Questions from a noob

[Willster]

I have been given a ~30 gallon aquarium and I thought, why not try darts. Amphibians aren't new to me and neither is gardening. However my question falls with the lighting. The tank will be 24" after substrate but it is only 18" wide. I know most people recommend t5 lighting but a fixture to fit both my needs of having a clean design and the needs of the plant aren't exactly seeing eye to eye (i.e. Most fixtures that are powerful enough would hang off the tank). I started doing research on the Kessil amazon sun fixture and found one result of them being used on a vivarium. I was wondering if anyone else had any input on the light or any suggestions on a light fixture to use. I am pretty positive I will have more questions as the progress of my build goes on but I figured id start here! Thanks for any replies/suggestions!

[Mentat]

I would either go with LED's (lower cost than Kessil's) or coiled compact fluorescents with low UVB content .

[Willster]

I'm not necessarily worried about the cost of the kessil since I've got a guy giving me a good deal, I was just wondering if it was worth putting over the tank and if it would even work haha. How many of the cfl bulbs do you think it would take

[deranged chipmunk]

I keep an 18" led fixture over my 18x18x24 paludarium. I love it. And my plants love it even more. Costs about $35 with free shipping. Even has nice, clean, low profile lines.

Got it at aquatraders.com


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[Willster]

I think I have decided to go with three little 12" T-5 bulbs found in the kitchen section of walmart. I have used them before on nano reefs (different bulbs of course) but I don't know how or if it's a good idea. Does anyone have any reason they wouldn't work? If not, which T-5 bulbs have you had the most success with?? Stock bulbs aren't going to cut it I don't believe, but if the whole fixture idea won't work, I'll continue to look into the LED option. Again thanks for the help!

[deranged chipmunk]

The problem you may have is finding standard t5 bulbs in the correct spectrum. T5ho may be available in 12" form, but they will burn out quickly in a t5no fixture.


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