Budget Lighting for a 55?

[Spen2cer]

I am looking for a new light for my 55, but I'm pretty restricted on budget. Which light should I get? I was looking at the Finnex Stingray 2 48" or the Koval 45"-50". Are there any other lights I should look at or which of the two above should I choose? Thanks!!

 

[utahfish]

Look into 23 watt or 26 watt 6500K CFL bulbs.
They are around 5 dollars each and can fit in a desk lamp with a clip on the back of tank or if the lamp is deep enough right on the glass. Desk lamps cost about 5 dollars as well. Each bulb provides around 1600 lumens.most plants need 20-30 watts/ liter so plan accordingly.

 

[Colin_T]

what about a couple of LED spotlights from a hardware store?
a couple of 100 watt LED spotties would provide heaps of light.

 

[Spen2cer]

[/QUOTE]

what about a couple of LED spotlights from a hardware store?
a couple of 100 watt LED spotties would provide heaps of light.

I'll look into that! Thanks!

 

[Spen2cer]

what about a couple of LED spotlights from a hardware store?
a couple of 100 watt LED spotties would provide heaps of light.

Maxxima 4 ft. 300-Watt Equivalent LED White Shop Light MSL-404600SC - The Home Depot

This motion sensor LED shop light turns on automatically when someone enters the room. It uses passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect motion so you never have to think about turning the lights on

www.homedepot.com

Is this a bit overkill?

 

[Colin_T]

Yes 300 watt lighting is a bit much for most tanks. If the tank was 4 foot high then maybe, but most tanks aren't that tall. The light unit is also fitted with a sensor so it would go on and off. Not what you want.

 

[Spen2cer]

Yes 300 watt lighting is a bit much for most tanks. If the tank was 4 foot high then maybe, but most tanks aren't that tall. The light unit is also fitted with a sensor so it would go on and off. Not what you want.

Agreed. How many watts would be best for a 21/22 inch tall tank?

 

[Spen2cer]

Yes 300 watt lighting is a bit much for most tanks. If the tank was 4 foot high then maybe, but most tanks aren't that tall. The light unit is also fitted with a sensor so it would go on and off. Not what you want.

Here's one that's 4000k, or I think 240 watts. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Metalux...=REC-_-pip_mobile-_-311264314-_-306536396-_-N

 

[Colin_T]

We used two x 150 watt metal halide lights on aquariums that were 4ft long x 2 ft wide x 2 ft high. That was a lot of light for the tank and the plants did great. The lights were fitted over each half so every 2ft square had 150 watts of light.

A shallower tank (21-22 inches) could have two x 50, 75 or 100 watt spotlights above it, depending on what plants you are growing. Just look for globes with a 6500K rating.

 

[Spen2cer]

We used two x 150 watt metal halide lights on aquariums that were 4ft long x 2 ft wide x 2 ft high. That was a lot of light for the tank and the plants did great. The lights were fitted over each half so every 2ft square had 150 watts of light.

A shallower tank (21-22 inches) could have two x 50, 75 or 100 watt spotlights above it, depending on what plants you are growing. Just look for globes with a 6500K rating.

I'm doing pearlweed, Java fern, crypts, jungle val. I'm thinking about the 240 watt one above

 

[Colin_T]

Here's one that's 4000k, or I think 240 watts. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Metalux...=REC-_-pip_mobile-_-311264314-_-306536396-_-N

The 4000K rate is a bit low, you want something around 6000-6500K.

The actual amount of light coming out is about 64 watts over the entire length of the tank, which would work for most plants.

 

[Colin_T]

I'm doing pearlweed, Java fern, crypts, jungle val. I'm thinking about the 240 watt one above

Java Fern and Crypts are fine with low light but also do ok with medium light.

Jungle Vallis is rubbish in aquariums and isn't worth keeping. Look for narrow Vallis or twisted Vallis, these do better in tropical aquairums and don't need as high a pH or GH as the giant/ jungle Vallis.

No idea what pearlweed is.

 

[Spen2cer]

The 4000K rate is a bit low, you want something around 6000-6500K.

The actual amount of light coming out is about 64 watts over the entire length of the tank, which would work for most plants.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJPMTZH/?tag=ff0d01-20
This should work

 

[Colin_T]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FJPMTZH/?tag=ff0d01-20
This should work

That's a 4 foot long, twin fluorescent light unit. It would work but you will need to replace the globes and starters every 12-18months. Starters are cheap and only cost a couple of dollars. The globes can cost a bit more but if you buy a basic daylight globe with a 6500K rating from a hardware store, they are pretty cheap too.

 

[Carolyn N]

Newer fluorescent light fixtures have electronic starters or ballast. They do not need to be replaced. If you have a fixture with electronic starters, you can use LED tubes. No problem. The electronic starters do not have the problems the old ballast starters did. I have changed all mine to LED tubes.