Lighting Purchase Suggestion
 

I have a 29g and a 20g long. Both are now moderately planted. I know that my lighting isn't sufficient and I'm researching lights now. There is soooo much information so I thought I would just ask for suggestions.

Would different fixtures be appropriate because of the varying depths? I was considering the Zoo Med Aquasun T5 HO Quad for the 29 galling but that was suggested that it might be over kill from another member.

Presently both tanks have regular single fluorescent light strips. I like lights with the lunar LEDs but I'm on a budget with this so I can't spend more than approximately $100 on each but I would prefer to spend less if possible.


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30" tanks are problematic for standard off the shelf fixtures. There are 30" flourescent bulbs/tubes/lamps, but they don't come in the variety one can get in standard 24" and 48".

A single T5HO or two T5NO lamps should suffice for either tank, but will of course be more light, at the substrate, in the 20L.

DIY using four 23 watt, daylight, small size, spiral flourescent bulbs will work fine. If you're into DIY LED is a great way to go.

I have LEDs and a soldering iron etc but I'm still not confident about my DIY skills at this point. I think I'm going to go with T5NO on the 20L and the T5HO for the 29. I'm now off to start researching co2.....


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Remember that 20L's are really shallow. You'll probably end up being amazed at how easy it is to give them too much light.

Have you looked at the finnex fixtures? the fugeray would work I think for you setups(and be within your budget) assuming you don't add CO2 and the Ray2 fixture should work if you do. Just a thought. I just started using a Ray2 on my 40B so it's too soon to tell you how good it is, but it seems to be pretty good so far.

I was considering this for the 20l
http://www.thatpetplace.com/aqualigh...ent-lamps-30in

And this for the 29g
http://www.thatpetplace.com/aquasun-...cent-hood-30in

Am I still way overshooting the target here?




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I'm dosing with flourish every few days and I've started adding root tabs.


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Hi,

I wonder if you saw these? People on the East Coast Cichlids forum seem to think they're pretty ok.

http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Fresh...ht-p/56203.htm

[QUOTE=m00se;2097211]Hi,
I wonder if you saw these? People on the East Coast Cichlids forum seem to think they're pretty ok./QUOTE]

It might be ok for a fish tank light. It is no where near a planted tank light.
Each LED is a .05 mW unit. No comparison to strings of 3 watt emitters.

Look at this one then?

http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Reef-Bright-p/56213.htm

I have the coralife 36" t5ho with two bulbs. 1 39w 6,500k and 1 39w colormax. See signature for link to my 20L

The evo green leaf fixtures using 3W LED's look decent and a pretty good value:
http://www.aquatraders.com/EVO-48-LE...t-p/56234p.htm

Aquatraders doesn't offer too many sizes in the freshwater spectrum though, check amazon and [Ebay Link Removed] That being said I've read some bad reviews on them. Once those LED's fail, maybe you can just replace them? Quite a bit of bang for the buck though.

Ok maybe I'm missing something here (wouldn't be the first time LOL!) but that 3w led unit seems like a dumptruck load of light for a planted tank of any normal depth. This other thread talking about 20, 30 and even 40w led outdoor spot lamps...I don't get it...Seems to me that unless you have pretty awesome luck you're just asking for an algae machine.

Someone care to give me the Reader's Digest version of why this much light is desirable?

Thanks!

Moose I don't know if this much light would work with the EI, or any water column fert regime-without resulting in algae soup, For me I get away with high light, but my strategy is to have lots of plants, and keep the water column fairly sterile and keep the nutrients in the substrate. Now this may rule out some plant species all together, especially if CO2 is not used. I think being conservative with bioload and photoperiod are also important when playing with fire to keep the right balance.

Consider it a diffrent strategy perhaps. It could go horribly wrong if you are not careful, but it can be done and there are lots of examples on here, even sans CO2.

Oh and I guess I never really answered why do this... I've never come across a tank yet that I felt had so much light that is was unpleasant to look at (unless the light is shining in your eyes).