27W 67K Daylight lamp for $17

[Jubs]

Welcome to forums! If an AH kit is in the budget then go for it I don't think you are going to be a better light for the money than an AH kit.

[turbomkt]

Actually, I think it would be a great shape for any cube. It did well for about 2/3 of my 10g tank.

But...if you can afford the 2x13W kit from AHSupply, I'd go that route. You've got more control over lights with the two ballasts, as well as great reflectors so you get more realized light than the 27w fixture.

[sukebe]

This would work well over the cube. The 2x13 kit is very bright with MIRO reflectors, prob much too bright to have on your desk I would say go with this or 1x13 kit. I ripped the guts out of one of my lamps and it's pretty complete except for the reflector.

This light, sans reflector, is slightly better than 1x13 kit w/ MIRO. If you are going to build your own fixture anyway, you could just paint it flat white inside and maybe angle a few pieces behind for slightly better results.

Only thing I don't like about the AHSupply kit is the HOT magnetic ballasts.

Good luck, and post pictures!

[estill]

Thank you for the feedback. The more I think about it I'll probably go with the AHSupply kit. I was hoping to keep the fixture as small as possible, but I think the even lighting will be easier to maintain.

As for pictures you'll have to wait a while. We are in the process of remodeling our floor, so I'm not in a hurry to let the dust settle into a new aquarium. Secondly this is a project for the times I just need a couple of hours to myself. Like I said I am building the tank, but I will have the filter pickup and return routed through the bottom of the tank and over to a box alongside of it. The box/cabinet will house the filter, heater, possibly DIY CO2, and have an arm extending over the tank for the light fixture.

[sukebe]

Taken from: http://www.insideplantslive.org/arch...t_lighting.php


Following are approximate foot-candle readings at various distances from the bulb. You could keep a high light requirement plant such as a Ficus benjamina healthy with this lamp. It would probably provide enough light to maintain an orchid but not rebloom it. A long list of low light requirement plants would live happily under these lamps.

Approximate foot-candle readings
6” – 675 f-c
12” – 160 f-c
18” – 80 f-c

Recognize that the light level drops away as you move away from the center of the light zone.

Replacement bulbs
Home Depot – local store - $11.97 each
ESPLighting.com, Orange, CA – 2-pack $13.80 ($6.90 each) plus shipping
EFI – Energy Federation Incorporated, Westborough, MA - $6 each plus shipping