Help please! How to light a 4ft x 4ft tank!

[Aloe_Danielo]

I have a beautiful shallow 4ftx4ftx1ft high tank which I want to use to create an ermergent scape/paludarium.

After lots of research I ordered a chihiros a1201 with the intention of getting another if it worked out. However Hinterfelds have refunded my purchase without an explanation - have they gone bust?

I’m now stuck in that I’ve no idea what to buy instead! Please help? What would be a reasonably priced method of lighting this? I can only spend £200 on lights but don’t want to grow anything with high light requirements.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

What would be a reasonably priced method of lighting this?

They aren't particulalrly attractive, but a <"horticultural T5 luminaire"> would do.

cheers Darrel

 

[Edvet]

Any chance of daylight?
LED spotlights are quite cheap (industrial ones, floodlights). Kessils are a solid, no cheap, solution.

 

[Iain Sutherland]

It's not popular any more but one metal halide unit would do a 4x4...
This one, 3x3, also in signature, had one which worked a treat. Probably cheap as chips now as everyone wants led...


Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[alto]

Probably cheap as chips now

I looked for this before going LED, unfortunately prices only dropped by maybe 20% locally ... unless there were no replacement bulbs available, in which case I could manage 50% discount 🙄

(Note the local shop that handled a fair bit of MH seemed to have no problem clearing their stock at the 15-20% discount level)

 

[alto]

chihiros a1201 with the intention of getting another if it worked out. However Hinterfelds have refunded my purchase without an explanation - have they gone bust?

production of any 120cm LED seems problematic (or just not enough units predicted to sell???) - at any rate, it’s seldom offered & Chihiros production seemed inconsistent ... it rarely listed any units actually available

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Something like this could be a cheap fix... couple of new bulbs and good to go..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/253589916843

There is also new single bulb units for £80...

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

 

[Aloe_Danielo]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions - I think my best option might be to rig up my own lighting frame and go from there

 

[micheljq]

TMC Grobeams 1500 have a 2' X 2' spread, but are no cheap (but backed with 5 years warranty). With 4 of them you would have high light, with only one high up (maybe a second one later?), more spread but lower intensity.

Michel.

 

[Filip Krupa]

I think my best option might be to rig up my own

Ive gone down that route. 9x50w flood lights over 5.5x5.5x2.5ft tank. They are fixed to a frame made of 2020 aluminium profiles, and its working a treat so far!

 

[rebel]

Ive gone down that route. 9x50w flood lights over 5.5x5.5x2.5ft tank. They are fixed to a frame made of 2020 aluminium profiles, and its working a treat so far!

View attachment 118476

Nice DIY! Are those DIY cooling fans???

 

[Filip Krupa]

Are those DIY cooling fans???

Well spotted. Its simple PC fans, awkwardly cable tied to the lights.
These are LED floodlights, but they get hot!

Fil

 

[Aloe_Danielo]

This looks brilliant! In the end I settled for kessils. Maybe one day I'll weld up a proper frame for it

 

[alto]

Any set up details? this sounds an interesting tank 🙂

 

[Aloe_Danielo]

Any set up details? this sounds an interesting tank 🙂

I'm too nervous to post it up! 😳 It's not a patch on some of the well manicured set ups in the journals on here! The tanks primary function is to be a natural environment for my axolotl salamanders and so it's a low tech set up with no Co2 or ferts.

 

[Filip Krupa]

It's not a patch on some of the well manicured set ups

Youre being daft. Besides, you cant beat this mess 😉



Fil