[Will90]

Hi all; Long time fresh water hobbyist here but never got into lighting. I have always used simple fluorescent strip lights. I would like to upgrade the light for my 26 gallon bowfront with VersaGlass top and am bewildered by the choices at my lfs. I was looking for a simple, double strip fluorescent but it seems they don't exist in a 24" and the lfs told me LED is the way to go. I don't know. I've always liked the flush mount feature of the fluorescent strip hood and feel that the newer LED lights with the stands on either end looks a bit more commercial rather than appropriate for a bedroom. Nevertheless, if LED is the way to go, I'm open to it. Thoughts? I have narrowed down the choices to finnex 247, finnex planted plus, current satellite, and marineland. I don't think the 247 light cycle feature would be of interest to me so the lfs suggested the finnex planted plus and perhaps the Curretn satellite. Then at Petco I spotted the Marineland 24" LED light and have always been impressed by this company.

The only plants I currently have is one large anubias which has grown quite nicely around a piece of driftwood but I would like to get into other easy to grow plants, if this helps the forum with suggestions. Also, I currently moderate sized diameter gravel. One person at the lfs said I would need to switch to small diameter gravel for rooted plants, but then the owner told me my current gravel would be OK for rooted plants if I used the Fluorish liquid or pellet product.

Any advice for a new light fixture would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[jeffkrol]

Hi all; Long time fresh water hobbyist here but never got into lighting. I have always used simple fluorescent strip lights. I would like to upgrade the light for my 26 gallon bowfront with VersaGlass top and am bewildered by the choices at my lfs. I was looking for a simple, double strip fluorescent but it seems they don't exist in a 24" and the lfs told me LED is the way to go. I don't know. I've always liked the flush mount feature of the fluorescent strip hood and feel that the newer LED lights with the stands on either end looks a bit more commercial rather than appropriate for a bedroom. Nevertheless, if LED is the way to go, I'm open to it. Thoughts? I have narrowed down the choices to finnex 247, finnex planted plus, current satellite, and marineland. I don't think the 247 light cycle feature would be of interest to me so the lfs suggested the finnex planted plus and perhaps the Curretn satellite. Then at Petco I spotted the Marineland 24" LED light and have always been impressed by this company.

The only plants I currently have is one large anubias which has grown quite nicely around a piece of driftwood but I would like to get into other easy to grow plants, if this helps the forum with suggestions. Also, I currently moderate sized diameter gravel. One person at the lfs said I would need to switch to small diameter gravel for rooted plants, but then the owner told me my current gravel would be OK for rooted plants if I used the Fluorish liquid or pellet product.

Any advice for a new light fixture would be appreciated. Thanks

always thought these were kind of bedroom sexy..
Though I suppose you got some "angle" issues depending on heights..

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/10-lighting/1027674-3-low-cost-led-light-review.html

 

[Lonestarbandit]

Like that Pent beamworks but this is likely significantly cheaper and would do nicely for a couple plants.

Mind you it's about half the Amazon cost on the worlds marketplace.

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always thought these were kind of bedroom sexy..
Though I suppose you got some "angle" issues depending on heights..
Amazon.com : Beamswork 48" DA 120 6500K LED Aquarium Light Pent Freshwater Plant Discus 120x 0.50W : Pet Supplies

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/10-lighting/1027674-3-low-cost-led-light-review.html

Never did ask what was the PAR on your light? Should be nice with that many .5 watt.

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[Will90]

Hi all: Thanks. What about the Finnex Planted Plus and the Current Satellite FreshWater. Good units?? Any preference between these two?

 

[Nordic]

I can not stand light escaping between the top of the tank and the light source. I hate those stands!
Trying to watch fish with light glaring in my eyes. yuck

 

[Will90]

Hi: Does anyone have a suggestion for a LED light that does NOT have the stands then?

 

[lnstevens]

You do not have to use the legs with the Finnex. The Marineland I'm not sure you can remove the legs.

I will say out of the choices you posted Finnex is going to give you the best bang for the buck.

You also didn't list which Current USA or Marineland fixture. I can tell you right now that the current USA freshwater plus LED isn't even going to compare to the Finnex.

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[Will90]

Thanks: I believe the Current fixture I saw at the lfs was the Satellite FreshWater. Not a good choice??

 

[abrooks12376]

You can rig up a glare guard very simply. Black plastic strips from home depot and few small hinges or duct tape even.

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[lnstevens]

Thanks: I believe the Current fixture I saw at the lfs was the Satellite FreshWater. Not a good choice??

It killed bacopa and a few other plants in my shrimp tank. When I switch to a current USA dual t5ho I had some of the plants that were dying came back but others were too far gone from lack of light to recover.

Also I I do not believe you can remove the legs from the current USA freshwater Plus but I never tried.

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