Worst light to grow plants thread!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
velanarris: Thanks for the links
However, Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. My $144 price was for four 36" double bulb fixtures, the prices on those links are 127.99 for just one. Granted those are HO fixtures, and mine are not.
When I get money however, those do look like a nice option.
 
mrfeddown;3092043; said:
velanarris: Thanks for the links
However, Maybe I'm misunderstanding something. My $144 price was for four 36" double bulb fixtures, the prices on those links are 127.99 for just one. Granted those are HO fixtures, and mine are not.
When I get money however, those do look like a nice option.
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Yes but for sub par light from 4 fixtures, you'd spend the same $144 and get superior light, and a lot more space over the top of you tank.
 
you sound like your ok with DIY and if you are a cheap way to go is retro fit kits gets you aquarium lighting that is very powerful at a cheaper price (not as cheap as homedepot). HERE are some, if you got halfway down the page there is a section called lighting kits. look there. this can get confusing too but the normal ballasts run your bulbs at about what the bulbs should be ran, the most popular ballast for this is the workhorse (i think is the name). you can also get a ballast that overdrives the bulbs if i remeber right the 4ft t5 will run at 85 ish watts instead of 54 watts. this will shorten the life of the bulb but get you alot more PAR. if your trying to do a high light cheap set up this is IMO the best way to do it.

but if your looking at a low light set up and want the absolute cheapest thing possible. the homedepot stuff will work as long as you get a bulb that is in the right K rating. you will not be able to grow high light stuff with homedepot lighting but you can get buy with the easy stuff.
 
fishneedit.com has some cheaper lights. there is another company that sells light fixtures like that fish need it ones. I say if what you have grows....work it. The only downside is you might have to replace the fixture when it goes out from not being sealed. Also you will replace your bulbs sooner with t8 and t12's than t5's(which most aquatic "plant" fixtures are turning to). Before you know it, you will more than likely have spent about the same with the homedepot light and as you would have with a "plant/marine" fixtures.....
 
Very nice, I didn't buy a home-depot light I just wanted to know what you all thought of it if I had. I got good ups and negative sides.

Thanks for the links, I am browsing them right now. Over my 90 gallon tank I have a power compact 130 watts and another fish tank brand I don't remember off hand but its 80 watts. ;):D
 
What should I look for when buying a light? All I know is I want a 48 inch because it matches my tank. Go for K rating, or what type of light bulbs?

Thanks again for the links I like em.
 
Kelvin rating is just the appearance of the light to the human eye so you can choose whatever you think will look best.

What you want is something that says it is full spectrum and if possible find a graph of the spectrum output. Check to see that there is output in the ~430nm(blue) and ~662nm(red) areas as these are the wavelengths that plants use for photosynthesis. The green part of the spectrum is the wavelength the we actually see so the higher the green spectrum the greener the plants look and the brighter the light will be, but green cannot be absorbed by plants and the light is reflected hence why they look green.
 
Neophyte;3096430; said:
Kelvin rating is just the appearance of the light to the human eye so you can choose whatever you think will look best.

What you want is something that says it is full spectrum and if possible find a graph of the spectrum output. Check to see that there is output in the ~430nm(blue) and ~662nm(red) areas as these are the wavelengths that plants use for photosynthesis. The green part of the spectrum is the wavelength the we actually see so the higher the green spectrum the greener the plants look and the brighter the light will be, but green cannot be absorbed by plants and the light is reflected hence why they look green.
Click to expand...

not 100% true. yes different kelvins will have a different appearance but you can get two bulbs of the same kelvin and look different. for the most part 6500 is more of a yellow color 10000k is a whiter color and 12 to 15000 is more blue. but each bulb brand and type can have a different appearance. to find the actual color of a bulb you need to look at the color peaks they are usually located on the box.
 
Kelvin is the appearance of the bulb and manufacturers may not label the bulb at the exact kelvin, the color peaks are spectrum and for the most part the only area that is related to what we see is the green part. So spikes in the blue and red while needed for photosynthesis is in a spectrum that our eyes don't normally perceive.
 
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