My inexpensive CFL light solution

Azarakiah · 04-12-2012, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xriddler

Thank you Azarakiah for directing me to this thread. I own a 40g breeder and would like to try my hands on growing hc cuba. Has anyone had any luck growing this carpet plant using clamp lighting? Would also like to find out your lighting conditions/parameters. 13w cfls as i read gives about 35par how much more do cuba's require? Would 4 8.5 inch shop lights with 23w cfls with 1600 lumens each bulb be enough to grow hc cuba? Would the spread of light cover my whole tank back to front? i cant afford pressurized co2 either and i asked my lfs if cuba can grow with diy co2 and they said definately. however i might use diy co2 or just dose excel not sure which way to go yet. Sorry im very new and this would be my first tank >_> please be kind if you need to chew me out for stupidity but please do tell me where i am lacking of knowledge. thank you all

dont quote me on it, but as my knowledge form this forum is, hc needs very high lighting, like some t5ho , and pressurized co2. i love the looks of it, but its not worht the hassle AT ALL to me.

Azarakiah · 04-12-2012, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azarakiah

dont quote me on it, but as my knowledge form this forum is, hc needs very high lighting, like some t5ho , and pressurized co2. i love the looks of it, but its not worht the hassle AT ALL to me.

also im using 10 inch domes with 23 wat bulbs each. light spread is good. coveres the entire tank. they raised up a few inches look on the previous pages and see what everyone says about their tanks and such

seandelevan · 04-12-2012, 11:41 PM

My 2 ten inch dome cfl's on my 40 gallon Vivarium. Great results.

jeremyTR · 04-15-2012, 02:16 AM

I just went out and bought these but with 50w bulbs. did I go overboard with the wattage?

allaboutfish · 04-15-2012, 02:18 AM

thanks for this thread! im going out tomorrow or monday to get the lamps and CFL's.

m00se · 04-15-2012, 02:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyTR

I just went out and bought these but with 50w bulbs. did I go overboard with the wattage?

This sounds serious....

What, exactly, did you buy?

Azarakiah · 04-16-2012, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m00se

This sounds serious....

What, exactly, did you buy?

i know right? everytime i read his post i think "lemme see pics of ur algae"

jeremyTR · 04-16-2012, 04:40 AM

lol, well...i'll probably still get algae but I switch those out with two 20W CFLs

jmrmotorhead · 05-23-2012, 08:38 PM

How have these lights been working for all of you? My tank has been doing very well with them. Rigged up a pvc bar rather recently to hang them from so I could go topless

If you compare that picture to the first picture in this thread you can see how much the java fern has grown, its crazy!
Matt

m00se · 05-23-2012, 09:26 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk08C0Fog-I

PlantedRich · 05-24-2012, 12:51 AM

I don't want to say it will fit for all but I did this even cheaper! For my first planted tank and with no knowledge, I had no idea where to start for lighting but I knew I wanted to learn more before investing the big bucks. I build all my canopies so that left the field wide open for lights as long as I could hide them under the canopy. Cheap and flexible were the priorities until I learned more what I needed.

My 20 gallon , first planted, had four temporary construction bulb holders strung along an extension cord inside a wooden hood. It gave me the option of adding more bulbs or different wattage until I found what worked. The bulb and holders totalled about $5 per light but they were as flexible as I wanted to make them. I could clip them on the wire or off to move with practically no effort.

A good way for me to get some experience for less than $20.

BS87 · 05-27-2012, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmrmotorhead

How have these lights been working for all of you? My tank has been doing very well with them. Rigged up a pvc bar rather recently to hang them from so I could go topless

If you compare that picture to the first picture in this thread you can see how much the java fern has grown, its crazy!
Matt

Any pics showing the pvc better? I had something exactly like this planned but can't figure how to securely attach it to the top of the tank. How did you attach it?

jmrmotorhead · 05-28-2012, 05:52 PM

Ill put up some later toda for you. Its pretty simple, just a t at the bottom with legs that go front and back and hang over the front and back rim. The left side was done simpler since I was able to lean it against the right wall for support.

Rewd · 05-29-2012, 06:31 AM

Great thread. Lots of good info.

I have a 55 gallon that's running with some java fern and 1 goldfish as a temporary resident until I decided what to do with this tank. I've decided to go back to tropical fish and do a serious planted tank.

Would 4 or 5 domes with 23w 6500K CLF spirals be enough for a serious planeted tank at the 55 gallon stage or is this only suitable for smaller tanks? I DO plan to do pressurized CO2. I want the full deal, but would love to be able to do the lighting dirt cheap.

m00se · 05-29-2012, 06:40 AM

Clamp lamps will work just fine on a 55. I think 4 would be ideal, since a 55 is 48" long and you can get 10" clamp lamps. I would *strongly* suggest you start with 13w CFLs rather than 23w because your aquarium will be new and you will struggle with the various algaes that pop up. 13w will be more than ample for your needs. I can't emphasize this enough. The #1 mistake people make is over-driving with light.

04-15-2012, 02:18 AM	#140
allaboutfish Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: memphis, tn Posts: 861	thanks for this thread! im going out tomorrow or monday to get the lamps and CFL's. __________________ *The Fraternity of Dirt #51* *10 gallon dirt tank*

05-23-2012, 08:38 PM	#144
jmrmotorhead Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nh Posts: 537	How have these lights been working for all of you? My tank has been doing very well with them. Rigged up a pvc bar rather recently to hang them from so I could go topless If you compare that picture to the first picture in this thread you can see how much the java fern has grown, its crazy! Matt __________________ 30 Gallon High-Tech- http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmrmoto...7627615942896/

05-28-2012, 05:52 PM	#148
jmrmotorhead Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Nh Posts: 537	Ill put up some later toda for you. Its pretty simple, just a t at the bottom with legs that go front and back and hang over the front and back rim. The left side was done simpler since I was able to lean it against the right wall for support. __________________ 30 Gallon High-Tech- http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmrmoto...7627615942896/

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04-12-2012, 11:41 PM	#138
seandelevan Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 179	My 2 ten inch dome cfl's on my 40 gallon Vivarium. Great results.

04-15-2012, 02:16 AM	#139
jeremyTR Suspended (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tacoma Washington Posts: 1,578	I just went out and bought these but with 50w bulbs. did I go overboard with the wattage?

04-16-2012, 04:40 AM	#143
jeremyTR Suspended (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Tacoma Washington Posts: 1,578	lol, well...i'll probably still get algae but I switch those out with two 20W CFLs

05-23-2012, 09:26 PM	#145
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk08C0Fog-I

05-24-2012, 12:51 AM	#146
PlantedRich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pflugerville, Tx Posts: 1,513	I don't want to say it will fit for all but I did this even cheaper! For my first planted tank and with no knowledge, I had no idea where to start for lighting but I knew I wanted to learn more before investing the big bucks. I build all my canopies so that left the field wide open for lights as long as I could hide them under the canopy. Cheap and flexible were the priorities until I learned more what I needed. My 20 gallon , first planted, had four temporary construction bulb holders strung along an extension cord inside a wooden hood. It gave me the option of adding more bulbs or different wattage until I found what worked. The bulb and holders totalled about $5 per light but they were as flexible as I wanted to make them. I could clip them on the wire or off to move with practically no effort. A good way for me to get some experience for less than $20.

05-29-2012, 06:31 AM	#149
Rewd Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: PA Posts: 4	Great thread. Lots of good info. I have a 55 gallon that's running with some java fern and 1 goldfish as a temporary resident until I decided what to do with this tank. I've decided to go back to tropical fish and do a serious planted tank. Would 4 or 5 domes with 23w 6500K CLF spirals be enough for a serious planeted tank at the 55 gallon stage or is this only suitable for smaller tanks? I DO plan to do pressurized CO2. I want the full deal, but would love to be able to do the lighting dirt cheap.

05-29-2012, 06:40 AM	#150
m00se Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,282	Clamp lamps will work just fine on a 55. I think 4 would be ideal, since a 55 is 48" long and you can get 10" clamp lamps. I would strongly suggest you start with 13w CFLs rather than 23w because your aquarium will be new and you will struggle with the various algaes that pop up. 13w will be more than ample for your needs. I can't emphasize this enough. The #1 mistake people make is over-driving with light.