Brendan Redler

I have some seriously old-school single bulb fluorescent light fixtures for a ten gallon tank. I would like to go high light/CO2 for cheap, and am considering just throwing two of these with glass over the tank. That's 3wpg in something about 12" deep, but without good reflectors and with only reasonable quality 15-19w bulbs.

Doable?

As a goal, I would like to start out with almost exculsively dwarf grasses and grow a "lawn" then add a few things in for a minimalist setup.

I have done high light and CO2 before, but in a VERY small tank that was easy to get high light in.

What say you?

jazzlvr123

even though two 15 watt bulbs equates to 30 watts it is not safe to assume that your tank will be getting 3 watts per gallon especially when using "seriously old-school single bulb fluorescent light fixtures" and no reflector. mainly because old used fluorescent bulbs don't kick out as much light as you would expect and more than half of the light wont even be making it into the tank with no reflectors in reality your most likely going to be getting 1=2 watts per gallon. I would just recommend investing in a new compact fluorescent light fixture that you'll never have to worry about. it will save you a lot of hassle in the long run for $40 you can buy a professionally made fixture for a 10 gallon that can grow basically any "high light" plant

Afyounie

I have the coralife 20" 1x40W fixture over my ten gal. It grows stuff, but doesn't give enough light to the bottom parts of my rotala. I ordered one of the current satellite fixtures with 2 40W compacts. It comes with 3 plugs, 1 for each compact, and 1 for the moon light. That might be a good idea to use. I paid ~$130 for one at aquacave.com.

cbwmn

One of the 40W on the Current Satellite is actinic. Actinis isn't suitaable for plants. It's a great fixture. I use it with the mounting legs over my 16 G which has the same footprint as a 10G.
CBWMN

Brendan Redler

To be honest, I'm trying to spend as close to $0 as possible. $130 is just too much for me right now. I'll do as much DIY as I have to, I'm pretty handy with building things.

Probably $75 would be the upper limit for me to spend on a new fixture.

hoppycalif

You can get an AH Supply 36 watt bright kit, plus a 6700K bulb for about $60, and make a simple box fixture using that, all for around your price limit. That should give you adequate lighting for most plants.

Brendan Redler

hmmm, good call. I might even get one of the 55w setups and suspend it so that it doesn't look crazy hanging over the edge.

jazzlvr123

this is what you need and its only $50


this setup will give you 4 wpg

Brendan Redler

I'm either going to get the 36w bright kit, or the 40w sattelite, probably the satellite. It's a little cheaper and the only thing the bright kit has on it is the reflector.

One question, if I get the legs for the satellite do I need to put glass over the water?

longhornxtreme

Do the 36 watt AHS kit. It's wonderful. The reflector really is worth it. You can build a plywood box for the cost of $10 at Home depot... they even include measurements with the 36 watt kit too.