help me choose lighting

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
http://www.lowes.com/pd_271069-13537-271069_0__?productId=3231452

This is the light I bought. You could always have it shipped to you.

Im not sure if it can be placed directly on the tank, It comes with some chain, but only about 6" x2. I just went over to the ropes and chains area (walmart or a local hardware should have the same thing) and got another 6-8' of chain to hang it. It looks great!

I see alot of different color temps at the LFS and the like, but honestly (IMO), the pair you can buy at Lowes or Walmart or whatever for about $6 (compared to $20 for a "Aquarium" T-8) look awesome.

I came to this decision a couple months of shopping and looking around for an affordable 72" in the aquaria side of things... turns out those dont exist! lol. So I then looked into triple 24" light units. My cheapest route for good lighting was looking to be the Beamswork LED's. But that still would have landed me around $150 for what I wanted/needed.

I couldnt be more happy with my setup now.... even more so when I remember that I only spent around $40.
 
Redtail Monster said:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_271069-13537-271069_0__?productId=3231452

This is the light I bought. You could always have it shipped to you.

Im not sure if it can be placed directly on the tank, It comes with some chain, but only about 6" x2. I just went over to the ropes and chains area (walmart or a local hardware should have the same thing) and got another 6-8' of chain to hang it. It looks great!

I see alot of different color temps at the LFS and the like, but honestly (IMO), the pair you can buy at Lowes or Walmart or whatever for about $6 (compared to $20 for a "Aquarium" T-8) look awesome.

I came to this decision a couple months of shopping and looking around for an affordable 72" in the aquaria side of things... turns out those dont exist! lol. So I then looked into triple 24" light units. My cheapest route for good lighting was looking to be the Beamswork LED's. But that still would have landed me around $150 for what I wanted/needed.

I couldnt be more happy with my setup now.... even more so when I remember that I only spent around $40.
Click to expand...

ha exactly what i wanted a 6ft fixture, i can get one but it a single bulb unit 72" but it also like 100-200 bucks .. and forget that lol.... figured id likely have ot make a canopy for my tank to hang a fixture in it but would much rather be able to just sit the fixture on the top of the tank if i can, or i guess i could always hang it from some steel bars bent and attached to back of tank ? and i guess only hanging a few inchs off the lids of the tank would be best
 
Yea, I gave up on finding a 6' fixture... Just too much money!

Ill try and get pics up soon for you of my setup.

It hangs about 14" above my tank, and with it being hung that high, the fact of it being a 48" light on a 72" tank doesn't matter.

Sent from my MOTWX435KT using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
I can't imagine building legs of some sort would be very hard... Very lightweight light.

Sent from my MOTWX435KT using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
 
Redtail Monster said:
I can't imagine building legs of some sort would be very hard... Very lightweight light.

Sent from my MOTWX435KT using MonsterAquariaNetwork App
Click to expand...

Ahh ya mean a wood fixture to hang the light from ? Might look kinda ghetto haha hence the thought of some small bar's ... Or when I get some cash look into building a canopy for outta MDF to match the stand
 
No, my thought was some kinda of metal rod, small enough to manipulate with your hands, being as its so light, you shouldnt need something heavy duty.

And I agree with ya... wood would look ghetto. (I can just imagine some 2x4's nailed together all jacked and un-level... hahaha)

Let me do a little looking around tonight, I got a few sites I wanna look at with some ideas. Ill get back with ya on that....
 
Ya something I can bend by hand would be great yet strong enough to hold a light... But how would I secure it to my stand... Or I'd have to go the route of a DIY canopy to match my stand but wouldn't want a huge tall one as it'll look goofy IMO but makes sense to have the light hung somewhat over the tank then it would cover more surface area rather then just the area as it sits right on top of the tank
 
I actually found that link like a few days after ya posted you'd look lol... Only thing with the type of stand I have it would have to have the pipes in the back rather then the ends.... And also I'm almost thinking of makin a canopy and screwing/attaching the shop light to inside on the lid
 
Little too late then I guess... lol, Well I tried!

I have fallen in love with that link. Found it a few hours ago, and already have my materials list for what I need to mount 2 48" shoplights, 1 set will be day lights, and 1 set will be a blue/purple moonlight.
 
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