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lighting for 10g?!?

1873 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  Cocobid, 
mrchach
Ive been trying to find lighting for a 10g i want to go medium lighted

its the standard 20x10x12 10g anyone know where i can get lighting? and how much i would need? for medium light plants
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klinds89
I use the spiral bulbs you find at walmart or target, or any store really.

GE Energy Smart CFL is the name of them.

Depending on how strong you want the light, I'd do either the 13w or 20-26w.

26 looks very bright and crisp

13 looks average, but if you have neutral/tan decor it'll look a little tea-like.

I like them because they're like a full spectrum bulb condensed into a little bulb.

Great for incandescent fixtures!! :)
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barbarossa4122
mrchach said:
Ive been trying to find lighting for a 10g i want to go medium lighted

its the standard 20x10x12 10g anyone know where i can get lighting? and how much i would need? for medium light plants
Click to expand...
Hi,

I called Catalina and they custom built me a fixture with one 24w t5ho 6500k bulb for $65.00 shipped. I got it in 4 days. This is for my 10g tank and the fact that the fixture is 2" longer on each side does not bother me. It's hard to find 20" t5ho bulbs that's why I went for this light fixture. My tank has the same dimensions as yours.
As far as how much light you need I let the experts answer that but, you can read this:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/105774-par-vs-distance-t5-t12-pc.html
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mrchach
well ive ready alot on lighting and they say it gets fuzzy in the 10g range...

im thinking mid 20s aswell or maybe 30s

i really don't want it to stick out on either side, i have found hoods similar tot he one your talking about available. but I was wanting one that could sit nicely on top, this is for my girlfriend and shes wanting to switch to plants, i finally got her impressed enough to walk away from pink rocks and scubamen, so if its just hanging off the sides im not sure she would be happy with it...
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barbarossa4122
mrchach said:
well ive ready alot on lighting and they say it gets fuzzy in the 10g range...

im thinking mid 20s aswell or maybe 30s

i really don't want it to stick out on either side, i have found hoods similar tot he one your talking about available. but I was wanting one that could sit nicely on top, this is for my girlfriend and shes wanting to switch to plants, i finally got her impressed enough to walk away from pink rocks and scubamen, so if its just hanging off the sides im not sure she would be happy with it...
Click to expand...
Fair enough. I wanted a good t5ho fixture that's why I bought that.
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mrchach
barbarossa4122 said:
Fair enough. I wanted a good t5ho fixture that's why I bought that.
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I feel ya. 2 of my tanks hang over on the sides...:proud:

just not my display tank...

its fine for me... im just worried about her...
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barbarossa4122
mrchach said:
I feel ya. 2 of my tanks hang over on the sides...:proud:

just not my display tank...

its fine for me... im just worried about her...
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If you hang it 4 to 8" above the tank it does not look bad at all. Anyway, I understand your concern:)
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H
You can fit a pair of screw-in CFL bulbs in almost any light hood that was made for incandescent bulbs. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/85667-par-data-spiral-power-saver-bulbs.html gives a lot of information about using them. I have a pair of 10 watt GE 6500K bulbs in the hood of a 8 gallon nano cube right now, and I get good low medium light, but I also made a simple DIY sheet aluminum reflector for the bulbs, which doubled the light I could get.
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!shadow!
this is what l have in my 10g

http://www.ecoxotic.com/stunner-led-strips.html

one 8k strip looks good in my 10g two if you want it to get even brighter.l highly recommend it plus you get the shimmering look of metal halides without the heat and look so much better than regular t5ho's or compacts.
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H
If you find you want to suspend the light fixture over a 10 gallon tank, and not have it look like something from a laboratory, here is an idea: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/119195-another-way-hang-light-2.html#post1192294
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Cocobid
!shadow! I was at their website looking at different strips. Does this come with a power source? We are both in TEX and deal with lot & lots of heat so one would think this really helps. Since you own one....I have several exotic goldfish tanks...lots of anubius & crypts. Lush tanks, if I bought several of these and installed in a 55 canopy how many do you think it would take. Is this the one you bought Stunner 6 watt 8000K White LED Strip 12.5"
Not trying to hijack this thread....sorry.
TY Karen
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