power compact lighting from home depot

[newreef06]

Im thinking of starting a 10G nano. I really dont want to spend a bunch of money on a MH or power compact. I have a MH for my 55G. This tank will just be a tank in my office. I was wondering If some of the power compact lighting at homedepot would be good. They have a 40Watt desk lamp. Has anyone used these light systems. And if so how are they


Scott

 

[WarEagleNR88]

... well it depends. What type of animals do you want to keep?. A incandescent would work if you were doing a FOWLR tank. If you wanted to get some macro algae and do a saltwater planted tank, a ~6500K type lighting system would work well. That may even work for zoanthids or mushrooms if you wanted to keep some of those.

What type of lighting is the 40W desk lamp? Does is accept screw-ins, 2 pin, 4 pin or is a Halogen bulb?

 

[Agu]

Look for the curly PC bulbs marked daylight with a 6500K color temp. I have one over my 5.5 and one over my sump/mantis tank. Here's a pic of corals under that light after a couple of years.

Just be aware it's more yellow than aquarium lighting. If that's an issue check these outCoralife 20w 50/50

 

[yardboy]

I recently found this light at HD for my 1 gallon tank. It's made by Hampton Bay lighting and has a Lights of America 27W 6500K quad tube. Cost was only $20, and I found a source of bulbs for $6 each. Seems plenty bright and isn't even yellow looking.
Time will tell if it's adequate for this tank. I'll be keeping only zoanthids, xenia, a fungia, favia, and maybe a gorgonian.

 

[HumanIMDB]

Whoa! I didn't know they made them that small!

 

[Agu]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8285753#post8285753 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by yardboy
I recently found this light at HD for my 1 gallon tank. It's made by Hampton Bay lighting and has a Lights of America 27W 6500K quad tube. Cost was only $20, and I found a source of bulbs for $6 each. Seems plenty bright and isn't even yellow looking.
Time will tell if it's adequate for this tank. I'll be keeping only zoanthids, xenia, a fungia, favia, and maybe a gorgonian.

Sweet......

 

[yardboy]

After a few days, it seems as if the light may actually be a little too bright. My blue mushroom shrunk back out of the light. I raised it up to about 6" from the surface. Later I'll lower it back down. I cleaned the filter sock in my 150 this evening and found a brittle star in it, seemed a good addition. Here's my little fungia