Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 OK, so in the planning stages of setting up a 70 litre-ish tank. Haven't got tank yet, maybe be slightly bigger or smaller, but roughly that. I love planted tanks, so know good lighting is a must and have been browsing around. I like the lights that have the brackets so they stand a few inches above the tank, but that limits me to only about 3 types that I've seen; - the cheapest ones on trademe just callled "Aquarium Light" - the Ocean Free lights, would get a double tube 60cm one - the Glo T5 light hoods. The first ones are a bit cheap looking, while the Glo T5s are so expensive. Can I put T5 tubes into the Ocean Free light hoods? Or is there something better I could do? What is so special about the Glo T5s? Do their tubes run the entire lengths of the hood, as I know they don't in the others I've seen Sorry for all the questions, I am such a newbie, and am trying to research :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Also what your budget? I have just picked up a few metal halide fitting for $25 each. 150 watt bulbs will cost $60 a pop but my wattage will be up there for plant groth, tank will look good and i wont have tubes in my way. Just another option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 I thought metal halides cost the earth? Only ones I have ever seen have been very expensive, but I suppose I haven't looked so close because of that How many bulbs do you use? And I have no idea what to look for or where to get them either :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 These are the ones i got. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =104657203 Just keep an eye on trademe I have been told that i should aim for 1 watt per L for good plant groth The guy at the pet shop here runs 3w per L You could use 2 bulb's to spread the light around. You may be lucky to get away with one if your tank is short...but im not 100% sure on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 These are the ones i got. http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =104657203 Just keep an eye on trademe I'm gettin these same lights. Although the person I'm getting them off only has the tilt type left. He may have 1 more, I'm not sure. I can always ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 What are they exactly in that auction? Just a bulb holder? Theres what looks like a lamp, plus a black box? So confused Do you have to hang them over the tank from the ceiling or wall? And lol, at 1 Watt per litre, I'd have more than enough with a 150watt bulb wouldn't I :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 exactly. just a bulb holder and ballast. custom hood to hold it off the tank. i'm sure someone can tell you how much it has to be. was it 30cms or something. oh and it may need a cooling fan as they get real hot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Off topic a bit but are you a keeper hans? I'm a keeper also... back on topic- 25cm above the tank is fine. the circular thing is the holder, the black box is the ballast. you wouldn't need metal halide for your planted unless you are planning on planting plants which need really high light demands or you are planting really really densely, the expensive bit about halides is the electricity bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Excuse my ignorance, but why does a light need a ballast? And how much electicity are talking here lol Would love to be able to grow ricca in there, and more plants than just the java fern, java moss and ambulia, even if they are growing far to fast in my current wee tank Anyone know the answer for my first question, whether I can put T5s into the Ocean Free hoods? Thanks everyone for the help so far too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 most tanklights have ballasts. with the clip-on lights you are looking at, they actually have theirs in the actual housing. Also do the oceanfree hoods take T5 HO (High Output) Tubes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Ocean free hoods are t8. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 They're okay but not the best. T5 HO tubes put out more light as opposed to T8s so for a planted tank, thats what I would go for. But it all depends on your budget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 I realise they come with the T8s, but was wondering if you can take them out and fit some T5s in... Spose when I am free from exams tomorrow I could actually go to Wet Pets and ask. What does the ballast do? A ballast is usually a weight balancer, how is that useful for lights? With paying $80 for a double tube ocean fee with T8s, paying $30 for a metal halide fitting and $60 for a bulb isnt that much difference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 t5 would be best IMO for your tank... and no you cannot run t5 in a t8 hood you would need to replace endcaps and ballasts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 ah. So that essentially moves me onto the Glo T5 hoods and lights? Which are almost $200 new... So about those metal halides... :lol: Can anyone show me what those ones on trademe look like once setup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Can't find a pic of one that is set-up but the moment i have a pic i'll post it up. i think evil had a similar metal halide set-up but i can't be 100% sure on that. but a hood similar to this 1 will work with a lil modification to the bulb holder. Putting the ballast in under the hood isn't a good idea but you get a general idea on how the hood would look like. BUT you must not forget to add a cooling fan or something, as you will see the temp in the tank go up using this type of lighting. Edit: If you want to go T5 HO you can still use GLO products in this hood. Just get the right sized kit for your tank. The kit includes ballast, tube holders, and waterproof endcaps, which you screw into the hood and they are cheaper then the actual whole fitting you get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Just to add another question, do metal halides take up a lot of electricity, has your power bill jumped up any since you started using em? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 I've heard that the power bill does jump. I haven't set mine up yet as i pick them up this weekend but for the amount of light you get from them, i'd say its worth it. Altho the brochure for GLO HO lighting is very tempting. I was going to go for a mixture of both MH and T5s in a custom hood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Seems very complicated :-? Are you saying you buy a kitset hood thats the right size, and fit the MH equipment into it? Or alternatively, T5s ? Will be able to do more reading tomorrow after my last exam, sorry if I sound dumb at the moment :oops: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 na i was confused at 1st as well. you'll need to make a hood like the 1 above or similar. then go out and get a DIY lighting Kit or the MH. Then just secure it in the hood and your away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljtan55 Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 There was a thread about t8 versus t5 lights recently http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/what-l ... tml#244471 I like my t5s now.. only regret not getting more tubes. You can jsut get the ballasts for about 60 bucks, and the GLO tubes itself about 30 bucks? But I'm sure you could get the normal t5 from any lighting store for cheaper. Then you could fit them inside your hood or just get reflectors. Its actually getting cheaper to get lights nowadays which is great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 There was a thread about t8 versus t5 lights recently http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/what-l ... tml#244471 I like my t5s now.. only regret not getting more tubes. You can jsut get the ballasts for about 60 bucks, and the GLO tubes itself about 30 bucks? But I'm sure you could get the normal t5 from any lighting store for cheaper. Then you could fit them inside your hood or just get reflectors. Its actually getting cheaper to get lights nowadays which is great. I know its great that its getting cheaper. :bounce: I almost had a coronary when I saw the initial price of T5s when i was looking at lights before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozski Posted June 19, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Hmmm, I like the idea of making a hood (bf is offering to build a stand, may as well make a matching hood) and fitting in those DIY kits so I can put T5 tubes in there. If I got the one which has 2 x 38 watts, that would be right for a 70 litre tank? How do 4 endcaps fit onto 2 bulbs... So all you need is hood, plus DIY ballast and end caps and then 2 bulbs? And reflectors? (tinfoil? haha) Making more sense now, even though I still don't know what a ballast is lmao Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockerpeller Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 2 endcaps per tube. I'm still not sure what ballasts actually do myself. i just know they are needed for any tube or high power light. and everything you just stated above sounds right. those should be all you need. altho another 2 tubes can't hurt later on, 2 will do for now. the great thing about hoods are that they can be upgraded . Have you had a read about Power Compact lighting? might be worth a look, but i'd say your on the right track with the T5s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted June 19, 2007 Report Share Posted June 19, 2007 Off topic a bit but are you a keeper hans? I'm a keeper also... Keeper??? :-? Im building a new hoods for my new tanks. I will have holes in the back of the stand to let the hot air out and the ballast will be above the lights in a false floor type thingee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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