Fluval Osaka Upgrade - Led Or Not

[Spiceweasel69]

Hi

Returning to forum after 2 years without a tank. Got itchy feet and bought a fluval osaka from ebay, only a 155 mind, but there was no lighting.

Previously had a rena 600 (the 2m one) which i converted to HO t5s and was fantastic as a planted tank.

However, i see LEDs are all the rage now, but without a light to retrofit, im not sure what my best options are.

I plan to be fully planted with co2 injection etc, so will need a fair amount of light - is 4 WPG still the benchmark?

Also, from scratch, are there any units i could buy i could use as a direct replacement, t5 or LED?

Last one, Do plants grow well under the LED lights and could you recommeend some lamps i should look at?

Thanks all

good to be back

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Led's are the future for planted mate,I built mine and are the equivalent of 2.5WPG, I run pressurised CO2 and full ferts and it does great. 4WPG I'd say is aa bit high even for T8's. TMC do some LED's but they're a rip off IMO, well I think most are a rip off for what you get.

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Whjere can i buy the LED.s and running gear? Is there a preferred lamp which is better for moisture resistance etc?

My tank is 2ft deep, i was thinking about just getting 2 arcadia twin t5 controllers and running 4 T5 tubes of 24w each. I want to go heavily planted and this would give me 2.5wpg.

Is ihis sufficient? This will cost me around £100, what would equivalent cost in LEDs? much more?

Thanks all

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Would cost a little more but you wouldn't need to replace tubes etc and the LED's I use last 20 years on an 8 hour daily photo period.

 

[Spiceweasel69]

Looks fiddly to me.

I have costed up arcadia controllers, plus tubes at 85pounds, but then found this:

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T5-OVERHEAD-AQUARIUM-4-LIGHT-UNIT-60cm-FISH-TANK-MARINE-LIGHTING-TUBE-LAMP-/160767987345?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item256e84ce91

Its pretty much everything i need by way of size etc, has anyone ever used or purchased one of these units?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Get what you pay for mate, could be good or could be blowing tubes every week,not a fan of ebay knock offs tbh.