few choices so I would expect someone to have them

 

[tricksterpup]

that's encouraging! I was afraid my little 10g was going to cost more than my 29 to get set up

I'll have to see if I can find those at the LFS around here. I have a few choices so I would expect someone to have them

You know, if you look online, you might find something. I know they are definatly under $40 but still spending that much for a light fixture isnt bad, its alot cheaper than spending it for Power compacts. I have done the screw in bulbs for my tanks and I do not get the growth like i have with this setup. Its very nice. If you want to see a setup with this, click on my website link for my tanks in my signiture.