Light fixture for a 30 breeder

1385 Views 10 Replies 8 Participants Last post by regalesse, Dec 24, 2010

Erica

Discussion Starter · Dec 16, 2010

Hi. I'm new here and and hopefully soon I will be starting my first planted tank. I already have a fish only tank, but I really want to try plants this time around. I've been lurking here for awhile trying to learn as much as possible, but I have a question.

I found a good deal for a 30 breeder on craigslist (36" long, 18" wide, and 12" tall). Since this will be my first planted tank I want to keep it as simple as well as frugal as possible, so I am planning on low light/low tech.

I'm having trouble finding a light fixture for this tank though. I think in this situation just a couple of cheap T8 bulbs should be sufficient, but I can't find a nice fixture to put them in. I would like to have two bulbs since the tank is so wide, but I think with two I might need to have them raised a bit since the tank is only 12 inches high. And the only fixtures I can find with legs are the T5HO. I definitely want something black. Anyone have any ideas?

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Wasserpest

· #2 · Dec 16, 2010

There isn't much out there anymore with T8 bulbs. Something like this might work, but I think the way they wrap the fixture around the bulb is an awful waste of light.

This thread might give you a few pointers. If not, I'd say check out some of the online retailers and see what they offer, like DrsFosterSmith.com, BigAlsOnline.com, Hellolights.com, etc.

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kevmo911

· #3 · Dec 16, 2010

You could always buy a worklight from a hardware store and hang it from the ceiling or suspend it with conduit from the floor. Very cheap DIY project.

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Hoppy

· #4 · Dec 17, 2010

kevmo911 said:
You could always buy a worklight from a hardware store and hang it from the ceiling or suspend it with conduit from the floor. Very cheap DIY project.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/112294-hd-worklight-light-fixture.html is an easy way to use those worklights, if you have any woodworking skills at all. If not, they don't look real bad just hanging in the open. It should only take a couple of them for that tank, if you pick a good bulb wattage.

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Hilde

· #5 · Dec 17, 2010

How a SolarMaxHE2 Double T5 10000K Strip? This should work if you don't inject Co2.

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mfgann

· #6 · Dec 17, 2010

I used my existing lighting hood (36" hood with a 24" T12 fixture in it), unscrewed the existing florescent fixture from it and unscrewed the wire screws wiring it in. I then drilled two holes for this 2x21W T5 fixture screwed the wire screws back on and bolted it in. It increased my lighting dramatically. The main problem I've found is that 21W T5 bulbs in the 6500K color range that are 36" are a bit rare. Everyone has HO lights in T5s, and I don't think they would work in this. I did just order some from 1000bulbs.com, so I think I'll be in good shape shortly.

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Erica

Discussion Starter · #7 · Dec 17, 2010

Thanks for all the ideas! I really appreciate it

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Hilde

· #8 · Dec 17, 2010

mfgann said:
I used this 2x21W T5 fixture. I did just order some from 1000bulbs.com, so I think I'll be in good shape shortly.

Yeh, I saw that at home depot. I noticed that HD didn't have replacement bulbs. It needs a F14T5 and the available bulb was a F13T5, which made it 1/4 in too short.

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mfgann

· #9 · Dec 17, 2010

Hilde said:
Yeh, I saw that at home depot. I noticed that HD didn't have replacement bulbs. It needs a F14T5 and the available bulb was a F13T5, which made it 1/4 in too short.

Actually the fixture I chose was a 36" (juuuuust fit in my hood) and takes F21T5 bulbs. If you needed a shorter length you could order F14T5. I would recommend picking the longest fixture that you could make work in your setup, as it really brightens things up. I've got some of these bulbs on the way.

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OoglyBoogly

· #10 · Dec 24, 2010

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regalesse

· #11 · Dec 24, 2010

it would probably be best to do it your self. i am working on my own similar problem with the same tank and am currently building my own lights for it using CFL's

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