Shop lights

[Localzoo]

I have 48 inch shop lights that have been taking up space...can they be used for my tank? Aren't they being outlawed soon? Should I get rid of them and get t5 fixture since they are more efficient? Can they be adapted to run t5 bulbs? Instead of t12s


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[verbal]

Not florescents, it is incandescents that have been outlawed.

T5 NO will give you slight energy savings(you can compare wattages) - T5HO will give you more light. LEDs are what you want to reduce electricity use, although you pay more upfront.

 

[Localzoo]

Other than energy what about lumens? T5 seem to have more LEDs seem to be good for adjusting color etc..
So I guess keep these for now?
I don't have planted tanks but if I decided to would they work?

Thanks


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[DougGosnell]

I use the 48" shop lights. LEDs are where this is going and you can have great range of what the light spectrum will be, but you pay for that, go ask the folks with reef tanks. For plants HO florescent lights should be fine... not that I have plants mind you.

 

[Localzoo]

I have corals under a HO t5 but didn't know if its a large difference in the fixture itself...I guess the question is do cheap home depot lights works just as well as the stuff in the aquarium hobby n I guess I answered my own question lol
Pics of zoas under the HO t5

[/IMG]


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[chriscoli]

Although I'm slowly converting over to LED, I have shoplights on some of my tanks. The plants in those do just fine.

 

[Ading522]

Although I'm slowly converting over to LED, I have shoplights on some of my tanks. The plants in those do just fine.

What led brands and wattage is most effective per $ spent? I would like do to led as well but don't know if big names like Marineland and currentUSA should be the pick or do non brands do well with light power and reliability long run?

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[chriscoli]

I am really digging my Current USA Satellite Plus fixtures.....
- fish colors are ok (not amazing, though)
- easy plants are doing ok
- a 4 ft fixture runs 30w vs. 54w for a single-bulb T5 shoplight bulb
- you can adjust the color a little with the "plus" model

If you don't care so much about the color, the regular (non-plus) version of the Satellite is a little dimmer but only uses 18 watts for a 4 ft fixture and does great over a shelf of 10 or 15 gallon tanks. Easy plants (subwassertang, chain sword, java moss, crypts) have been doing fine under it as long as you don't make the light travel too far.....for example, this same light looks horrible over my 55 gallon tank but great over a shelf of 15s.

 

[Andrewtfw]

I think many plant people are also using beamsworks led fixtures with mixed results.

 

[cichlidaddicted]

What led brands and wattage is most effective per $ spent? I would like do to led as well but don't know if big names like Marineland and currentUSA should be the pick or do non brands do well with light power and reliability long run?

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I wouldn't recommend marineland at all and current (which I have) aren't much better honestly its new technology so not many lamps have run 10,000+ hours. From my experience if I had to do it over I would get a 6 or 8 pack of led spotlights for 50-75 bucks and run 12v spotlights with multi color and remotes get about 6000-8000 true lumems of great light. Jmo but for the money it can't be beat. One goes out 10 bucks to replace it.

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[Localzoo]

That actually sounds better than buying aquarium specific brands what brand spotlights do you recommend?


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[cichlidaddicted]

I saw a few different brands on amazon some very cheap like 3-5 bucks each some very expensive 50-75 each. My local store has a set up they don't sell but got off amazon an a 220 with 6 lights and it looks better than any high end aquarium light besides kissel. They are made for ponds and water features so you could even put em under water (not sure why in an aquarium but you could) I will call them tomorrow to get the brand. Best of all is they are 12v so you plug in the included transformer than hook them all up to that so very very little energy and only one outlet. Plus they come with rgbw leds and remote. I plan on ordering soon I'm upset I spent the money on the name brand. One of my current fixtures already broke.
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[Localzoo]

Cool but sux about the fixture breaking already. Can't wait until I'm done with school and I can move and have a fish room.


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[Ading522]

I saw a few different brands on amazon some very cheap like 3-5 bucks each some very expensive 50-75 each. My local store has a set up they don't sell but got off amazon an a 220 with 6 lights and it looks better than any high end aquarium light besides kissel. They are made for ponds and water features so you could even put em under water (not sure why in an aquarium but you could) I will call them tomorrow to get the brand. Best of all is they are 12v so you plug in the included transformer than hook them all up to that so very very little energy and only one outlet. Plus they come with rgbw leds and remote. I plan on ordering soon I'm upset I spent the money on the name brand. One of my current fixtures already broke.
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Let us know. I'm interested in those led spotlight setups as well.. How many watts would you recommend getting? There are a wide range of those bulbs..

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[cichlidaddicted]

Most aquarium light fixtures use 1-3w leds the most is usually 5w and that is on fixtures like the marineland double bright with less total leds. A 10w spotlight is a whole lot. My 4' current strip uses 30w to create 2000 lumen (and i think that is overrated) I Would think 6000 lumen on a 125g would be more than enough and you could get it out of 4-6, 10w spotlights.

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[Ading522]

Most aquarium light fixtures use 1-3w leds the most is usually 5w and that is on fixtures like the marineland double bright with less total leds. A 10w spotlight is a whole lot. My 4' current strip uses 30w to create 2000 lumen (and i think that is overrated) I Would think 6000 lumen on a 125g would be more than enough and you could get it out of 4-6, 10w spotlights.

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Do you use the white spotlights only or do you combine with some blue? Got a picture of your setup?

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[cichlidaddicted]

I'm not running spotlights yet I'm still kicking myself in the ars for getting the current fixture instead. A lfs is using them and I believe they use white and blue not sure if they are separate lights or lights with two settings I will check with them tomorrow.

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[cichlidaddicted]

Also I'm not bashing the current its a great light and the settings make it so cool. I love turning it on full red at night and sitting to watch it. The four foot would be great on a 55 just doesn't cut it on a 125. The adjustability is awesome.

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[chriscoli]

No worries on bashing Current....it's good to know there may be issues. Likewise, I'm wary of Beamsworks because of the issues I've had....several other folks have had no issues with them at all.

 

[cichlidaddicted]

I must say current was great about replacing it, got a new one in three days from california. Kept the old one with three leds out so I can't complain there.

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