Lighting for a 75

[BlueTrig]

Hey everyone! :wave:
havent posted in a while and have a frustrating problem. i upgraded from a 38 to a 75 gallon tank and with that my light also went with it. the original HOt5 i have is 36 inches and its on a 48 inch tank... annoying. i have rigged a bridge type poles for it to rest on. i have no corals just some macro algae and im tired of being restricted into my... heres my question...

I dont need a big powerful light and really would like to stay away from HOt5s. how can i make a lighting fixture for macro without breaking the bank? i dont need extreme lighting for i never really wanna keep corals... at least for a few years. so help me out what are some cheap alternatives? and i dont mind hanging from the ceiling

 

[namxas]

Unlike the true seagrasses, macro doesn't really require bright lighting. In fact, many of the "reds" will fade under bright lighting. We have good success with PC's as well as NO fluorescents. I do still like to run a dawn/dusk effect using 10k and 03 actinics, but the 10k's are what does it for the macro.

If you don't mind the color, you can run anything over 5k (6500k is better).

HTH

 

[Meshmez]

not sure why this is in this forum... But for just growing macro lots of people just use "daylight" flourescent flood lights from home depot... They screw into standard home light fixtures.

 

[usefulidiot213]

not sure why this is in this forum... But for just growing macro lots of people just use "daylight" flourescent flood lights from home depot... They screw into standard home light fixtures.

$10 for a day light bulb and fixture at Home Deport. I belive they are 6500K. of course your tank will look yellowish, and you want get any of the color pop off any of the fish you would get with the more blue bulbs that are common in fish tank lighting.

 

[namxas]

$10 for a day light bulb and fixture at Home Deport. I belive they are 6500K. of course your tank will look yellowish, and you want get any of the color pop off any of the fish you would get with the more blue bulbs that are common in fish tank lighting.

That's why I like 10k as daylight lamps...can't beat that crisp white light for good color rendition. It doesn't make colors fluoresce like 20k's or actinics, but they're great for taking photos.

 

[reefergeorge]

Buy a couple aluminum L bars, and mount some leds to it. I could build a great light for $150 that would last years to come, and be upgradeable if you go corals.

If you want to know anymore or see some pics pm me.