Lighting Alternatives....that are cheap

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Master Er

New Member
I have three friends who want me to set up their aquariums, one has a MB5 (acrylic), one has a 10 gallon AGA, and one doesnt have a tank yet. These people really dont know a thing about the hobby and after seeing my tanks, they now want to have one themselves. They are on a very tight budget and aside from that, they are quite on the stingy side. I am capable of assisting them on the tank set ups but I really have not much knowledge on lighting.....

The MB5 used to be my tank but before I was able to set it up, I sold it (almost complete) and bought a NanoCube....the only thing it needs are lights and a powerhead for more water circulation.

The 10 Gallon AGA was purchased at wal-mart as a kit.....again, same lighting and water circulation.

The other tank does not exsist yet which I think would be a good start as it could be assembled with the proper equipment.

I need your thoughts on these projects.....again let me stress that the owners are stingy...so a cheap alternative is really needed. Thanks!!!
 
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drty811

New Member
on my ten gallon when i first started i have a coralife 28w fixture that i got for like $40 bucks. it was good enough for my shrooms and zoa's. i also had a thick sand bed and a bunch of LR. i aalso had GSP in the too, placed toward the top. everything did great.
 
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Master Er

New Member
28w....so if I installed 2 20w 50/50 pc screw in bulbs ($28), total of 40watts then it would be fine right? Because when I say stingy....I mean stingy.....$40 for me is fine thats because I know the importance of the lights and I'm all in for the hobby....but for these guys....ahemm! I dont know how serious they really are....not that I belittle their capabilities....but having a few goldfish die in less than 3 months....
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
I applaud your trying to help your freinds out, and this may sound bad, but I don't mean it to, but I tell people up front this is not a cheap hobby. There are just some things you can't skimp on and lights is one of them. You can get frags cheap if you have freinds, but equipment is expensive to keep them alive, growing and hopefully eventially propagating. As I said in some other thread the 4W per gallon rule really doesn't apply to nanos - there is a minimum intensity that will drive photosynthesis in any size tank and 40W is aproaching that min. Just a suggestion but how about a non photosynthetic invert tank to start them out. For example, I saw a decorater crab the yesterday that was really cool but I wouldn't dare put it in my reef. They could have many critters that a reef can't and you don't have to spend as much money on equipment like lights and maintenence is easier. Just a thought.............
 
djconn

djconn

New Member
johnanddawn said:
I applaud your trying to help your freinds out, and this may sound bad, but I don't mean it to, but I tell people up front this is not a cheap hobby. There are just some things you can't skimp on and lights is one of them. You can get frags cheap if you have freinds, but equipment is expensive to keep them alive, growing and hopefully eventially propagating. As I said in some other thread the 4W per gallon rule really doesn't apply to nanos - there is a minimum intensity that will drive photosynthesis in any size tank and 40W is aproaching that min. Just a suggestion but how about a non photosynthetic invert tank to start them out. For example, I saw a decorater crab the yesterday that was really cool but I wouldn't dare put it in my reef. They could have many critters that a reef can't and you don't have to spend as much money on equipment like lights and maintenence is easier. Just a thought.............
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I completely agree with John. I would stress that this hobby IS NOT cheap. The cost of SW adds up quick and I'd hate to see corals and live animals in suffer due to cash flow.

With that said, they might be able to find some nice used lighting setups on ebay, craigslist or even at local reefing clubs.

Screw-in bulbs might not be a bad route for the 10 gallon. I actually have a black plastic hood for a 10 AGA I'd be willing to sell for $35 including bulbs.
 
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Master Er

New Member
Well I did stress to these friends that this hobby aint cheap and would require patience. I even told 2 of them that if they want, just settle with a FOWLR tank, that way it would be simpler to set up in terms of lighting and care. But one of them is a bit hard headed and insists on having corals. I can somehow see some of the future problems already but I dont want to judge them yet...The other guy wants a tank for his son....his approach I welcome because he bought some books to analyze first and see if he would be capable.

DJ- I will ask him if he is interested since he hasnt purchased anything yet.

John- Excuse my ignorance, but what inverts are non-photosynthetic? It sounds good and I may get some for myself. Lol!!!
 
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drty811

New Member
your not missing anything.... i think master understood it wrong. inverts, all inverts are non photosynthetic. john meant that they might want to go with a invert only tank and not a photosynthetic coral tank. i think.....lol. but any who....best of luck to your freinds, and happy reefing
 
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incysor

New Member
Honestly I'd tell step away, and tell your friends that you'll help them with specific questions, but that that they're gonna have to do a lot of basic research before the tanks can be set up. During the time that they're doing the reading, they can be looking for used lighting setups. It's better if they actually get on the boards, and hit the websites, and see for themselves what you mean when you say it isn't cheap.

I think that the two 20w screw in bulbs may work over the MB5, if you can rig a reflector for it as well. I think it would take at least four of them for the 10g. Again, with a reflector.

I've only seen one thread with a tank running for more than a few months on these types of bulbs.

If they're that worried about $40 for lights, they're gonna freak out about paying $4-$5 a pound for rock. :mrgreen:

B
 
M

Master Er

New Member
Lol!!!! I was thinking the same way.....If they are serious about it then fine but if its just because "I wanna do what you did", hah...forget it....I'm not sure if they'd be worried about $40 worth of lights but knowing them.....it was a big OMG for a $20 shrimp....I said that was cheap, since shrimps are low maintenance creatures.....Thanks for your help guys....we'll see what happens

Yeah, I probably misunderstood what John said....though if you read it again....
but how about a non photosynthetic invert tank to start them out.
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:D
 
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