New lights - Desperate at this point...

[LordHappy]

Happy day,

I'm surprised that we haven't heard "fish don't have eyelids" piece.

I agree with Nicrew as a nice budget option. I have a fluval 3.0 nano plus with the fabulous app that allows for all sorts of tomfoolery designed to mimic nature..sunrise, sunset, all sorts of cool stuff. I have the Onf Nano, which lacks that feature, although the Onf Nano+ does have it. But if $85 is too much, then its hard to go wrong with a Nicrew.

You can also watch youtube videos. Bently Pasco and some other folks do extensive lighting reviews, complete with PAR measurements and other exciting things. For a given value of excitement.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

This just gives you an idea on how trashy this light is:

Now that’s my 29g tank, my pride and joy, my best tank. That light makes it look sad and dull.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

Um, ok, light came in today and WOW:

It’s absolutely great, it will be even better when I put the new filter in, because the water is cloudy.

But.... I found this other super great light on Craigslist. It’s this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CMFFMS6/?tag=ff0d01-20
Originally $80-$150, but the guy is selling it for only $40, new in box. I’m not sure if I should jump on this opportunity? Or keep the Necrew... thoughts?

(By the way, this filter is HUGE. It’s the Aqueon QuitFlow. Not sure if it will work in my 20g long... )

 

[Utar]

Um, ok, light came in today and WOW:
View attachment 124851
It’s absolutely great, it will be even better when I put the new filter in, because the water is cloudy.

But.... I found this other super great light on Craigslist. It’s this one:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CMFFMS6/?tag=ff0d01-20
Originally $80-$150, but the guy is selling it for only $40, new in box. I’m not sure if I should jump on this opportunity? Or keep the Necrew... thoughts?

(By the way, this filter is HUGE. It’s the Aqueon QuitFlow. Not sure if it will work in my 20g long... )

For only forty bucks, I would keep them both. You never know when an extra light might come in handy. Nicrew are great lights, but very limited in lighting controls.

 

[EllRog]

That is the exact one I have on my nano cube (12"). Plants like it.
View attachment 124699

I have this light on one of my tanks which I'm currently using to store cuttings for a friend. The cuttings have grown like crazy to the point where I plan to actually scape this this tank with them temporarily to look more presentable!

Cheap and efficient light, I'm pleasently surprised by it

 

[PheonixKingZ]

For only forty bucks, I would keep them both. You never know when an extra light might come in handy. Nicrew are great lights, but very limited in lighting controls.

I know both would be great, but the $40 I spent on the Necrew would be going to pay for the Satellite one... which one is better? Does anyone have it?

(I also have meager pay, so I’m budgeting. )

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Aquarium Co-Op has a pretty good light tool on their site, although he seems to prefer either the Fluval or the Finnex. But you can enter in tank size and what type of plants you have in terms of light requirements and it gives you a couple of recommendations. Here's a link if you'd like to check it out. https://www.aquariumcoop.com/pages/led-aquarium-lighting

 

[jfcp]

Guys, i need advice...

The light in my 20g long, lets face it, is TRASH. So is the light that came in my 5g starter kit. (It's in the hood, and it's tetra brand, no surprise there...)

I am looking for an excellent, super bright light for my 20g long and my 5g tank, (20g is higher priority to me at this point) may that be bar or some sort of other type.

I hear Fluval is really good? (Although I'm not sure I want to pay there prices, they are sooo expensive )

Not sure what my budget is yet, but let's keep it reasonable for someone my age please... Thank in advance!

I have a 20 gallon long, and had cheap light issues at first too, but now, since I spent a little more, I've had good luck with my 48W Hygger

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086SV5XBY/?tag=ff0d01-20

This is the longest light that will fit a 20 long.

The instruction manual could be a little better, but after you program it a couple of times, it's not hard to use.

This is a true full-spectrum light (checked it with a spectroscope), and seems to be be plenty bright for any live plant I put in the tank.You can adjust the brightness down in 10% steps, program any day/night ratio, and use the blue nightlight if you want for fish like black ghost knifes

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I have a 20 gallon long, and had cheap light issues at first too, but now, since I spent a little more, I've had good luck with my 48W Hygger

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086SV5XBY/?tag=ff0d01-20

This is the longest light that will fit a 20 long.

The instruction manual could be a little better, but after you program it a couple of times, it's not hard to use.

This is a true full-spectrum light (checked it with a spectroscope), and seems to be be plenty bright for any live plant I put in the tank.You can adjust the brightness down in 10% steps, program any day/night ratio, and use the blue nightlight if you want for fish like black ghost knifes

Thank you for the recommendation, but I’m looking for a yes or no on the Satellite Pro VS Necrew.

I hear really good things about the Satellite Pro... thoughts?

 

[FFGuest6357]

Thank you for the recommendation, but I’m looking for a yes or no on the Satellite Pro VS Necrew.

I hear really good things about the Satellite Pro... thoughts?

Never used it, or heard of it, but I would go put in an overtime shift if it’s only $40 and keep both!

 

[CxN]

Second the use of timers. I've hard slow growth & algae on my low tech and co2 tanks when I was manually turning the lights on and off. When I started using a simple mechanical timer switch (5$ off Amazon) - things started to look better in a matter of couple of weeks. Like other organisms, plants have a cyclical rythm, so it helps to have a set period for them to stop/start photosynthesizing.
In my new 10 gal, I use a Polish brand Aquael - they claim it has full spectrum light that matches natural sunlight, with back up bulbs in case any of the tiny bulbs die off with time. My new tank I used it in never had an algae problem so far (As you would see in almost every other tank). Its a low light 6w - but ideally you need 10w for a tank that size unless you are growing low demanding plants like I do. Like others have said here, there are tons of info out there and can be overwhelming.

If you are looking for a simple solution, get a quality full spectrum light from Amazon and just do the basics right. Time it properly. Balance the use of ferts. Do weekly WCs. Place your plants as per their light demands - you want the likes of anubias far away, while dwarf grass, rotala etc closer to the light. That's what I do and its been working pretty smooth so far.

 

[Kyle E.]

He is no longer asking for new light suggestions.... He already got one (I am getting a Nicrew too so we will both see how they work!). He is asking now if the Current USA is worth it. I would say bye it and send it to me!

If possible I would buy it but if you cannot afford it then pass, but it is a really good deal for a high quality highly adjustable light.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

He is no longer asking for new light suggestions.... He already got one (I am getting a Nicrew too so we will both see how they work!). He is asking now if the Current USA is worth it. I would say bye it and send it to me!

If possible I would buy it but if you cannot afford it then pass, but it is a really good deal for a high quality highly adjustable light.

Thanks!

You know what? I’m just going to get both. If the satellite isn’t that good, then I’ll just use the Necrew in my 20g long. If it is really good, I may return the Necrew, or use it on another tank.

Does that sound good? (So essentially be spending $80 on two really good lights)

 

[Kyle E.]

That sounds good! I have heard a lot of good things about the Nicrew's for budget lights but the current USA one is probably better, it's just usually a lot more expensive.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

That sounds good! I have heard a lot of good things about the Nicrew's for budget lights but the current USA one is probably better, it's just usually a lot more expensive.

That’s what I saw thinking. But here again, price isn’t always better quality, that’s why I was hesitant... is the current USA is THAT much better, I may return the Nicrew. But I’m definitely getting the current USA. (Probably sometime next week!)