After a long time of trying to decide what tank I want I chose a 30 gallon breeder the only problem is that it takes up a good chunk of my budget leaving me with about 50$ to do my lighting. I am planning on housing a pair of dwarf green pike cichlids so low lighting is not only good for them but for my wallet. I am planning on trying some cfl bulbs to do some low light plants. It would be greatly appreciated if anyone has any suggestions on other lights or reccomendations about the cfl.
Budget lighting
- Thread starter TheFishDodo
- Start date
I was seriously considering one of these but I found online that they grow more algea than plants I was also considering a stingray but that might not be enough coverage.
Why not just get a basic aquarium strip light? No need to blow cash on something fancy shmancy if you don't have to.
I'd say get two Gu10 5W spotlights and mount them above the tank. Should be even cheaper and gives a nice light effect 
Do you want to grow plants?
Do you want to grow plants?
Flood lights is an option as well, cool white in the 6000K range but you'f got to find a way to mount it over. If the tank has a glass lid, some just pop them on top facing down.
If the light unit grows algae, it will also grow plants. You just need a way shorter photoperiod to prevent algae outbreaks.
Low light plants still need a good enough amount of light. There is such thing as light compensation point below which plants don't grow and eventually die.
Basically, most people that have no success with low tech tanks is because they don't provide sufficient light. You don't need excessive light for low light plant but you certainly need enough, and and as a reference, the amount of light needed will be bright enough for fish that don't like light.
Basically, the only plant I'd recommend in very low light conditions is anubias. All the rest of my plants pack bags in such conditions.
If the light unit grows algae, it will also grow plants. You just need a way shorter photoperiod to prevent algae outbreaks.
Low light plants still need a good enough amount of light. There is such thing as light compensation point below which plants don't grow and eventually die.
Basically, most people that have no success with low tech tanks is because they don't provide sufficient light. You don't need excessive light for low light plant but you certainly need enough, and and as a reference, the amount of light needed will be bright enough for fish that don't like light.
Basically, the only plant I'd recommend in very low light conditions is anubias. All the rest of my plants pack bags in such conditions.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01F...dpPl=1&dpID=51k3e3uIPtL&ref=plSrch&th=1&psc=1
Here ya go. This is what I would get. I’m probably going to get the 30” version for my son’s tank once I move it into his room.
Here ya go. This is what I would get. I’m probably going to get the 30” version for my son’s tank once I move it into his room.
A 30 gallon is not a large enough tank for a sting ray, I attended a talk by one of the foremost experts on stingrays who said the smallest tanks stingrays should be housed in, is at least 300 gallons as adults.
Any light will grow algae if your nitrates are not diluted with water changes.
For most tanks with low light plants, I use shop lights from the local hardware store, sometimes 2 per tank way less than $50.
Any light will grow algae if your nitrates are not diluted with water changes.
For most tanks with low light plants, I use shop lights from the local hardware store, sometimes 2 per tank way less than $50.
