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RE: Reasonably Priced Lighting????
> Date: Tue, 28 Oct 1997 11:07:45 -0500
> From: "Ken Guin" <kenguin at erols_com>
>
> I have a 110g planted aquarium using DIY CO2, PMDD, and laterite balls
> in the substrate. The plants (swords, java ferns, crypts, nubias,
> etc.) are doing okay, but not going crazy. I believe I need more
> light since all I have now is six Perfecto strip lights which produce
> 180W (12 X 15W) for a 1.6W per gallon ration. I would like to boost
> the ratio to about 2.5w/g which would put me in the 300W range.
I would suggest that it is not a "watts per gallon" problem as much as
a "quality of light" problem.
We have excellent success with four 40w bulbs over 100 gallon tanks
(1.6 w/g). We are careful, however, to select bulbs that offer the
maximum lumens per watt. We use Triton and PennPlax Ultra Tri-Lux
bulbs (normal output 40 watt bulbs) with decent reflectors. The
resulting 1.6 w/g is almost too bright, as some of the plants develop
protective red pigments in the upper leaves.
> Does anyone know of someone who makes a hood with fairly high output
> lighting, but doesn't charge a fortune for it? Or, am I just dreaming
> that such a place might actually exist?
Dreaming, definitely.
Do you currently have a hood? How did you get all the strip lights in
it? If they are just laying on a glass top cover, why not get a couple
of dual shop light fixtures and replace your "weenie" bulbs with good
ones? Buy decent fixtures, not the $10 types that WalMart sells.
Is your 110 a 30" tall tank? If so, maybe a couple of metal
halide pendants might be suggested. Their intensity is well suited
for deeper tanks. Of course, that's still $600.
George Booth in Ft. Collins, Colorado (booth at fii_com)
Need Info? http://www.frii.com/~booth/AquaticConcepts.htm
* Last update: 10/21/97