I'm building a hood for my 135 gallon both to save money and have something of quality but I need help with lighting. I want to grow some basic plants because I am housing large fish but don't want fake plants. I've been told T5 is the way to go?? Can I buy a florescent fixture at home depot and use a T5 bulb?? Any recommendations from a fellow DIY would be much appreciated! I know nothing about lighting
Hood and light build
- Thread starter MartinBoy
- Start date
There are standard T5 and T5HO. High Output T5 use higher power ballast. So your typical shop light will not power a HO bulb. There's a seller on ebay "topdogsellers" who has the best price shipped anywhere on T5HO fixtures
If you go T5 HO (or any light) make sure you have a reflector on it. Makes a big difference. The odyssey fixtures are about as cheap as you can get though there are some other fixtures that are supposedly better for a bit more money. 2 watts/gallon of HO light is plenty bright for most plants and won't necessarily require CO2.
All fixtures have reflectors. I have purchased more expensive fixtures before finding Odyssey fixtures. Odyssey fixtures work just as good for the money. Spending more money doesn't always mean better lighting. You can find a seller selling Odyssey for a higher price. Topdogsellers has he best price on them.
If you want your plants to grow to there optimum potential then I recommend co2. But they can grow without it just will never reach there full potential.
If you want your plants to grow to there optimum potential then I recommend co2. But they can grow without it just will never reach there full potential.
You can't out a T5 bulb on a shop light. They are made for T12 and T8 bulbs.
Please pretend you never heard "watts per gallon". It's a term that has no use anymore, and only ever applied to 48" T12 bulbs.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html
Read this if you want some good info on lighting for the aquarium.
Please pretend you never heard "watts per gallon". It's a term that has no use anymore, and only ever applied to 48" T12 bulbs.
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html
Read this if you want some good info on lighting for the aquarium.
T5 bulbs pins are smaller and closer together then you standard T12 shop light uses. If you find a fixture that takes T5 size bulbs it can light a standard T5 but not a HO T5MartinBoy;5006463; said:
should this light do it?
60" T5 HO Aquarium Light Hood Strip Dual 160W
http://cgi.ebay.com/60-T5-HO-Aquari...ultDomain_0&hash=item45f92c6d63#ht_1478wt_905
60" T5 HO Aquarium Light Hood Strip Dual 160W
http://cgi.ebay.com/60-T5-HO-Aquari...ultDomain_0&hash=item45f92c6d63#ht_1478wt_905
He has fixtures for freshwater Plant tanks. They come with 6500k bulbs I prefer for plants then the 10000k/Actinic that one comes with. I don't see in his store the 60" plant fixtures. There the same light just different bulbs. Might as well get the right bulbs you need then have to buy those separately. You might send him a question if you can get the 60" with the 6500K bulbs.