Thinking about new lights

Paintballer99

Paintballer99

AC Members
Jul 1, 2009
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Hey,
I was thinking about getting some new lights for my 20 gallon long. Right now, I have 2 20 watt fixtures on it, and the plants grow very well. I do have DIY C02, so theres not that many problems. I would only like to spend at most $100 for it. Maybe from drsfostersmith? I saw a few on there, but I just want to know what you guys think.

Thanks
 
i dont think that you should worry about more lights. i think 40wpg over a 20 long is plenty. if i were you i would invest in a pressurized system.
 
A 2x24W T5HO fixture would work well, but it might leave the ends of the tank a bit dim, especially due to the tank depth. I have one on my 29 and the ends aren't noticeably darker, but the tank is 6" taller too. You could raise the fixture up several inches though.
 
Ok, I just really don't like how the light just looks overall, with the "yellow" feel of the bulb. I'll look more at the website
 
I think it depends on what you're trying to grow.

I am a big advocate of great numbers of lumens, but not if you're growing shady plants.

Again about the lumens - wattage is not the key - lumens are the key. A T5 NO or HO will give out more light per watt than a T8, T10 or T12. And T5 HO gives off more lumens per watt than PC.

One fixture that I have found to be wonderful as well as sleek is the Coralife NO T5 line. Here is the 30"

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsU...5/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight30


Relatively inexpensive to buy, not as expensive to run or as hot as an HO - a great choice for a relatively lo-tech setup. I might consider keeping one of your 20w fixtures and adding this one. You will have some very effective lighting and be able to grow pretty much any medium to medium high light plants.

Naturally the suggestion to go pressurized is always a good one. But when you think about it, the expense and hassle of something like that for a smaller tank is really not at all practical unless you're growing some really demanding species in a very heavily planted system. And even then - my 20g long is overplanted, receives >5wpg of T5 HO light, gets no CO2 at all and still thrives with lush, pearling plants. So surely while CO2 can do amazing things, you can almost do completely without it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRVHJz3x6tA
 
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