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Yet another lighting question...?

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  • Yet another lighting question...?

    I have a 67 gal I keep outside housing my plecos and goldfish (during winter time).
    I just went to Home Depot and picked up two cheap polished metal worklight
    pendents and want to hang them above the tank for light. I'm hoping to make enough
    light to grow algae for the plecos and help pull wast out of the water. I tryed two cheap coralife
    25w incandescent bulbs, but that was not good enough. Big question is, what kind of buld
    would be bright enough and produce the kind of spectrum for growing algae and for cheap too?

  • #2
    Re: Yet another lighting question...?

    Just get something that would be for growing plants I would assume.  Somewhere in the 6500K range.  Usually goldfish are dirty enough eaters that you will have no issues growing algae either on purpose or by accident...LOL.  What Kelvin range were the incandescents?

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    • #3
      Re: Yet another lighting question...?

      Originally posted by Hanson77";p="
      Just get something that would be for growing plants I would assume.  Somewhere in the 6500K range.  Usually goldfish are dirty enough eaters that you will have no issues growing algae either on purpose or by accident...LOL.  What Kelvin range were the incandescents?
      Didn't state...
      When I was looking around HDepot I didn't find any kinda light buld
      stating K-rang and/or plant growth.
      W/ the goldfish however during the time they where in that tank
      w/o the plecos, the whole tank was covered. Couldn't see anything and
      the water quality was fantastic. Now the plecos and consumed every little bit of it and the water quality
      has become somewhat an issue.

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      • #4
        Re: Yet another lighting question...?

        Funny thing here
        While looking up cheap basic plant grow light bulbs
        all pages I come across are forms on growing weed indoors.
        I have fish, I can't afford weed... lol

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        • #5
          Re: Yet another lighting question...?

          " two cheap polished metal worklight pendents"

          So, I guess these pendants take incandescent bulbs? If so, get a few screw-in compact fluorescents.

          If you keep this outside...the sun's probably your best bet...?
          "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

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          • #6
            Re: Yet another lighting question...?

            Originally posted by Mzungu";p="
            " two cheap polished metal worklight pendents"

            So, I guess these pendants take incandescent bulbs? If so, get a few screw-in compact fluorescents.

            If you keep this outside...the sun's probably your best bet...?
            Yes they are.
            And the tank sits under a awning and get a couple or more hr of sunlight.
            Any particular CF in mind?

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            • #7
              Re: Yet another lighting question...?

              Depending on wattage that the pendant itself can handle, I'd get the most wattage you can. Walmart has some plant bulbs that I've bought before, and I recommend them. Check around the pet section or the light bulb section for screw-in 25W plant bulbs. If you don't have any luck, really any kind of light will work. Especially if you're not being too specific about what you want to grow and how.  
              "Millennium hand and shrimp!"

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              • #8
                Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                I just found some of the compact flourescents over the weekend for a refugium on my salt tank that were like 15W but put out the energy of a 60W in either 6500K or 6700K I can't remember which.  A pair of them was only about $5 or $6 bucks if memory serves over in the regular lighting section.

                You have to think, most of the people outside of us fish nuts who actually grow plants indoors are only growing a select few plants.....LOL!!!!

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                • #9
                  Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                  the MAX on these things is 200w
                  I've tryed 25w aquarium bulbs to no such luck w/ this size of a tank.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                    Ok
                    lets see if these guy work out.
                    I found a couple of CF @ HDepot
                    to use here. They state there 5500K @ 100 watts
                    but actual wattage is like 27w. Looks good for growing
                    things N' whathaveyou.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                      How long of a photo period are you running?  That will be a determining factor in your algae growth as well?

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                      • #12
                        Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                        Originally posted by Hanson77";p="
                        How long of a photo period are you running?  That will be a determining factor in your algae growth as well?
                        Thinking of setting it for a 12hr cycle. You guys think more or less?

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                        • #13
                          Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                          Just keep it on 24/7 you'll have more algae then you want after that.


                          Hope you got plecos that actually eat algae!
                          700g Mini-Monster tank

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                          • #14
                            Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                            Originally posted by eklikewhoa";p="
                            Just keep it on 24/7 you'll have more algae then you want after that.


                            Hope you got plecos that actually eat algae!
                            As long as there no heat issues from these lights, I'll keep them on as long as I can except during the night
                            when the plecos like to forage for food.
                            lol ya I got a few.
                            One I've had for a couple of years now @ around 9"
                            A new little guy I got a few mo. back
                            and one very large guy I caught in a bayou there off 610 & Memorial @ 14" a little while ago.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Yet another lighting question...?

                              Like EK says, I hope these guys actually eat algae.  A lot of them stop after they get so large and they start taking out fish when the lights go out.

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