4 foot lighting advice!!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
E

Electric45

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Feb 1, 2009
315
0
0
United states
I have a 30" tank that currently the lighting is not enough for my plants. I think this seems like a screaming deal considering its cheap and seems pretty nice quality. I know its 48" so it will hang off each side quite a bit, but that will be fine considering i might upgrade tank size later down the road. Think this will do fine for my planted tank?
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...storeId=10051&catalogId=1&productId=100427195
 
I can't open the link right now, but I am assuming that you are looking at a t8 fixture from home depot. Why don't you just get the 30" ones and not have the overhang? With an over hang you would be wasting quite a bit of the light thus negating the benefits upgraded lighting. If so, then once you buy the fixtures with the correct bulbs, you will have spent somewhere between 50-100 bucks and you have no place to mount it. I would recommend this instead:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsU...5/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight30
 
Howdy,

#1: Patience. Some of us have a life and are not online around midnight on a Friday night ;)

#2: You are looking for lights for your planted tank. HD is clearly not the address to go to. The spectrum of shop lights is not geared towards plant growth. You need more power? Try Coralife Aqualight Freshwater. That'll deliver. It'll cost more, but clearly, these HD shop lights are not suitable for what you want.

HarleyK
 
I agree with HarleyK...tried HD myself and the only thing that looked better under those lights was the workbench. the over hang is ok considering most bulbs designed for tanks fall short of the full length of the tank and as you know, plants kinda like light, besides the overhang will make good reading light to learn more about the science of lightwaves...interesting stuff. Spectrum/wavelength/intensity will actually be dependent on the type of plants you want to keep. Keep us posted.
 
Now that I can open the link, I wouldn't buy it. That is just the fixture, no bulbs included. Bulbs are $15 a pop if you get them on the cheap. Add in the cost of the fixture and you are up to $55 for a shop light set up. The link in my previous post is much better for the same price.
 
alright, ill probably just get that light you posted then, thx so much for the help guys. I have been fertilizing with Flourish which has been helping my plants until i upgrade to better lighting round christmas time. If i do get that setup tho? I wont need to use Co2 right? i really would not be interested in the hassle/cost of setting that up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom