Omg Our Lighting Sucks!

[Amunet]

Finally got around to checking just how many watts the bulbs are on our 125gal tank. I was expecting bad, but not THIS bad

I'm surprised the plants are even growing!! ACK! Thank goodness the room gets a lot of sunlight... indirect most of the day but apparently enough... sigh.
What can we do?
We don't have the money to buy whole new lighting for the tank, so best we could do is buy better bulbs I guess.. but even then... won't even be doubling the watts.
I'd suggest maybe try a DIY thing but I have no idea how to even start... what to get nada knowledge.
The hoods are set up for 24 inch fluorescent lights.. and from what I'm seeing for sale, those only go up to 24w at the most. The actual hood part though is 35 inches... if that makes any difference on what we could do for a DIY kind of thing... probably not though... sigh.......

Uuuuuuuuuuuuuugh

 

[Mikaila31]

Your hood will only run (from the looks of it) a 17watt bulb, you can't run a higher watt bulb unless the ballast is rated for it. I'm guessing it's not. From what I understand a slightly higher wattage light bulb may indeed light in the fixture. However it won't run at full power, the ballast will be over worker and will have a much shorter life.

BTW was 125gall a typo? cuz I can't see that on a 125gal tank, it wouldn't even make a noticeable amount of light IMO.

 

[Amunet]

Nope... wasn't a typo.. it is a 125gallon. There are 2 of these on it. One on each end.

 

[snowflake311]

My 55 gal tank is the same only 17watt max. I just bought a new light nothing crazy but it will be better then what I have. The hoods that come with tank are really only to light the tank for looks. I know it sucks.

 

[Amunet]

Yeah. As I said, I was expecting bad, but wasn't expecting 17w bad rofl.
I'm gonna have to look up some DIY things or something b/c even if we get 24w bulbs, that's only 7 more watts.... just... sad lol

 

[degsod]

I have just purchased a 2 x24W T5 overhead light of Ebay for £26 + delivery, might be the best price to look as I was looking at paying £80+ from the LFS

 

[Amunet]

Found this one on ebay... not sure if it's any good though.
36" T5 HO Aquarium Reef Light 78W Odyssea 2x39W Leg
Item number: 290313834086
for $40 plus shipping.... is that a good deal for something like that? Keeping in mind we'd have to purchase 2 of them.

I don't want super strong lighting or anything, but better than what we have would be great lol
What does T5 mean anyway?

 

[degsod]

T5 is the diameter of the tube, it is 5/8" diameter in size, they are the skinny tubes and give out more light per watt than the older T8 tubes. The light you are looking at is the type you need to get, but the one you have posted will probably only work in the US and Canada (110V insted of 240v)


Just looked at your profile, you are in the USA so that light will prbably do. Youe need to check the dimensions of your tank to make sure that it fits. Also note that the light will be abouve the tank leaving water open so if you hav egot any jumpers in there beware as you might come down in themorning and find your favourite fish on the floor

 

[snowflake311]

I was just looking up T5 lights Its the type of light. here is a nice chart to compare lights.
<a href="http/www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article....id=&aid=350" target="_blank">http/www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article....id=&aid=350</a>

See the T5 watts 24-54 months lasted 16-24 Heat out put 6,000°-11,000°K;actinic

Longevity;
high intensity;
small size; cool
running

Not ideally
suited for
aquariums
more than
24" deep Reef less than 24"
deep; freshwater
planted

More good info should answer your questions about them.
<a href="http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...p?article_id=75" target="_blank">http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...p?article_id=75</a>

Enjoy.

I just bought a lamp that holds 2 T5 28 watt bulbs for my 55 gal from Big Als. That place has the best deals and shipping is free if you order over $60 right now so woohoo. The light comes with brackets to hold it over the tank. So I'm going to use that then get a glass top and set my crapy 17 watt lights on to of that. So I will get 1.6 wpg and that is good enough for my plants.

Now I found a much better lighting system for only $20 more. But I already ordered the other one. hummm make sure you shop around. That's all I have to say.

 

[fishnoob88]

My 46 has two 15 watt bulbs, and my 55 has two 17 watt bulbs. lol

 

[aaronnorth]

wow thats bad.

if i were you, i would buy a starter unit, and light tube. Then attach it above or into your hood using the brackets provided like i did. See 1st page of my 60l journal for pics.

 

[Amunet]

wow thats bad.

I know right? hehe

I'll have a chat with DH tonight when he gets home to see what he wants to do.


And don't worry about jumpers.. the tank has very well fitted glass hoods

 

[Amunet]

Alrighty, so we ordered 2 of those ebay ones. That'll give us 75w for each side, so that should be more than enough for the plants we have.
Didn't come out as expensive as I thought it would. Thank god for ebay! lol
We're probably going to have to replace the bulbs that come w/ it though, but still not too shabby