Going to PETCO HELP!?

[jaydm93teg]

whats up guys, ok i am eventuallly gonna get a "real" light set up but right now all i have is the crappy yellow/regular light bulb that comes with the cheap 29 gallon starter kit tank you can get from wal-mart or petsmart.....

I am going to petco to get a new bulb and what i want is that blue looking light something that is gonna make my tank look a little better than the current crappy regular light. Can someone please tell me what kind of bulb i should be looking for at petco? again this is just temporary but i will upgrade to a better lighting latter on.....I have No corals it is FOWLR so lets hear what you suggest???


THanks for all the help

 

[reeftankjunkie]

Look for the true actinic. It looks pretty blue, but its better looking than the yellow one in my opinion.

 

[jaydm93teg]

true actinic, ok how much should i expect to pay? just so i dont pay an outrageous price

 

[tsciarini]

IMO, I think you should just wait until you get your "real" lights and save your money...

 

[jaydm93teg]

well that will be a while and if i can get a cheap bulb that will make my tank look better i will get that

 

[tsciarini]

fair enough.... I havent bought a bulb from a box store in a long time but for whatever reason $15-25 comes to my mind.
I'm not 100% sure that Petco/Petsmart carry actinics but like I said... I havent looked in a really long time.

 

[stroid]

PETCO and Petsmart both carry some form of bulbs. If your light strip has two bulbs then put one blue actinic and one white light. This will give you the balance you need.

 

[linda lee]

What about http://www.petco.com/product/5710/Coralife-50-or-50-50-percent-Natural-Daylight-6-000-K-Fluorescent-Bulbs.aspx">this one</a>?

(Note: sale price on website is not matched in the store)

 

[dakota9]

I dont think you are going to find actinic bulbs to fit the fixture. Just look for the highest Kelvin rating you can find. Dont automatically assume a "grow" bulb will give you the best light. The higher the Kelvin rating (6500K, 7500K, 10,000K) the less yellow it will be.

 

[jaydm93teg]

i did go by there and saw an actinic light for about 20 bux. I didnt buy it because after thinking i really just want to buy the real lighting i need. Is there anyway someone can just post a link to what type of lighting i need from an online site where i can go in and order it and get the prices.....im guessing i have to buy a new hood for my tank considering mine is a single bulb hood. Im just not sure where to start with this light stuff.......I want to be able to get an anemone and some other corals Im guessing i need a T5 light and a moon light???? if i get one T5 bulb and one Moon light bulb do u put them both in a 2 bulb fixture and turn them both on at the same time or how does this work?

thanks so much for all the input you guys have really taught me a-lot in this hobby....


what about this one??
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18369/si1381728/cl0/currentusasatellite3065wattpowercompactfixturesinglestripwlunarlight">http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl3684/cp18369/si1381728/cl0/currentusasatellite3065wattpowercompactfixturesinglestripwlunarlight</a>

would that work for my 29 gallon tank?

 

[linda lee]

I would first post a thread in the *Want to Buy* forum seeking a light fixture for your 29g (if that's the tank it's going on). Make a note in your post of what kind of livestock will be going into your system.

Perhaps another member may have upgraded from that size tank and might have something available.

Good luck.

 

[jaydm93teg]

thanks linda you have given me a ton of good info. in a few of my other threads!!!!!a

ok i will go post in the WTB section but assuming all else fails was that other fixture in my last replay a good one to go on my tank? like i said i have a:

1 bar goby
1 green chromis
1 arrow crab
3 large red foot snails (i think that is the name)
2 pepp. shrimp
1 dwarf angel ( this is not a flame angle but i talked to the LFS on the phone and my g/f went by and picked it up and she forgot the name) it is blue and orange and green and has orange circles arond his eyes he is doing awsome in the tank!!!!

anyway i want to get 2 clowns an anemone and some corals next!!

 

[victor626nj]

waite a couple of days tell sal gets back im sur he has something you might be aable to use

 

[jaydm93teg]

flaco626nj;82074 wrote: waite a couple of days tell sal gets back im sur he has something you might be aable to use

sorry, not really sure who sal is but do u know when he gets back and how i can contact him about what im looking for??

thanks again

 

[linda lee]

I have no experience on the light fixture you posted, but someone else might. I'd give your WTB post a chance to get some responses. You might also try PM'ing mufret. I remember seeing several light fixtures in his basement and he might have something you could buy at a reasonable price.

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[linda lee]

jaydm93teg;82086 wrote: sorry, not really sure who sal is but do u know when he gets back and how i can contact him about what im looking for??

thanks again

Sal = horseziggy ... according to http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=7907">this thread</a>, he's enjoying a week-long cruise. You could send him a PM, but don't expect an answer for a few days.

Maybe you could make plans to attend the get-together?

 

[victor626nj]

29 is 30 inches long

 

[jaydm93teg]

325 is a bit more than i was looking to spend right now.....was the link to that one i posted not a good light??

I would love to find something used in the 100 dollar range.

thanks again

 

[dakota9]

jay,
I know that one can easily choke on the sticker price of reef lighting, it's a hard pill to swallow. I've bought cheap lighting, and RE-BOUGHT cheap lighting when the fairly new fixtures broke. If theres one area of the reef tank you shouldn't skimp on, it's the lighting. Take solace in the fact that its the biggest expense you'll have. The Current Fixture that you linked to isn't enough wattage for an anemone. Some anemones could survive if you bought the 130watt version of that particular Current fixture.

PLEASE take my advice....... You'll buy cheap lights 3 times over, where a more expensive light you'll pay a fortune but will only buy once. I've learned this lesson the hard way!

 

[jaydm93teg]

Dakota9;82183 wrote: jay,
I know that one can easily choke on the sticker price of reef lighting, it's a hard pill to swallow. I've bought cheap lighting, and RE-BOUGHT cheap lighting when the fairly new fixtures broke. If theres one area of the reef tank you shouldn't skimp on, it's the lighting. Take solace in the fact that its the biggest expense you'll have. The Current Fixture that you linked to isn't enough wattage for an anemone. Some anemones could survive if you bought the 130watt version of that particular Current fixture.

PLEASE take my advice....... You'll buy cheap lights 3 times over, where a more expensive light you'll pay a fortune but will only buy once. I've learned this lesson the hard way!

ok lets say i got that 325 dollar one. Would i still need to buy some type of hood for my tank or does it have a mounting bracket where it will mount over my tank? I ask this cause it would be difficult for me to leave my tank open at the top except for the light cause i have 2 siberian huskies that shed A-LOT and dog hair would get all in the tank if it wasnt closed off at the top completly