smm333 Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 I have a planted aquarium- 20 long- that I am looking for a good light for. I was thinking of trying a light from Home Depot, because I've heard that's a good and inexpensive option, and it's always fun to try something new. I looked last time I was there and was totally overwhelmed! Has anyone gone this route? What should I look for specifically? I want my plants to be happy and eventually (it's a new set up- not fully cycled) I will be adding fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 On 6/7/2023 at 10:43 PM, smm333 said: I have a planted aquarium- 20 long- that I am looking for a good light for. I was thinking of trying a light from Home Depot, because I've heard that's a good and inexpensive option, and it's always fun to try something new. I looked last time I was there and was totally overwhelmed! Has anyone gone this route? What should I look for specifically? I want my plants to be happy and eventually (it's a new set up- not fully cycled) I will be adding fish! Well, maybe this is a bit different of an issue now compared to previous years. I think the general advice nowadays is that things have improved to a point where there's no need to use shop lights or to use spotlights or other "budget" options from the hardware store. Why? Well, for one there is a plethora of other options on the market. Be it Cory's own ACO Easy Plant LED Light, something from Nicrew, from Finnex, or Hygger, there is a new variety in the market pushing to be affordable and have some of the features you need for your aquarium. By the time you get the LED from the hardware store and the timer you need, I would argue you'd be right at the price for something else, designed for the tank, and will make you a bit more.... happier to view and use on a day to day basis. Hopefully others can chime in with their favorite hardware store style setups as well as their favorite budget lights. There is a lot of options though, thankfully. Best of luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beastie Posted June 8 Share Posted June 8 I think it really depends on how far away the light will be from the tank. I trust aquarium lights if I plan to have the light on top of the tank or the lid. Then I wouldnt go home made or hw store bought light as I would not be sure the light is waterproof. A good way to save money is to simply not buy lights of the length of the tank. Unless you have some super red rare plants, most lights need to be dimmed to half the light anyway, and more light is always more algae. On one of my tanks I only have an ikea clip on lamp, because it only houses anubias and there is no need for ful llight. On my 110cm long tank, I have a 60cm long light, because it is low plants and I like the shaded areas. On my 2 smaller tanks, I share one light, half and half, and one of the tanks relies on natural light from the window. In here the cheapest options are the 60cm lights, I just bought one, colored, with wifi controller for 46 euro. I will share pictures of my setups but please excuse the glares/reflections 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pepere Posted June 9 Share Posted June 9 (edited) What sort of budget are you working with? I have walked through home depot before considering such a option, an came away with the impression that you end up giving away too much for the savings… For example most tube option led from HD are 4 feet long, wheras the 20 long is 30 inches wide, so the overhang is unsightly, you need to cobble together some sort of support, can not alter the color rendering or intensity and need to buy a timer.. The Home Depot option is about $50.00 before timer. comparatively you could get a finnex stingray 1 or 2 that sits nicely on the tank for about the same price at the same width of the tank. Still no timer or ability to change color rendering or intensity though. For about $40.00 more you could get a finnex planted plus ALC that allows altering color rendering to suit your preference and alter intensity. it also comes with a remote allowing you to alter color and intensity from your recliner. I use this light myself on a timer as the internal timer uses a 3 hour ramp up, ramp down which in my mind is incredibly stupid and the worst bug in the light. It extends the photo period too much when using it at non optimum lighting intensity…. But the light is around $90.00 in 30 inch with red green blue adjustability and light intensity.. coupled with a wifi timer I find it gives an excellent value for the money over a shoplight or the finnex stingrays. With the Finnex options you really do want a lid for the tank to preventwater splash from an airstone though as it is not as waterproof as it should be. I agree with Cory that there really is no excuse for not building an aquarium light to IP67 standard, however, every tank I own is going to have a lid anyway. The CO OP light for another $30.00 above the Finnex planted plus ALC gives you the high water resistance. I forget if it is IP 67 or 68, it also gives you a nice long cord and an integral timer with gradual brightening dimming to not startle the fish, yet not excessively long and decent color rendering and no need for an app. It also has a 3 year warranty backed up by excellent Customer Service. I am personally not willing to give up the individual color channel control myself though. If Finnex would alter their planted plus ALC to have IP67 water resistance and change the timer ramp to 30 minutes from 3 hours I would go out and buy all new ones to replace my existing ones. They would be near perfect for my needs at that point…. As it is they currently fit my needs near enough…. I also bought a Chihiros WRGB pro for a whole lot more money and did not like the color rendering as much as the Finnex Planted Plus ALC. Another light you might consider in the $50.00 range would be the Hygger 957. Again it is 30 inches wide sitting directly on the tank. It features IP68 water resistance, gives you Red, Green, Blue, and a few other colors control, intensity control and an integral timer with reasonable ramp up ramp down control. I dont know how its PAR compares to other offerings. The one drawback to it from my perspective is I could not run two separate photo periods a day with it. Due to my schedule, I run two 4 1/2 hour photo periods 12 hours apart, 4:00 - 9:30. I am only home and up to see my tanks from 4-6 in the morning, and 7-9 at night… This lighting schedule gives me good plant growth and allows me to enjoy looking in to my tank when I am in the room with them… Honestly, I believe there are better options for the money than going with non purpose built lighting…. I just don’t see the value in the Home Depot option. Edited June 9 by Pepere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smm333 Posted June 12 Author Share Posted June 12 So my main issue with a regular light was that the tank is rimless and doesn't have a top. I found a real nice light and brackets that screw onto the glass which is working really well. It is a planted light, so hopefully it will give me some great growth and color on my plants! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nabokovfan87 Posted June 12 Share Posted June 12 It looks great! Nice choice. It compliments the setup very well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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