cost effective, temporary lighting

ReefEze · 11/19/2007, 10:42 AM

Whats up guys,

I've been out of the reef game for a while but I'm currently in the pre-pre planning stages of a pretty large show tank... but to tide me over until then, IÂ´m setting up a small nano, probably a 20G long as I have about three of them lying around. This tank will be holding basically some leathers and other corals, and afterwards probably end up being a quarantine tank.

BUT all the lighting I have lying around is either NO flourescents, plus a 48" MH VHO setup, both of which are useless.

Any suggestions as to the lighting? What about these new LED setups?

TIA

Rosseau · 11/19/2007, 12:32 PM

I think that the LED set ups are still very expensive ($1000s) but I haven't checked in a few months.

You could rig up some DIY metal halides... find a cheap ballast on ebay etc.

stealthbimmer · 11/19/2007, 02:45 PM

just go with some t5s,no need to spend $ on something temporary.

ReefEze · 11/19/2007, 03:13 PM

t5's seem to be one of the more expensive options

glassbox-design · 11/19/2007, 04:00 PM

a 36in nova would be a cheap and complete lighting solution. a 20 long is very shallow and it should do well. we used a 24in nova for temp. lighting over a 20H with great results with SPS.

Agu · 11/19/2007, 07:01 PM

Real cheap is daylight curly PC lighting. Get the 26w bulbs at Home Depot or Lowes. Then for the sockets go to the lighting dept and find the cheapest two bulb fixture and gut it for the sockets. (Five bucks for the fixture and eight bucks if you buy individual sockets in the electrical dept ) Half a piece of galvanized chimminy pipe is your reflector.

$25 and you have 52 watts of daylight PC lighting including the bulbs.

ReefEze · 11/19/2007, 08:15 PM

50$ for 104w, sick... but whats the spectrum of thos bulbs?

Agu · 11/19/2007, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefEze
50$ for 104w, sick... but whats the spectrum of thos bulbs?

Supposedly 6500k. When new they look to be a higher color spectrum but as they age they get more yellow. I find they're good for three to six months before the yellowing bothers me. The spectrum change doesn't seem to be a problem for the tank though.

When you're done with them use them to replace incandescent bulbs in your home.

stealthbimmer · 11/19/2007, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ReefEze
t5's seem to be one of the more expensive options

not really...u can get a shop light fixture for 10-20 bux, then you can get bulbs for another 10-20 a piece. so a total of 30-60 dollars isnt bad. i ran it on my 20l for a few months and worked great....now its on my fowlr

ReefEze · 11/20/2007, 06:02 PM

Agu, thats awesome.

Great ideas guys, thanks, I think im set.

Mastermind · 11/20/2007, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stealthbimmer
not really...u can get a shop light fixture for 10-20 bux, then you can get bulbs for another 10-20 a piece. so a total of 30-60 dollars isnt bad. i ran it on my 20l for a few months and worked great....now its on my fowlr

Most shop lights are T12... not T5. Normal output.

MikePowell · 11/21/2007, 07:38 AM

Put it near a window with alot of sun. FREE LIGHT!!!!

11/19/2007, 10:42 AM	#1
ReefEze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos Posts: 1,276	cost effective, temporary lighting Whats up guys, I've been out of the reef game for a while but I'm currently in the pre-pre planning stages of a pretty large show tank... but to tide me over until then, IÂ´m setting up a small nano, probably a 20G long as I have about three of them lying around. This tank will be holding basically some leathers and other corals, and afterwards probably end up being a quarantine tank. BUT all the lighting I have lying around is either NO flourescents, plus a 48" MH VHO setup, both of which are useless. Any suggestions as to the lighting? What about these new LED setups? TIA __________________ "True happiness I have nowhere found; but certainly here it dwells."

11/19/2007, 12:32 PM	#2
Rosseau Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Kingston, Ontario Posts: 2,049	I think that the LED set ups are still very expensive ($1000s) but I haven't checked in a few months. You could rig up some DIY metal halides... find a cheap ballast on ebay etc. __________________ Still fighting entropy.

11/19/2007, 03:13 PM	#4
ReefEze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos Posts: 1,276	t5's seem to be one of the more expensive options __________________ "True happiness I have nowhere found; but certainly here it dwells."

11/19/2007, 04:00 PM	#5
glassbox-design Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: SF Posts: 3,166	a 36in nova would be a cheap and complete lighting solution. a 20 long is very shallow and it should do well. we used a 24in nova for temp. lighting over a 20H with great results with SPS. __________________ GLASSBOXDESIGN the modern reef blog LEDs are a 50,000 hr investment. Choose wisely. Current Tank Info: ...a new glassbox is coming

11/19/2007, 07:01 PM	#6
Agu RC Mod Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Venice, Florida Posts: 30,275	Real cheap is daylight curly PC lighting. Get the 26w bulbs at Home Depot or Lowes. Then for the sockets go to the lighting dept and find the cheapest two bulb fixture and gut it for the sockets. (Five bucks for the fixture and eight bucks if you buy individual sockets in the electrical dept ) Half a piece of galvanized chimminy pipe is your reflector. $25 and you have 52 watts of daylight PC lighting including the bulbs. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

11/19/2007, 02:45 PM	#3
stealthbimmer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 225	just go with some t5s,no need to spend $ on something temporary.

11/19/2007, 08:15 PM	#7
ReefEze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos Posts: 1,276	50$ for 104w, sick... but whats the spectrum of thos bulbs? __________________ "True happiness I have nowhere found; but certainly here it dwells."

11/20/2007, 06:02 PM	#10
ReefEze Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Santa Cruz Island, Galápagos Posts: 1,276	Agu, thats awesome. Great ideas guys, thanks, I think im set. __________________ "True happiness I have nowhere found; but certainly here it dwells."

11/21/2007, 07:38 AM	#12
MikePowell Moved On Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 1,147	Put it near a window with alot of sun. FREE LIGHT!!!!