FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Ok, so I've seen scattered talk of lighting in various other threads, but no "official" lighting topic, and while I don't think this one will become one, I wanted a thread where I could concentrate the genius of the lighting gurus in one place.

I need to purchase lighting next month. Mainly for my 55 gallon tank, which is a community tank, but also for a 10 gallon I'm going to build up. I want to get into live plants, and I plan on starting with something similar to the 20-30g package here: http://azgardens.com/habitats_easy.php. (I don't want a heavily planted tank, and I already have the tank well populated with fish)

The 10 gallon will get some of these plants, and fish to be determined.

I know I need medium light at least, possibly high light. I may revise my decision on plants depending on the available light - that package is based on easy care, no CO2 injection, and low to medium light available.

I have looked at a few light fixtures tonight:
JEBO Lifetech Aquarium Compact Light 220W
Odyssea 48" 130W Aquarium Power Compact Light
Satellite 24 hour lighting system 1006

I like the idea of having a dual-function light that has both daylight and moonlight options (the satellite). (and yes, DJRitchie, the Satellite does have two switches). The Satellite also has a dual model that has more bulb options.

Suggestions? Opinions? I'm not limiting to these choices, obviously. That's just what I've found looking in a certain price range on ebay.

And obviously, a smaller version of the same kind of light, hopefully, for my 10 gallon if the experts think so. Or maybe an entirely different setup for the 10?

Listen! Do you smell that?

Double posting, but the 55 gallon setup if you don't know:

4xBlack Mollies
5xRed Wag Platies (3x at the moment)
8xZebra Danios (7x at the moment)
9xTiger Bargs (5 reg, 2 green, 2 albino)
2xYoYo Loaches
1xChinese Algae Eater (will move to 10 gallon)
1xBumble Bee Catfish

The mollies and platies may not be in the 55g much longer. They may move to the 10g for a while.

Listen! Do you smell that?

Hi,
I think you missed this thread:

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/threads/13454.1.htm?37#

It contains a wealth of information about tanks,
substrates, lights, and plants.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Actually Frank, I did see that the other day. And that thread is what got me started on thinking about planting my tank!

There was a lot of information on bulbs and types of light bulbs and such, but no information on the actual light fixtures and such.

Listen! Do you smell that?

If you are concerned about price you can buy shoplights at Home Depot/Lowes. The 48" fixtures fit a 55 gal perfectly and they run about $8 each. You can have two fixtures on the tank and use a glass cover under them. That will hold 4 40 watt bulbs ( 160 watts total...about 3 wpg). That is plenty for most high light plants. And buying bulbs at stores like Home Depot or Walmart is SO much cheaper than buying lights labeled specially for fish tanks. They are availible in a good range of spectrums too. If you do have really high light you should probably set up a CO2 system. If you don't want to do that, using three bulbs will cut down on the wattage. Just a few thoughts for you to consider...

By the way, azgardens has very nice quality plants but if you order from them make sure the plants are sent Next Day or half your order will be mush (speaking from experience... )

I think, after further research, I'm going to go with the Satellite strip listed above. Unless anybody has had issues with them before, or knows of a better dual-function 260w 48" lightstrip for <$100

Listen! Do you smell that?

Hi,
I guess I missed the point. You wanted folks who had
experience with those specific lights to tell you how
good or bad, they were. Since I've not used any of
them, after my post and your response, I said nothing
waiting for others to elucidate.

When you mentioned the specific system, I looked it up:
http://www.aquariumarts.com/lighting.html

In planted freshwater tank, you would have no use for the
bulbs that they include. Actinic Blue bulbs are 20,000K
and above in ratings. They literally give off a harsh blue
light, and have to be used in conjunction with 10,000K or
lower to washout the "blueness" and make a white light.
Actinic blue bulbs are designed for use on saltwater tanks,
especially those with invertebrates such as a reef tank.

That is way, way, overkill for your planted, freshwater
tank. Just about any canopy will work. Just use bulbs
that are labeled DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT in their names.

Depending upon what type of plants you are planning on
keeping in the tank, you could simply purchase a 2 tube
fluorescent shop light from the local hardware store, put
two 40 watt DAYLIGHT or SUNLIGHT bulbs in it and have
enough light to grow any of the low demand plants and
even some of the medium demand plants, for less than
$50.

When you start using the systems you have indicated, you
will be around 3+wpg and will also need to inject CO2
to keep the plants thriving.
With a 55G tank you will have to purchase a
bottled system, DIY simply won't work for that
capacity tank.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well, not so much experience with those particular lights, just suggestions on lightstrips that they use/have used. I offered those up as ones that I have been looking at. I don't really want to go the shoplight route.

Thank you, though, for that explanation on the actinic lights. That's a much better explanation than I've found elsewhere! And I'll stay away from those kind of lights for my FW tanks.



Listen! Do you smell that?