2 Bulb fixture that won't break the Bank?
 

Im looking for a good 2 bulb fixture that comes in 30 in. I've looked at Petsmart because it's local but every review i read says that on most fixtures you can only get around 3,500 hours on most of them, that just can't cut it for me, i dont want to be forking out $100 every year!

I have a 1 bulb fixture and am looking for an upgrade.

You can get a 30" FugeRay LED for under $100, no more bulbs!

Your question doesn't make sense. Fixtures don't require replacement. A fixture is what the bulb fits into. What bulbs are you looking at ?

If have experience used high end fixtures and new cheap fixtures the statement makes sense. The manufactured to minimum spec, minimum cost ballasts in cheap fixtures die far earlier than the off the shelf commercial ballast in a quality (more expensive) fixture.
Electrical connections are also cheaper. Quality - copper alloy contacts last many years. Copper over steel will rust away starting from the holes or pores in the plating.

Let me specify even further...

For my birthday last year i got a 40 gallon with a cheapo flourescent bulb lighting fixture, whenever i try to change the bulb to something higher, like daylight bulbs, the fixture that i have doesn't run them at a constant, instead it rappidly flashes, so i thought... Why not get a better light fixture for my tank? So now im looking at all these lights that hold 2 bulbs (I want to do a full spectrum and one specifically to optimize plant growth) and they are upwards of 150, even all the way to 250 dollars! now i realize that i need help, so i came here. I have always had the cheap lighting fixtures that you get with a tank, so im REALLY new to the lighting world, if my question didn't make sense i appologize, i just want a good light that can hold preferably 2 bulbs and is 30 inches long, and is also below 100$.

I would try and get a new one of the same model as the one i have that can run just a daylight but i feel like in the long run i will get a new fixture, so why not save myself some time and get a new fixture right now.

Now we're here...

Also i have no clue as to wether or not LED's are a good option or not.

And i do believe my question does make sense, i dont want a single bulb fixture anymore, i want an upgrade that is good quality under 100 dollars.

I proably should have made it more specific and went out and said i currently have a 1 bulb and am looking for an upgrade

i just upgraded 396w of Power compact Coralife set up to a 312w LED set up. its an Evo 3w CREE LEDs. 52 bulbs on each 72" light (actually 70x5x1/2") and 2 strips. you can get smaller ones. the output is twice my PC and less electricity and LESS HEAT, and my tank was a 125 (21') with the PCs, its now a 220 (31" tall) and plant growth is decent at the bottom of the 220. its not amazing, but they are doing better then with my PCs. I have Parrots Feather and Pennywort pond plants inside, and they are doing as well as being out in the sun in the summer. Growing just as fast and thick. the lights were $297 for 2 72" shipped to my door. you can get shorter wider ones with choice of many bulbs for about 140.00, cheaper for less lighting/bulbs/narrower. the lumens are great and lights up the tank well. i plan on doing the same lights on my 10 gallon with a 20" light. check it out, on [Ebay Link Removed] search EVO LED 3W and look for your size tank length. i just ordered a 24oz CO2 bottle to start my CO2 injection, so i'll see how much better the plants do with them. if you just want BRIGHT for the tank, check them out.

Ill take a look, thanks

Anymore suggestions? Preferably cheaper ones? around 100 or lower, preferably lower

depending on size of the housing, number of CREE LEDS (CREE are the best out there IMO, for the price), and Kelvin rating. seems the 6500k are more $ then the 10k (or equivalent) but not much. the power consumption is MUCH lower then a Power Compact or Metal Halide, less heat and lower electric bills!! i love my EVO72s...never have to replace bulbs, less power, more light...WIN WIN WIN!!!

what size 40 do you have?? ive seen people call 29s a 30g and the dimensions of a 30 are waaaaaaaaaaay different then a 29....so depth matters too....

it was the best bang for the buck vs buying a Marineland for 350-up....for my 72"

Some suggestions

Here's one where you can custom design.
http://buildmyled.com/
With this customization you can achieve good PAR coupled with very high color rendering index ( CRI ) See this entire thread http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...196&highlight=



Do to my liking an open top uncluttered tank my personal preference is one 10 inch Flukers Sun Dome housing this bulb http://www.eiko-ltd.com/Products.asp...ndex=SP50/955K on my 45 gallon column tank. The bulb costs $15 not including shipping. http://www.lightbulbemporium.com/eik..._sp50_955k.asp
The bulb produces a white light. You would need two Flukers Sun Domes. There are two versions, Clamp or no clamp. I choose the version without a clamp. It is supported by a chain. Prices vary but many suppliers retail them for less than $25, some less than $20.

Finnex led lights - I swear buy them. Already made, no wiring or soldering. Tiny profile, big light.

Are you injecting Co2? if not get a FugeRay, 30" is under $80. PAR values are better than standard 2 tube fixture. Proof is in the plants right? Check out the 36 gallon in my signature, that is a 30" Fugeray, no co2 (just excel). The 3 gallon has a 12" fugeray

Going with Co2? The 30" Finned Ray2 high-power comes out this month.

I'm not currently injecting co2 so I think I might go with the Fugeray, and your right, proof is in the plants :)



On a side note I'll get depth tomorrow If that's important, I've got a really weird 40 in the fact that it is tall, it's 30 in long and is wide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl8MfWfqnCE\

Now that i see this, i want to do this instead, anyone do this? it's cheap and i can get daylight bulbs too, basically everythig i wanted

Check this link, many use this. There's even a thread documenting different par readings using spiral cfls at varying distances.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=153195

Ahh thanks! Thats definatley what im going to do! cheap and effective