Ok I now realize regular bulbs don't due the trick for planted aquarium. My question is, I currently have a 20 Gallon planted tank and I'm currently running 2 15 watt bulbs in a regular fluorescent light strip :(
Do I really need a double strip if I change to compact lighting? Or will a single strip do fine? Here is the 2 lights I'm considering.
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24057;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24053;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=
Also anyone have a good used 24" compact light system for sale??? :) :)
Either light you link would be fine, if you get any more light than that, you'll be looking at introducing CO2, which gets into an entirely different realm and expense.
Consider the plants you wish to keep and go from there, as there are many differing light requirements for all plants. Stay away from high-light plants for now, at least until you have some good growing under your belt for a couple of months and feel more comfortable.
Additional note, the lights you mention here sort of put you into the low to medium light supply, so you may wish to research a few plants and how you array them, plantgeek is a good place to read up.
The First light is the best light for you, Not to contradict Babblefish but I would say it would definatly put you well into the Medium light bracket and towards high light. 65W PC lighting over 20 Gallons is pretty good you will grow all but the hardest plants. I have 65W PC over 37 Gallon (tall tank) and the plants are still just rocking. I even have Riccia growing(floating) and Hygro growing well.
The second light you mentioned is meant for Salt water. Stay away that from one. Your wasting your money and electricity. You plants cannot use the actinic light.
If you buy the first light you will be very happy with your purchese, I own 2 of the Coralife fixtures and love them.
Both of the lights you have shown are not the best for a planted tank. The actinic bulbs are more for saltwater, the Coralife Freshwater setup is better for plants. 65W, 6700K. I have this setup on a 26 gallon tank and the plants love it.
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29549;category_id=1875
Plantgeek website is awesome, thanx for leting me know about it ;D
Quote from: garnpet on June 05, 2006, 07:15:03 AM
Both of the lights you have shown are not the best for a planted tank. The actinic bulbs are more for saltwater, the Coralife Freshwater setup is better for plants. 65W, 6700K. I have this setup on a 26 gallon tank and the plants love it.
http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29549;category_id=1875
beat me to the post! I was gonna post something about the lights tempurature...
I just ordered the same light (Coralife Freshwater 65W Power Compact) from Petsandponds.com for $71.99
http://www.petsandponds.com/securestore/c64280p16512136.2.html
I ordered with some other stuff so I didn't pay shipping (over $200).
edit: I should add that I'm using a Hagen 25 gallon
Can't go wrong at that price
To build
CF bulb $20
CF socket and lamp clip $10
Ballast $25
$55 for the hardware alone if one were to DIY it.
Also anyone have a good used 24" compact light system for sale???
I would sell my 24" coalife striplight since it doesnt fit my new SW tank. But you would need to buy a FW bulb and that brings me to the point I wanted to make about your choosing to go CF.
Replacement bulbs for CF fixtures are way to expensive. They run about 60%-80% of the cost to buy a whole new fixture. The markup on them is just criminal. I would love to know where I could get some of those $20 bulbs BD mentioned ;)
Quote from: Aiglos on June 05, 2006, 06:52:24 AM
The First light is the best light for you,
Sorry. I wasnt paying enough attention, i thought the first one was the fw bulbs. My mistake.
the single light is good enough but if you're willing to fork out the cash, then go for the double...
Ending up going with the single
http://www.petsandponds.com/securestore/c64280p16512136.2.html
The bulbs seem more expensive, but hey what $40 to $50 every 6 months. Anyone know where to buy cheap bulbs?
The prices there are definetly cheaper then Big Al's. Was very happy with the site. Hopefully everything arrives safely. The bad part was is was very easy to spend way over ther $200 mark to get free s&H. Bought light, the stand, water conditioners and fertilizer, thermometers etc... Guess I need to make a DYI Co2 system or buy one (Have do some reading before that purchase though) DYI systems seem hard to regulate or is it just me. I guess I'll learn :-\
First off ... a correction
CF bulbs do NOT need to be replaced every 6 months to a year like NO bulbs do. Replace them when they burn out.
You can get 55W CF bulbs from Litemore, Buchannon and Marchand for around the $20 mark. Slightly lower wattage and 5,000K is as hot as you will get them. Personally, I'll take the price savings over the slightly lower wattage.
Quote from: lucky777 on June 06, 2006, 02:20:07 AM
Ending up going with the single
http://www.petsandponds.com/securestore/c64280p16512136.2.html
Hey, we'll have matching lights!
The guys at petsandponds.com are really nice and ship fast. I don't work for them or anything, I've just been impressed.
Do you meen Buchannon Lighting?
http://findabusiness.yellowpages.ca/mp/ON/OTTAWAON/Buchanan%2BLighting/613/7283551/129%2BLoretta%2BAvenue%2BNorth/Ottawa/K1Y2J7/0/1/0000000000000931640077060007.html
This is the Parkdale area right?
Also thats even better if they only need to be replaced once they burn out only. Do then not loose their intensity like regular bulbs? $20 buck sounds much better then $50 ;D
Yup... they are just off Booth and Gladstone just west of little Italy