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Struggling with lighting

Obliquegeek

Obliquegeek

Seedling
Joined
15 Jan 2016
Messages
6
Location
Brighton
Hi all,

Just trying to put together my first attempt at a fancy aquascape. I’ve had fish and plants for year – but just never got around to doing it properly.

I’m struggling with understanding lighting… When I looked into it years ago it was just WPG – which wasn’t a problem, but it seems to have got a fair bit more technical. I’ve read loads but come up none the wiser.

Anyway – I’m putting the tank together as cheaply as possible for now and that mean I’m probably not going to have CO2 to begin with – so pretty low tech (although things might change further down the line). Tank is 60x45x30, and will have quite a few plants – I’ve already got lots of different crypts, moss and anubias – would like to get something low growing for coverage and some grasses as well.

Can’t really stretch to any expensive lighting and I want something suspended above the tank – so it’s come down to either a series of those spiral fluorescent bulb with standard fitting and pendant shades that I can rig up myself or I’ve seen some fittings that hold 2 or 4 T5 tubes for about £55. (haven't posted a link - not sure it's allowed)

My questions is would either of the above be suitable?

Any advice or suggestions appreciated.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you are DIY minded then I would suggest a few GU10 fitment LEDs mounted above the tank, that is what I use anyway!
Just standard household, flush fit, ceiling fitments from B&Q, some come complete with LED bulb.
I would get dimmable bulbs & DIY a simple suspended hood.
Of course a nice fancy specialist dimmable LED unit would be nice as well 🙂
 
Good suggestion...what wattage would you use for a tank with the above dimensions?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Well I can easily remember only a few years ago when 5w bulbs were advertised as 50w halogen equivalent but - they were not!
However you can now buy 11w GU10 bulbs and I would say they are brighter than a 50w halogen!
Over my 200lt I have 5 x 11w GU10s but one is a blue bulb that is only used for an hour after the other four go off.
I also use my dimmer if I spot to much algae!
So for a low tech 60l I would be thinking 4 x 4w?
One thing I find is the shimmer effect of 4 x 11w in my lounge is a bit over powering to the ambience of a quiet night in!
 
Thanks for the replies.

I'm liking the idea of the GU10s - hadn't thought that. I could manage a simple hood and paint it white to match the cabinet.

Wouldn't know about wiring it up though. How would you go about it?
 
I've been looking around and wondered if something similar to these would work? Same principle as the GU10 but with the E27 fitting.
 
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