lighting for lowtech 75 gal

beznsarah · 08-02-2006, 04:59 PM

Hi All,

I have a 4ft 75 gal with fish that I"m wanting to put plants in just a low-tech setup. I'm not sure how much light I need. I'm working with a budget of about $50 to $100 for lighting.

I was reading up on overrdriving t8 shop lights and I'm thinking that's the route I need to go for now. I'm planning on building a wooden enclosure and buying the ballasts & endcaps etc.

For lowtech I'm not sure if 2 4ft t8 bulbs at 2xodno are enough or will I need to go 4 bulbs at 2xodno.

Any other suggestions are appreciated.

yoink · 08-02-2006, 05:06 PM

Have you checked out ahsupply? A 2x55w kit would be good for a low-light tank and is almost within your budget. http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

beznsarah · 08-02-2006, 05:13 PM

Yeah, I did look at ahsupply but a little bit to expensive & the bulbs at $19 are more than I want to be shelling out on going basis.

Thanks for the suggestion though

mrbelvedere · 08-02-2006, 05:29 PM

Dude, gotta pay for quality.

ODNO in my opinion is a waste. Yeah it works, and yeah, it saves money.

But isn't it so much easier to just eat the extra cost? You've wasted your money on worse things. And the idea of cobbling together a hot-wired electrical device that sits over water scares me. Very few of us are electricians.

But it also creates a lot of heat. And what are you going to tell insurance when the house burns down?

Clone · 08-02-2006, 07:20 PM

After shipping the whole thing will run about $120 which is less than a tank of gas more than your price range. PC bulbs last years so there is no need to replace them regularly. I have one PC bulb that is a little more than two years old.

**lumpyfunk** · 08-02-2006, 07:32 PM

I am really pleased with my setup, and you should be fine with 2 odno x2 I have 2 x4 bulbs on my 90 mid tech tank and they work great!

beznsarah · 08-03-2006, 03:47 AM

Ok, after more research I agree that the t-8 odno are probably not the way to go. The main issue I had was I could not find a suitable reflector that would put the light in the tank.

I'm considering going with t5 HO diy now after some reading. i think I favor that because I'll be able to upgrade easily in the future if I want more light.

So here's what I've got so far....

Ballast - Workhorse Long 7 $36 http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/100103.html

2 54W bulbs $24
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104048.html

2 reflectors $42
http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104052.html

Misc hardware, etc probably another $20

This is about the same as the AHsupply but allows be to be much more flexible because with this setup i can add 2 more bulbs if I decide to upgrade.

So is this a decent setup for low tech at 108W for 75 gals or should I be running 3 bulbs at 54w each?

Thanks for the help

08-02-2006, 04:59 PM	#1
beznsarah Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: texas Posts: 43	lighting for lowtech 75 gal Hi All, I have a 4ft 75 gal with fish that I"m wanting to put plants in just a low-tech setup. I'm not sure how much light I need. I'm working with a budget of about $50 to $100 for lighting. I was reading up on overrdriving t8 shop lights and I'm thinking that's the route I need to go for now. I'm planning on building a wooden enclosure and buying the ballasts & endcaps etc. For lowtech I'm not sure if 2 4ft t8 bulbs at 2xodno are enough or will I need to go 4 bulbs at 2xodno. Any other suggestions are appreciated.

08-02-2006, 05:29 PM	#4
mrbelvedere Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (51/100%) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Saint Joseph, Illinois Posts: 2,783	Dude, gotta pay for quality. ODNO in my opinion is a waste. Yeah it works, and yeah, it saves money. But isn't it so much easier to just eat the extra cost? You've wasted your money on worse things. And the idea of cobbling together a hot-wired electrical device that sits over water scares me. Very few of us are electricians. But it also creates a lot of heat. And what are you going to tell insurance when the house burns down? __________________ In college....so no aquariums for a while.....

08-02-2006, 07:20 PM	#5
Clone Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lockport, NY Posts: 655	After shipping the whole thing will run about $120 which is less than a tank of gas more than your price range. PC bulbs last years so there is no need to replace them regularly. I have one PC bulb that is a little more than two years old. __________________ 58 Gallon Oceanic

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08-02-2006, 05:06 PM	#2
yoink Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,981	Have you checked out ahsupply? A 2x55w kit would be good for a low-light tank and is almost within your budget. http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

08-02-2006, 05:13 PM	#3
beznsarah Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: texas Posts: 43	Yeah, I did look at ahsupply but a little bit to expensive & the bulbs at $19 are more than I want to be shelling out on going basis. Thanks for the suggestion though

08-02-2006, 07:32 PM	#6
lumpyfunk Green Water Master (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Prior Lake, MN (Twin Cities) Posts: 1,601	I am really pleased with my setup, and you should be fine with 2 odno x2 I have 2 x4 bulbs on my 90 mid tech tank and they work great!

08-03-2006, 03:47 AM	#7
beznsarah Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: texas Posts: 43	Ok, after more research I agree that the t-8 odno are probably not the way to go. The main issue I had was I could not find a suitable reflector that would put the light in the tank. I'm considering going with t5 HO diy now after some reading. i think I favor that because I'll be able to upgrade easily in the future if I want more light. So here's what I've got so far.... Ballast - Workhorse Long 7 $36 http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/100103.html 2 54W bulbs $24 http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104048.html 2 reflectors $42 http://www.reefgeek.com/products/cat...ng/104052.html Misc hardware, etc probably another $20 This is about the same as the AHsupply but allows be to be much more flexible because with this setup i can add 2 more bulbs if I decide to upgrade. So is this a decent setup for low tech at 108W for 75 gals or should I be running 3 bulbs at 54w each? Thanks for the help