Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Kyle, which cf combination did you use to light your 15H tank?
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Matt

I built a hood with 2 13watt lights. CF's are just amazing, at home much light they put out. I am going to build a new one for a 20gal high here soon. I just need to order the parts.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Thanks. I have begun work on my vent tank. I clench at the thought of almost 50 bucks for lights but I want my broms to look good.
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Matt

Ya me too, they are great, but not cheap either. Not as bad as some other grow lights I have learned, but still not cheap. I really have not made up my mind on my new tank, and have stopped to think about what I want to do.

Water feature or not, CFs or not, leca or rocks etc.. etc..

At first I will use a small cabinet light on it until I make up my mind, but the water feature is killing me. I just don't want another tank with a pump to worry about right now, but I have not tried without a pump? I want to have a pool with some grass type stuff in it, but the leca seems too light, and I might have to switch to gravel. I might try to use gravel in a small area then use leca in the rest, just have to clean the gravel...

I don't even want to think about plants right now...
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I think that without circulation, the water will become stagnant, and need to be changed more often. I may be wrong though. The plants can be a headache but I am enjoying picking them out myself this time. I am keeping it more simple too. Only a few different species. I think I will chance another tillandsia and keep it right under the fan this time. By the way, thanks for the advice on the 40mm fan run on 3 volts....it is working beautifully.
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Matt

ya, thats my concern... I just don't want to run a pump in tons of tanks. Already have one in 2 tanks. Anyone have any ideas?
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Check Quality Captives or ebay if you're worried about prices on pumps. I know QC sells 70 gph fountain pumps that work well for $10. The pumps only use 5 watts, so I wouldn't worry about them overloading a circuit.

As for lights, you might consider using the circline CF's with the built-in ballasts, if you can find them in 5000K (which someone here stated that some Lowes carry . . . mine does not). They tend to come in 23 or 32 watt configurations and put out about 2000 lumens for the 32 watts I think (13 watt CF's put out 850 lumens each). You might also check out the Lowes electrical area . . . they sell electronic ballasts there for reasonable prices. A 2x 60watt T-12 electronic ballast was around $25 there.

I can't say for certain that you can use those on a CF fixture, but I have seen it done. Maybe it lowers the life expectancy of the tubes or ballast, I don't know. However, I certainly thought twice about it.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

I have a pump, but just don't want one in every tank. I think I will build a CF light and hood, but will have to order parts. For Right now I will have a under the cabinet light on it for a bit. Its a 5000k light so should be ok for a bit. I'm just debating on using a shop light and a stand. I can get a stand for much less than the parts for the CF light. I have a shop light, but will need bulbs.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators