cheap light for a 10 gallon?

M

mopar9012

Member
Market
Messages
269
Reaction score
10
Ive gotten out of reef keeping and just started a ten gallon. I have some live rock and plan on keeping two clownfish and a cleaner shrimp. NO CORALS. I bought a light/hood from a local departmet store and the light sucks. Its really dim and theres lots of shadows.

Okay on to the point. Ive seen some LED light fixtures online that are going for about 20 bucks. One of them clips on to the tank. Is there any LED light fixture out there for around 20-30 bucks that is worth it? Im not looking to keep corals, just want to supply my tank with decent lighting without shadows. Just curious before I order something that is terrible.
 
I understand just thought I would put it out there. I would not waste my money on a $20 dollar led just my 2 cents. Save up and buy something nice the first time.
 
My thinking is that if you don't have anything that requires a lot of light (anemones, macro algae and corals), then don't put a lot of light on it. It'll just feed the nuisance algae and cause problems down the road. Many times a lot of lights will equal a lot of heat... not good for a small tank. Most importantly the fish don't need a fancy light. I'd just something that looks good to your eye.

Unfortunately, I don't have a particular name brand to recommend
 
im not looking for something fancy, just something a little more decent than the one from the department store. I used to have a reef tank but my schedule is too crazy for the upkeep so I dont want to keep corals. Ive done that in the past, Ive had the metal halides just want some simple but better than what walmart has to offer.

Edit:
Sewer Urchin;809861 wrote: My thinking is that if you don't have anything that requires a lot of light (anemones, macro algae and corals), then don't put a lot of light on it. It'll just feed the nuisance algae and cause problems down the road. Many times a lot of lights will equal a lot of heat... not good for a small tank. Most importantly the fish don't need a fancy light. I'd just something that looks good to your eye.

Unfortunately, I don't have a particular name brand to recommend
Click to expand...

well you are pretty much thinking exactly what im thinking. lol
maybe I am not being realistic but I dont have a lot of funds. I just wanted something cheap, doesnt need to support any kind of life what so ever and easy on the eye. If that exists. haha
 
I got one of those clamp on led lights and it stunk and flickered like a crackhead. I think you would be most happy with a fuge light with t-5's or power compacts for salt for around 50.
 
I have a small T-5 that would work but I am too far from you. You could just build an LED setup into the existing light that you have using low power LED's. With enough you would have a nice effect and possibly support some softie coral coral. It would not be expensive and relatively easy to build. Low power LED's do not need a heatsink and the LED's themselves are cheap, cheap, cheap.
 
I got some Deep Blue T5 lights fairly cheap (less than 50 for each 2 bulb fixture).
Shadows are gonna be a problem with any light system if you have rocks in the middle piled up and the light right over top. You could try shifting the light forward and sacrifice with shadows in the back. Or just re-work the rockscape a little to remove shadows. Still, the light you have is unattractive, even without corals, blues look so nice in a Marine tank. I have cheaper soft coral ready LEDs on a little nano, and I don't think its enough light for me to enjoy.
 
I have a t-5 light laying around but I didn't want to build a canopy to house them. I'm going to do what coolsurf said with installing some chero blueish LEDs on the existing hood. Thanks!
 
You could also try Zoo Med Reef Sun 50/50 Compact Fluorescent Bulb. Works great with good color if coral growth is not your concern and for fish only. Try a clamp on Home Depot fixture overhead and should do you well for 10gal spread...pretty cheap I would say, but works. :up:
 
PAR38's an option depending on the shape of the tank. If it's a cube/cubelike they'll work great. If rectangular you're going to have some shadows at the edges.
 
http://ahsupply.com/mcart/index.cgi?code=3&cat=10">http://ahsupply.com/mcart/index.cgi?code=3&cat=10</a>

18 watt kit pc combo bulb good to go.
 
That beamswork led light your were looking at really isnt that bad - expecially for what your goin for
 
I was recently given a 12 gallon nano and the ballast went out on it:doh:, while pondering what to use and the cost of replacing the ballast, I came up with a free solution at work. I custom fitted a 35watt HID Lexus headlight ballast and xenon/mercury bulb, in the canopy, I was able to reuse the existing cooling fans so that the temp stays down:thumbs: EBay sells hid kits for around $30 then you just need a 12 volt power supply.
 
bhodges82;821666 wrote: I was recently given a 12 gallon nano and the ballast went out on it:doh:, while pondering what to use and the cost of replacing the ballast, I came up with a free solution at work. I custom fitted a 35watt HID Lexus headlight ballast and xenon/mercury bulb, in the canopy, I was able to reuse the existing cooling fans so that the temp stays down:thumbs: EBay sells hid kits for around $30 then you just need a 12 volt power supply.
Click to expand...

Man. I gotta see some pics of that!!! Good to meet another car nut!!!
:)
 
2ruble;822037 wrote: there are little $20-30 led lights at petsmart that should work just fine for what you're doing
Click to expand...

pPETS-9147898dt.jpg
alt="" />
just bought one
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

G
How many watts for tank light
Replies
7
Views
322
dball711
dball711
GratefulAlpaca
Shielding Skimmer from Light
Replies
2
Views
113
GratefulAlpaca
GratefulAlpaca
Bburger
Burgers Waterbox 25 Peninsula
Replies
0
Views
195
Bburger
Bburger
KrisDeitz
Hey guys! been a little while...
Replies
3
Views
233
KrisDeitz
KrisDeitz
The27turk
Xr15 G5 blue on 10 gallon cube
Replies
5
Views
361
jrhunter0000
jrhunter0000
Back
Top