[spinsheet]

I'm looking to buy the Marinland 55 gallon kit with an LED lighting system. This will be my first planted tank (I've kept a plant or two in my 30 gallon but nothing serious) and I have no experience with LED lights. Is the light in that kit appropriate for plant growth?

 

[Derby]

Well, I'm no expert, but I have the Marineland 38 gallon kit and it came with two strips of lights that you clip on the front rim of the tank. They light the tank nicely, daylight and blue, but I don't think it's enough to grow plants. I bought a Finnex 24/7 light. Fortunately, my kit came with a glass lid, so the Finnex fits right on top.

 

[spinsheet]

That does look like a much better lighting system. Maybe I'll forgo the kit and just buy everything separately.

 

[goodbytes]

Those starter kits are a trap. The hardware that comes with just isnt up to snuff and you'll just end up having to replace it piece by piece. The lights aren't any good for growing plants either.

 

[spinsheet]

Goodbytes, I'm kinda seeing that now. I just found a 75 gallon on Craigslist for $40 so I'm going to grab that, a glass cover, and a Finnex 24/7 and go that route.

I'm also going to get a Marineland Penguin 300 and add my existing powerhead with its foam filter. I'll eventually get a canister filter (I think) but need to watch cost for now. From what I've seen the canisters all cost about $150 and the Marineland is far cheaper at about $40. I feel with that and the powerhead that should be adequate filtration.

 

[goodbytes]

Get a SunSun canister if money is tight. I own one and a considerable number of others do as well with little to no complaint. You'll have to spend around $15.00 to get a good media setup for it but that topic has been talked to death around here so you won't have any trouble finding that information.

Amazon.com: Buying Choices: SunSun HW-302 3-Stage External Canister Filter, 264 GPH

 

[spinsheet]

Is this the one to which you're referring? It seems to have the media with it for $53. I can certainly swing that.