Recommendations For Lighting Please

[ChilliPepper]

I'm getting a 5x2x2 tank from ND Aquatics, and so I am researching what lights I'd like in it.

I have an Aqua One tank as well, which has T5 lights which I like, I got these with the tank.

Is it as easy as just searching for T5 lights which would fit a 5ft tank? Or are there any other considerations to be taken?

If it's any help, I'm not going to have real plants in this tank, so the lighting can be purely superficial. It does still need to be good though, to show off my fish's colours to their best advantage.

Cheap as possible, but good quality sought. Spending £££'s on new tank and external filter, so want to keep other costs down.

So, any recommendations for lights which may be suitable would be appreciated

 

[always4lora]

Go here for the bulbs :
http/www.thelightbulb.co.uk/product-2763/t5-polylux-58-in-oslash/54watt-1149mm-colour-840-cool-white

And this for the controller
http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/arcadia-ultra-seal-twin-lamp-controller-p-793.html

 

[ChilliPepper]

Go here for the bulbs :
http/www.thelightbulb.co.uk/product-2763/t5-polylux-58-in-oslash/54watt-1149mm-colour-840-cool-white

And this for the controller
http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/arcadia-ultra-seal-twin-lamp-controller-p-793.html

Thanks very much, are they the sizes I'd need for a 5ft? Sorry for silly questions, I've only ever bought 'kit' aquariums before

 

[always4lora]

You could go larger if you can find any but you'd need a more capable controller. they will be fine for your tank , if you want to go heavily planted then you might need more but they'll be fine for normal use.

 

[ChilliPepper]

You could go larger if you can find any but you'd need a more capable controller. they will be fine for your tank , if you want to go heavily planted then you might need more but they'll be fine for normal use.

Thanks, they seem very reasonable! Are they what you went for?

 

[always4lora]

I've got the same controller but with slightly smaller tubes as my tanks smaller than the one you're getting.

 

[Lee gsi]

How do you know what temperature you need?

Are ones from Aquatic shops different or just over priced?

 

[always4lora]

How do you know what temperature you need?

Are ones from Aquatic shops different or just over priced?

Not sure what you're refering to unless you mean the cool white or whatever thats just the colouration of it, they all get pretty hot.

I have one aquatic bulb and one of those and theres no differernce in the amount of light given off. I only have one aquatic one because one bulb went and i couldnt wait for a replacement. For normal tanks those bulbs are fine , plant pro bulbs might be slightly better but you're talking £20 or so for a bulb.