DIY Lighting Opinion

AtlantaMFR · 05-08-2008, 02:22 PM

I am trying to do a low tech 75 gallon BUDGET tank. I want to see how cheap I can make something super nice.

I got a tank, stand, canopy and canister filter for $200 on ebay. I sanded and repainted the stand and canopy and it looks great!

I am have pool sand and peat as a substrate and I plan on dosing with ferts.

So my lighting question is this:

I want to be around 1.5 wpg. Are there any disadvantages to using 2 shop light fixtures with custom mylar reflectors along with bulbs that have reflectors built in? I know that puts me at 2 wpg, but i figured with the lower quality I will lose some and it will put me closer to the quality of 1.5wpg

so, is there anything wrong with this? I got the shop lights at home dept for $9, mounting brackets for inside of the hood were $3 I think.

Bulbs will be about $15-20

Is there going to be a heat issue? Rust issues? I have a full glass top as well.

Thanks!

honor · 05-08-2008, 02:30 PM

sounds good, but the you should check the spectrum of those lights or all you're gona grow is algae.

AtlantaMFR · 05-08-2008, 02:44 PM

i will buy something like these:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...80&pcatid=9680

Wasserpest · 05-08-2008, 02:56 PM

You can use shoplights, like you said, they are not very efficient for this purpose, but some have reported good results.

I have found that after a little while with a cheap setup I wanted to switch to a more efficient solution, which costs more in the beginning, but less in the long run. To give you an example: Most shoplights come with T12 bulbs, each at 40 Watts. If you compare that to T5 bulbs, you get more light out of one while using only 28 Watts. Of course, T5 bulbs are a little more expensive, and to make them really shine they need reflectors that are quite a bit more expensive.

In your example, you will use two shoplights with four dim T12 bulbs that will provide very low light in your tank. If, on the other hand, you would spend a bit more upfront, you could for example use two T5 HO bulbs (each 54W) and get a lot more light from a lot less wattage.

I find that in the end, I spend more when starting cheap, and end up having lots of spare parts in the garage.

honor · 05-08-2008, 02:56 PM

cool, yeah, any color temp abovve 6500 imo will work for plants.

Wasserpest · 05-08-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AtlantaMFR

i will buy something like these:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...80&pcatid=9680

These are meant for marine tanks.

KurtG · 05-08-2008, 03:00 PM

It works. I've done something similar on my 75 (3- 32 watt T8s overdriven 2x) and on my 20 (2- 20 watt T12s). The bulbs can also be had a HD, just look for the kelvin rating.

AtlantaMFR · 05-08-2008, 03:12 PM

cool, thanks everyone! with it all said and done, this will cost me about $108... so i should just get the Nova Extreme T-5 HO Retrofit Kit for $130

so thanks!

-matt

KurtG · 05-08-2008, 03:18 PM

Why so much?

Bulbs are much cheaper at HD than you posted. A 2-pack is like $7-$8

AtlantaMFR · 05-08-2008, 03:25 PM

oh yeah, sorry.. I was basing it off of getting the bulbs with the reflectors in them... but I just found this on Amazon:

48" Nova Extreme X2 Saltwater 108W Fixture $101.00

hard to beat that!

Wasserpest · 05-08-2008, 03:44 PM

Even though it is not perfect, I think you will be happier with that fixture than with two shoplights. Keep in mind you need bulbs for freshwater, not marine tanks. Unless of course you are growing corals.

AtlantaMFR · 05-08-2008, 03:46 PM

lol

SammyP · 05-08-2008, 07:39 PM

He's right. If you're on a budget, spend your money wisely. Half the bulbs in a saltwater setup will do nothing for your plants and you'll have to spend more money replacing them.

I cant tell you how many times i have tried to do what you're doing and ended up throwing money away because what i bought was wrong or bad quality and it broke after a month or whatever and then i had to go buy the thing i knew i shouldve got in the first place. Basically, I'm doing the exact opposite of what i wanted to do, which was save money.

dienson · 05-10-2008, 09:09 PM

Hi
Check this one good price $88.35
http://www.petmountain.com/product/l...reshwater.html
I bought one 1 week ago,,,good for my 55g
good luck

DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR · 05-11-2008, 02:59 AM

two shoplights= $20
four ge 6500k daylight bulbs = $15

40 dollars at it's finest.

05-08-2008, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
AtlantaMFR Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Smyrna, GA Posts: 273	DIY Lighting Opinion I am trying to do a low tech 75 gallon BUDGET tank. I want to see how cheap I can make something super nice. I got a tank, stand, canopy and canister filter for $200 on ebay. I sanded and repainted the stand and canopy and it looks great! I am have pool sand and peat as a substrate and I plan on dosing with ferts. So my lighting question is this: I want to be around 1.5 wpg. Are there any disadvantages to using 2 shop light fixtures with custom mylar reflectors along with bulbs that have reflectors built in? I know that puts me at 2 wpg, but i figured with the lower quality I will lose some and it will put me closer to the quality of 1.5wpg so, is there anything wrong with this? I got the shop lights at home dept for $9, mounting brackets for inside of the hood were $3 I think. Bulbs will be about $15-20 Is there going to be a heat issue? Rust issues? I have a full glass top as well. Thanks!

05-08-2008, 02:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Wasserpest Born to be mild (View User Tanks) PTrader: (56) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 9,248	You can use shoplights, like you said, they are not very efficient for this purpose, but some have reported good results. I have found that after a little while with a cheap setup I wanted to switch to a more efficient solution, which costs more in the beginning, but less in the long run. To give you an example: Most shoplights come with T12 bulbs, each at 40 Watts. If you compare that to T5 bulbs, you get more light out of one while using only 28 Watts. Of course, T5 bulbs are a little more expensive, and to make them really shine they need reflectors that are quite a bit more expensive. In your example, you will use two shoplights with four dim T12 bulbs that will provide very low light in your tank. If, on the other hand, you would spend a bit more upfront, you could for example use two T5 HO bulbs (each 54W) and get a lot more light from a lot less wattage. I find that in the end, I spend more when starting cheap, and end up having lots of spare parts in the garage. __________________ All my tanks Cheap Autodosing Cheap Water Change Cheap Filter Acrylic Filter Pipes The Wasser-Controller

05-08-2008, 03:00 PM	#7 (permalink)
KurtG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 363	It works. I've done something similar on my 75 (3- 32 watt T8s overdriven 2x) and on my 20 (2- 20 watt T12s). The bulbs can also be had a HD, just look for the kelvin rating. __________________ 75g jungle-planted, Apistos & neons, 3 T8s 2x OD, XP3, pres. CO2, custom mixed substrate. 20H planted, dwarf cray, (2) 20 watt T-12s, HOB, playsand & clay, no CO2.

05-08-2008, 03:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
KurtG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Annapolis, MD Posts: 363	Why so much? Bulbs are much cheaper at HD than you posted. A 2-pack is like $7-$8 __________________ 75g jungle-planted, Apistos & neons, 3 T8s 2x OD, XP3, pres. CO2, custom mixed substrate. 20H planted, dwarf cray, (2) 20 watt T-12s, HOB, playsand & clay, no CO2.

05-08-2008, 03:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Wasserpest Born to be mild (View User Tanks) PTrader: (56) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 9,248	Even though it is not perfect, I think you will be happier with that fixture than with two shoplights. Keep in mind you need bulbs for freshwater, not marine tanks. Unless of course you are growing corals. __________________ All my tanks Cheap Autodosing Cheap Water Change Cheap Filter Acrylic Filter Pipes The Wasser-Controller

05-08-2008, 02:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
honor Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 379	sounds good, but the you should check the spectrum of those lights or all you're gona grow is algae.

05-08-2008, 02:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
AtlantaMFR Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Smyrna, GA Posts: 273	i will buy something like these: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...80&pcatid=9680

05-08-2008, 02:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
honor Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Los Angeles California Posts: 379	cool, yeah, any color temp abovve 6500 imo will work for plants.

05-08-2008, 03:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
AtlantaMFR Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Smyrna, GA Posts: 273	cool, thanks everyone! with it all said and done, this will cost me about $108... so i should just get the Nova Extreme T-5 HO Retrofit Kit for $130 so thanks! -matt

05-08-2008, 03:25 PM	#10 (permalink)
AtlantaMFR Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Smyrna, GA Posts: 273	oh yeah, sorry.. I was basing it off of getting the bulbs with the reflectors in them... but I just found this on Amazon: 48" Nova Extreme X2 Saltwater 108W Fixture $101.00 hard to beat that!

05-08-2008, 03:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
AtlantaMFR Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Smyrna, GA Posts: 273	lol

05-08-2008, 07:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
SammyP Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Westbury, NY Posts: 315	He's right. If you're on a budget, spend your money wisely. Half the bulbs in a saltwater setup will do nothing for your plants and you'll have to spend more money replacing them. I cant tell you how many times i have tried to do what you're doing and ended up throwing money away because what i bought was wrong or bad quality and it broke after a month or whatever and then i had to go buy the thing i knew i shouldve got in the first place. Basically, I'm doing the exact opposite of what i wanted to do, which was save money. __________________ 10 gallon tank 15 neon tetra, 5 red phantom tetra, 11 ottocinclus, 9 cardinia japonica AH supply lighting, Seachem and greg watson ferts, eco-complete

05-10-2008, 09:09 PM	#14 (permalink)
dienson Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Inglewood,CA Posts: 21	Hi Check this one good price $88.35 http://www.petmountain.com/product/l...reshwater.html I bought one 1 week ago,,,good for my 55g good luck

05-11-2008, 02:59 AM	#15 (permalink)
DiscusIt'sWhats4DinneR Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 532	two shoplights= $20 four ge 6500k daylight bulbs = $15 40 dollars at it's finest.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements