o.k. so I have looked all over about diy lighting , I'm looking for something to install in my diy canopy 30"L x 12 w usable space, everything I looked at says what you cant do or what ballast you cant use , I understand everyone has opinions but how about some help , can someone give me some ideas of what I can use for soft corals and fish (combos light/ballast) pc/t5's/halogen/led's , I would like to build something and not break the bank "best bang for the buck" thanks to all who can help
diy lighting ?
- Thread starter papare
- Start date
- Location
- Far Rockaway
T5 retro fit 4 bulbs . Get a Ice Cap great price and a great product.
maybee I need to be more clear, I am trying to find out what combiation of ballast/bulbs/end caps to use to fit into my canopy its for a 20 gal long with a 10 gal fuge,I would prefer to buy individual parts rather than buy a lighting system and take it apart,any and all help will be apreciated
- Location
- Far Rockaway
Your looking for a retro fit kit like i said . It comes with all your looking for ex the bulbs has ballast,end caps and reflector to install in your canopy.
- Location
- East Stroudsburg, PA
He can also buy an IceCap 660 ballast, stand-offs and the reflectors that clip directly to the bulbs if hed like It can handle the amount of t-5's that hes going to use, and can mount them and space them exactly how he would like to.
It sounds like he's got a 29 gallon; using a 660 on that with decent reflectors would likely nuke the tank with light. Way overkill.
- Location
- East Stroudsburg, PA
Well then what if he went with an IceCap 430 I think it is? Hes got 30 inches worth of length for bulbs that would power any t-5's he used correct? I was thinking the 660 so if he ever upgrades he wont need a new ballst to handle the higher number of bulbs.
What kind of lighting budget do you have in mind?
How handy and\or comfortable are you with soldering or wiring up 110V AC lighting?
I am building a LED setup for a 20G tall (24"x12") that will be a SPS\LPS prop tank, plan is to use a 12 LED kit from rapidLED.com.
You'll be looking at $150+shipping for a two 24" T5 retrofit kit from Sunlight Supply. The T5 will most likely put out less light than LED but 12 LED's over a 30" tank maybe a bit spotty looking. Check out the LED built thread..
You'll be looking at $150+shipping for a two 24" T5 retrofit kit from Sunlight Supply. The T5 will most likely put out less light than LED but 12 LED's over a 30" tank maybe a bit spotty looking. Check out the LED built thread..
I just ordered this
http://www.satistronics.com/1w-higer-power-led-pure-white-7080lm_p1311.html
i'm building an LED lights for my 6g nano.
http://www.satistronics.com/1w-higer-power-led-pure-white-7080lm_p1311.html
i'm building an LED lights for my 6g nano.
- Location
- Merrick, NY
The DIY LED lights look interesting. This may be a stupid question but where do you install them? To an existing piece of the hood or do you have to make something to put them into? Any would LED be the only thing to light the tank? No MH or T5?
Would papare be able to keep all sorts of corals under this lighting? Would the color and growth be different than say if he uses the IceCap mentioned earlier in the post?
Would papare be able to keep all sorts of corals under this lighting? Would the color and growth be different than say if he uses the IceCap mentioned earlier in the post?
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
