Lighting - please help me choose

[Wblaze]

Ok. I have choices down to a 48" marineland double bright led or a t5 ho double stip with one 10000 and a actinic

What would you do. I have Malawi cichlids in a 55g long tank

 

[lonlangione]

I would by a case of white wine, with or without sulfites, and sit them in the sun for a few days. The suns uv rays will penetate the wine bottles and the wine will store up the uv rays. Then you can put them over your tank and use them as light. As they become dim just sit them in the sun for a few more days.

 

[Hawkman2000]

Given the type of water in lake malawi, the 10k/actinic would be my choice. Of course, I use actinic combos on all my tanks. Just not 10k/ actinic combos. Actually, I hae a single ZooMed T8 ReefGlo (50/50 6500k/420 actinic mixed phosphor) on my 46, and I love. I have a male Jewel in their that looks fantastic under that light.

Marineland doublebringts are just bright enough to light up a 20 long. From what I have seen, you would have to spend at least 600$ to get enough LED out put for a 55.

What I would do is buy a 2x6500k T5-HO, buy a 420 actinic bulb, and keep one of the 6500ks as a spare.

Its all up to personal preferance.

 

[Shane]

Any reason not to just buy a 48" shoplight from Home Depot for under $20 and use the savings on something else? The new ones even run T5s.
Most of my fishroom is under shoplights.
Below is a 55 I am running with a shoplight over it.
-Shane

 

[Hawkman2000]

Any reason not to just buy a 48" shoplight from Home Depot for under $20 and use the savings on something else? The new ones even run T5s.
Most of my fishroom is under shoplights.
Below is a 55 I am running with a shoplight over it.
-Shane

Good old HoDo.

 

[Tony]

I would by a case of white wine, with or without sulfites, and sit them in the sun for a few days. The suns uv rays will penetate the wine bottles and the wine will store up the uv rays. Then you can put them over your tank and use them as light. As they become dim just sit them in the sun for a few more days.

^^^^hehehe.

Missed you around here, lonnie.

To the OP, led's are totally overkill for Malawi cichlids imo.