will stock do???

[spifff]

good day all a few months ago i mentioned i wanted to start a 55 gal low tech low light tank. well our move to NJ is complete and almost time to start that tank, i'm doing my 125 this week that's for africans, so the 55 is next up! so here we go maybe i should've posted this in the light forum but that section always confuses me so here it is my tank was bought as a replacement it's wal mart kit the stock lights still survive the inside is a dull white been thinking about upgrading but if i don't have to and i can just get new bulbs that would be my choicew at least for now. i was thinking about going to a double strip if i do that what bulbs should i use? i'm open for suggestions.
thanks
Dave

[BBradbury]

Originally Posted by spifff

good day all a few months ago i mentioned i wanted to start a 55 gal low tech low light tank. well our move to NJ is complete and almost time to start that tank, i'm doing my 125 this week that's for africans, so the 55 is next up! so here we go maybe i should've posted this in the light forum but that section always confuses me so here it is my tank was bought as a replacement it's wal mart kit the stock lights still survive the inside is a dull white been thinking about upgrading but if i don't have to and i can just get new bulbs that would be my choicew at least for now. i was thinking about going to a double strip if i do that what bulbs should i use? i'm open for suggestions.
thanks
Dave

Hello spif...

Check out Solarmax Lighting. They have a nice, two T5 bulb and LED strip that is fairly inexpensive and works well. I have several 55 Gs and use these strips on my moderate light tanks.

B

[spifff]

i saw those on the bay i was thinking about it, as long as they are not too bright i want nothing to with Co2 at the moment.
Dave

[Diana]

A stock light that only holds one bulb (T-8 or T-12) is not enough even for a low tech tank.
I run my 45 gallon tanks (4' long, but not as deep as a 55) using any of several fixtures, but they all have at least 2 bulbs.
My 72 gallon bowfront (4' long, 2' deep) has 2 of home depot shop light fixtures with 2 bulbs each (4 bulbs total), and some direct sun. It is barely more than low light. (Better reflectors are my next project)

I use a mix of bulbs, including 'daylight', 'cool white', 'plant and aquarium' and some others.

[Knotyoureality]

Originally Posted by spifff

i saw those on the bay i was thinking about it, as long as they are not too bright i want nothing to with Co2 at the moment.
Dave

It's alot easier (and cheaper) to bring too-high light levels down than the reverse. Buy higher than you think you'll need, then you have the option of adding diffuser screens, floating plants or just increasing the height from the tank. Thanks to a slow learning curve, I've got a whole stack of lights/light bars that aren't being used thanks to buying too low, moving to a deeper tank and wanting to increase the types of plants I can grow. Shoulda' gone with the more powerful system from the start.

[mocha2184]

Originally Posted by Knotyoureality

It's alot easier (and cheaper) to bring too-high light levels down than the reverse. Buy higher than you think you'll need, then you have the option of adding diffuser screens, floating plants or just increasing the height from the tank. Thanks to a slow learning curve, I've got a whole stack of lights/light bars that aren't being used thanks to buying too low, moving to a deeper tank and wanting to increase the types of plants I can grow. Shoulda' gone with the more powerful system from the start.

Hey Knotyoureality, if you want to get rid of some of that stack of lights, let me know