lighting... opinions?

loaches r cool

loaches r cool

Snail Terminator
Feb 15, 2006
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Gahanna, Ohio
tristan.homelinux.net
I am going to build a canopy (finally) for my 75g plant tank. I was debating on buying new lights as mine are barely adequate. I currently have 2 twin tube 48" shoplights laying across the tank. The fixtures were like $8 each at wallmart. I used 2 40w g.e. plant & aquarium bulbs (t12) from wallmart for cheap too, plus 1 40w flora-glo and 1 power-glo from lfs. But these fixtures have no reflectors and are probably not that efficient (especially the t-12 bulbs). So I am open to suggestion here. I dont want to spend a fortune because my current setup for under $60 is working pretty good so far. But I'd like some more light. I would kinda like some diy flourescent ends but cant seem to find em anywere. Plus I was looking at big al's online and came across this:http://bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29655;category_id=2281;pcid1=;pcid2=
It is Current USA SunPaq 96 Watt Quad Retrofit Single Power Compact-18" onsale for $75.99 I could get two then for about $150 and have almost 200W. But I wasnt sure how good using all the same 'SunPaq' bulbs would be for a planted tank. Anyone else use these type of bulbs?
 
I have a ah supply 4x55 on a 90 gallon tank, it works great! I know it more expensive than the stuff that you mentioned, but well worth the money! You could start with a 2x55 and use some of your old lights and upgrade later. Here is the link to ahsupply http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm
 
For what it's worth, the pics in my sig of my 90gal were using 4 4'T8 bulbs (ZooMed). Very similar to your set up. I used the endcaps right out of the cheap shoplights and screwed them right to the frame of my diy hood. I didn't use any reflectors either, just painted the interior white (Kilz primer white). For more light, you can overdrive the bulbs which just means you use a ballast (that drives two bulbs) and wire it to drive one bulb. So if you bought two more cheap shop lights, you'd have the ballasts you need plus some spare parts. Or you can use a ballast designed to drive 4 bulbs and drive 2. Just be sure to run the ground wire from the plug to the ballast (hook it under whatever nut/screw used to fasten the ballast). If I ODNO'd all four bulbs, plant growth was too fast so most of the time I only had two bulbs overdriven. For me, it is a versitile and cheap way of lighting.
Search for ODNO lighting in the DIY forum for more info or google.

HTH
 
I would replace the 'Plant and Aquarium Lights' for the regular 6500k lights. I would ODNO by simply buying another two shoplights from HD, gutting them and installing the ballast in your existing fixture. The white 'reflector' on the shoplights isn't too bad, but you could try mylar sheet on the shoplights if you want to make your own reflector.

If your budget is in the $150 area, why not consider the ahsupply kit...it would end up costing close to $200 with bulbs but it would be an excellent kit.

I bought one of these with the 6500k bulbs and they work great
 
Man it's been awhile since I read that thread...thanks reality. So now I should clarify that I only overdrove(?) my lights 2X. Love DIY but wasn't comfortable going 3 or 4X! :girl:
 
This ODNO sounds just like something I would do! <insert Tim Taylor grunt> But I am pretty sure my current shoplights are magnetic ballast because they were only like $6 or $8 and not labled as energy efficient like all the $20 and up ones were. I'll have to check into that.

But back to my main question... no one has used 'SunPaq' lights with plants before?

And I have been told to use broad spectrum lighting for plants in the past, and thats why I have 3 different types of bulbs. Is it ok to use just 1 type of bulb?

I have been serching for inexpensive flourescetn tubes that I may use on a ODNO setup... any opinions:
-Coralife Nutri Grow Plant Lamp (no K?) $10
-Coralife Trichromatic 40Watt 6500K, 94cri,full spectrum ~$13
-Quantum 30 Watt 7K Daylight T6 $12
-Quantum 40 Watt Aqua Flora Plus T6 Lamp (no K?) $15
-Sun-Glo T10 full sun spectrum (no K?) $8
-Zoo Med Flora Sun Max Plant Growth T8 (5000K) $13
-Zoo Med Tropic Sun 5,500K Daylight T8 $8
-Zoo Med Ultra Sun 6,500K Super Daylight T8 98cri Trichromatic $13

I would really like to grow glossostigma and some grasses.
 
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