James2009 Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 Looking at some lighting for my 20 gallon planted tank. A few people have suggested LED strip lights. I have had mixed reviews on these lights. Im also looking at T5HO lights. Thinking that a dual lamp T5's may be better then the LED's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cale262 Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 You have to spend allot of money to get a quality LED fixture...Unless you have >$1000 in your lighting budget I'd stick with the T5's...I have a little 24" two bulb T5HO fixture that I ran on my 20gal hitec planted tank with great success... I don't have a FTS but here's an old pic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubr0ke Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 James.... what are your goals with this planted tank?...do you plan on adding co2?..adding ferts?.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gBOYsc2 Posted December 31, 2010 Report Share Posted December 31, 2010 I agree with cale262. Unless the tank is under 10g I would go with T5HO. Led's can be quite expensive! I also run a dual lamp fixture on my 20g and it seems to be going great so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ishkabod Posted January 1, 2011 Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 They have some double bright LED lights on sale at big Als that i'm fairly sure would do a good job on a average planted tank. If you want Co2 and the works with delicate hight light plants then i'd suggest go with what works for sure. I have a LED strip light on my Cichlid tank and i love it but for planted I'm going to experiment with a small LED strip bubble curtain for 20 bucks and see what it'll give me in a mini planted tank. Good luck L Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James2009 Posted January 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 James.... what are your goals with this planted tank?...do you plan on adding co2?..adding ferts?.. Yes i plan on adding co2 and ferts down the road... im still deciding what i want for plants. Im really looking for a cool ground cover plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baos Posted January 1, 2011 Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 I tried led and while it is possible to grow I didn't get the results I would have with a higher intensity light such as t5ho. However there are 3watt leds on the market that cost their weight in gold that do have the intensity from my understanding. Pictures of a few running salt water aquariums with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubr0ke Posted January 1, 2011 Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 james...I have a 20 gallon with a t5ho 2x24 watt fixture and if i was to do it again I wouldn't go that route. The lights are pretty intense but the spread isn't the greatest. Id go with 2x14 watt t5no and buy 2 fixtures...or if you really want t5ho buy the 4 bulb and just use the 2 outside bulbs.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James2009 Posted January 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 (edited) Good to know.. I was wondering if the spread would be good enough with a dual lamp fixture. I will go with two fixtures instead of one for sure. Thanks for the FYI Edited January 1, 2011 by James2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gBOYsc2 Posted January 1, 2011 Report Share Posted January 1, 2011 james...I have a 20 gallon with a t5ho 2x24 watt fixture and if i was to do it again I wouldn't go that route. The lights are pretty intense but the spread isn't the greatest. Id go with 2x14 watt t5no and buy 2 fixtures...or if you really want t5ho buy the 4 bulb and just use the 2 outside bulbs.. What kind of light are you using? I use a 2x24in t5h0 on my 20 gal and I am getting great results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubr0ke Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 aquaticlife....my plants grow great but as they get taller they grow towards the centre of the tank with better spread that wouldn't happen.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gBOYsc2 Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 Interesting..... I have the same fixture but my plants are still pretty short so I haven't experienced this. I was thinking of adding a coralife T5 NO but I have read some horrible things about them. Maybe I will add another AquaticLife and just run 3 bulbs . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James2009 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 Interesting..... I have the same fixture but my plants are still pretty short so I haven't experienced this. I was thinking of adding a coralife T5 NO but I have read some horrible things about them. Maybe I will add another AquaticLife and just run 3 bulbs . Either one of you want to sell your lights? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cale262 Posted January 2, 2011 Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 I have a nice 24" dual T5HO fixture with two 6700K bulb you can have for $60...it's this one link here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James2009 Posted January 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2011 I have a nice 24" dual T5HO fixture with two 6700K bulb you can have for $60...it's this one link here I will take it... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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