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Lighting Fixture for 29g Tank

1K views 13 replies 7 participants last post by  Blue Fish 
#1 ·
So I am working on upgrading my 29g tank at work into a NPT soil based tank.

My biggest problem I am running into is finding a lighting fixture that works with my hood that emits enough light. I currently have the aqueon deluxe hood on the tank with a single T8 light strip (17 watt). They do not apparently make stronger T8 lights in a 24" strip.

So I am wondering what fixtures people have used that might work with this set up. I am fine keep it a low-moderate light tank - doesn't need to be high light but I want to make sure my plants will grow. Most plants are low light but have a few moderate light plants I am wanting to add.

Any suggestions? Again, price is a problem as since I am a teacher doing a classroom tank out of my own money so expensive set ups just can't happen...

Thanks for any and all advice!
 
#2 ·
Well on a budget is always makes things tougher and I do not know your skill level at DIY but if you have a shop teacher around they might help you if you ask, ok that being said you could get a glass versa top fairly cheap which opens up the lighting options a bit you can go with....http://www.lowes.com/pd_203213-1373...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo= 2 or 3 of those paint the outside of the shade black and add 6500k cfl bulbs 13 watt or higher..... they have those lights in a few sizes some are cheaper some cost more.... or you could go with... http://www.lowes.com/pd_163662-337-2GR8-2U6T8A-UNV-EB81_1z12j3i+2z8vm__?productId=3014955&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1%26page%3D1&facetInfo=$25%20-%20$50 it all depends on what but there is no cheap cheap way other than lucking out at a thrift store or getting something on clearance
 
#3 ·
I am willing to spend some money but would like to stay under $100 if possible.

I have seen a few double T5 fixtures that are in that price range. Has anyone had any luck with either the Aqueon T5 double fixture or the CoralLife double T5 fixture? Or something comparable? I think that could get me to a moderate light stance if they work well...
 
#4 ·
#6 ·
I'm not sure as I don't have hoods on mine. They have tabs that are designed to fit over the edges of a regular tank and plastic screws so it can be tightened to hold in place. The one I got for my ten gallon isn't quite the right size to fit on the way it should so I have it sitting on top without issue, so it should be fine.
 
#7 ·
Can you replace the LED bulbs in the Finnex fixture? Or do you have to purchase a new fixture every year?

Can you tell I am not used to doing planted tanks in bigger aquariums? All of my other planted tanks or 10g or smaller...This takes it to a whole new level lol
 
#8 ·
Trust me... I know exactly what you're talking about. I jumped from 10 gallon to a 55 gallon sorority and ended up just getting a normal fixture from home depot with 6500K bulbs(3 bulbs). I just have a acrylic hood and I set the light on top. You could even hinge the hood if you're handy or know someone who is. :lol: You may want to add one 10000k bulb for better viewing.

This is the one I got. Kind of flimsy, but they had different lights that were better and worse.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lithonia...Light-1243DP-RE/203300803?N=5yc1vZc7buhttp://
Oh... and I didn't realize, but the light I got came WITH light bulbs already... So I bought a 10 pack of extras that are standing by.
 
#9 ·
Alright, so managed to talk my administration into letting me use school funds to buy the Finnex FugeRay LED strip. I will be using this tank to grow out some elodea (anacharis as I believe it is known in the trade) for science projects so they consider it a justified purchase - especially since just about everything else for this tank is out of pocket.

After doing research everyone seems really happy with that light strip and it is supposed to last longer light wise since it is LED. Fingers crossed it works well with my tank!!

Thank you to everyone who chipped in suggestions - I always appreciate it greatly when I get responses! :)
 
#12 ·
I was having issues with lighting when I first got my 30 gallon tank and talked to Byron on the Tropical Fish Keeping forum since he's quite the expert and this is what he had to say...

If the tank is 30 inches in length, comparable to my 29g, a single tube
T8 will be a 24-inch tube. This can work for low and moderate light plants but only with a good tube, and I have tried several. Tubes emit light intensity variably, according to how they are made (phosphors, etc). The only ones that work here are the aquarium-designed tubes such as the Hagen Life-Glo or the ZooMed UltraSun. I use the Life-Glo on all my single-tube tanks and my plants do very well.

The problem with tubes like the Aqueon is their lack of sufficient intensity. They are high in the red and blue wavelengths, but lack the green/yellow which is the brighter wavelength. I've written often about the improved plant response to "daylight" tubes that have all three wavelengths, with a Kelvin around 6500K. The two mentioned tubes have this, for a crisp white that renders colour more exactly, and provides sufficient intensity for plants.

Byron.
Since then, I've used both the Hagen Life-Glo and ZooMed UltraSun bulbs and they have worked great for my low to moderate light plants. If you want to stick with your set up now and not spend the extra money, these are the bulbs I would suggest. I found the ZooMed lights at Petco and ordered the Life-Glo bulb from Amazon. (they're around $15-$20) Hope this helps! :-D
 
#13 ·
I was having issues with lighting when I first got my 30 gallon tank and talked to Byron on the Tropical Fish Keeping forum since he's quite the expert and this is what he had to say...



Since then, I've used both the Hagen Life-Glo and ZooMed UltraSun bulbs and they have worked great for my low to moderate light plants. If you want to stick with your set up now and not spend the extra money, these are the bulbs I would suggest. I found the ZooMed lights at Petco and ordered the Life-Glo bulb from Amazon. (they're around $15-$20) Hope this helps! :-D

Thanks for the info! I am thinking of trying to breed bettas next year (Lord help me :shock:) as a class project (ahhhh :roll:) so will likely use the original hood and light with the 20g grow out tank so knowing there are better alternatives to the Aqueon light tubes is great info, thanks! :-D
 
#14 ·
I haven't read through all the responses, so I might be repeating what someone else has already said, but I've got just about the cheapest light/lid set up you can imagine...and it's worked with both higher and low light plants. :)

Just get some plexiglass or actual window glass (just make sure the edges are sanded or otherwise finished and not sharp) at the hardware store, most places will cut it for you to size. Leave about two inches on either end of the tank for filters, heater cords, air exchange, and to have room for the light fixtures.
This should run you about ten or fifteen bucks for a single tank.

Then, get two clip on, flexible, desk lamps. I use one for each end of my 20g long tanks. Get **DAYLIGHT** (this is vital, the regular lights work, but the daylight really works much better) 75 watt equiv CFL (the compact, curly fluorescent lights like you'd use in your house), and put those into the lamps. Bend the lamps so that they're pointing directly down into your tank, and you're good to go. :)

It's great because it lets in plenty of light (including any overhead light in the room, which is a plus as far as I'm concerned!), and you get a lovely unobstructed view of your fishies. :) Plus, I think it just looks really clean and nice...and I am just not a fan of those big old fashioned black hoods. Totally personal preference though!! :)

Here are some photos:

This one was a complete overhaul...I had some plants in there that died, still working on getting it to grow in/fill out to where it should be. Also, please excuse my messy bathroom...it's also in the process of an overhaul! :)


Camera glare makes everything look cloudy, but you can see the lamps and how they clip on.


Due to camera glare off of water, you can't tell as well as I'd like...but it's awesome being able to see your fish from all sides, *including* the top! :)


One note about plexi, is that it DOES warp when exposed to the heat of the lamps. So, I turn it over once a day to help keep it in shape. But, even if you don't, nothing bad happens, it won't melt or anything. :) I used scrap pieces for this tank, so the fit is not ideal. I am going to "upgrade" to glass tops, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. Since you mentioned you were in a classroom, plexi might be a safer choice for you though, since you don't have to worry about breakage.


Good view of lamps. On this piece I used a section of a build-it-yourself shelving kit (the black "mesh" to see if it would help the warping...it doesn't, but that's what that is). Not at all necessary, I just wanted to see if it would help. :)


This tank is the new sorority (upgraded from a 30g to a 40g breeder), so the acrylic doesn't fit all that well, and the plants I've ordered for it have not yet come in. So, for now, it's only partially planted and partially silk...and the arrangement still needs some work. But that's all beside the point, this one shows that you can do more than one lamp on each side if you need more light or have a wider tank. :)


Last one! Just the top view of the 40g with the lamps and more of the black shelving unit pieces because the acrylic isn't wide enough for the breeder width. But, again, gives an idea for lamps and placement. :)

I got these lights at walmart in the student/dorm section, and I believe I paid about 7$ each for them? They're cheap, which is great when you're buying twelve of them, lol! :)
So the entire setup for each tank was about twenty bucks, total? You'd be hard pressed to get a better deal than that, lol! :)
 
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