sweet lighting deal?

[palabared]

I just found these lights at aquariumplants.com ... [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

they are called JBJ Formosa Power Compact DX Series Double Light/Triple Fan Cooled Lighting System. I was wondering if anyone had used these before, since they seem like a cheap and efficient way to get 4watts per gallon in my 55gal tank. It says the fixtures comes with compact florescent bulbs for free too. is this a deal? tHanks

~ed

[Lady Hobbs]

For me, it would have to depend on how loud the fan is. I hate loud motors, water spashling and all the noise from air pumps. The quieter the better but it does look like a decent deal.

[cocoa_pleco]

same. It takes all of the tranquil out of a aquarium if theres loud equipment

[jweintraub]

The price is incredible! And, with the bulbs being thrown in for free... But I will have to agree with Hobbs and Cocoa about the fan noise, see if you can find any reviews on other sites and see what others have to say about it.

[palabared]

ok so other thanthe noise it looks good? I think they have like a 15 day money back guarentee, so i could test it out. Since i have a 48'' 55gal tank, i would get the 48'' fixture, which comes with 4 bulbs (65watt each). I would like to have a combination of bright white and blue bulbs. This is the link to their bulbs, which 4 would be the best for me? [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

thanks!

~ed

[cocoa_pleco]

I like aqua-glo bulbs.
I guess if theres a money back guarantee try it out

[palabared]

after more information gathering, ive found that i might not need so many watts. I wont be adding co2 at the moment, and it seems like i wont be needing 4 watts/gallon...would the plants still grow well or better with 4watts/gal as compared to 2watts/gallon both without co2? and when i say plants i mean dwarf subulata or possibly microsword (i want the neat grass look), corckskrew vals, tiger lotus, java moss, java fern.

edit: does anyone have any experience with plants and oscars? i know they are known to uproot plants, but i have a couple plants in my tank for the past 3 weeks, and they have not touched them. Do certain plants work better with them?

[Chrona]

after more information gathering, ive found that i might not need so many watts. I wont be adding co2 at the moment, and it seems like i wont be needing 4 watts/gallon...would the plants still grow well or better with 4watts/gal as compared to 2watts/gallon both without co2? and when i say plants i mean dwarf subulata or possibly microsword (i want the neat grass look), corckskrew vals, tiger lotus, java moss, java fern.

edit: does anyone have any experience with plants and oscars? i know they are known to uproot plants, but i have a couple plants in my tank for the past 3 weeks, and they have not touched them. Do certain plants work better with them?

How big are your oscars?

2 watts/gallon is fine for java moss and fern. The others I'm not sure about. But keep in mind you may want to upgrade later for harder to grow plants, and then, you'd basically have to buy a new fixture. And also, if you didn't want to get a CO2 system because of the cost, you can make a really cheap one with just a soda bottle, air tubing, some silicone, and an airstone:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[Lady Hobbs]

Oscars tear up things.

[palabared]

there small, probably 2-3 inch. I wonder if grass like plants wont be botherd by them compared to sword like plants?

Chrona- Im wondering if i should just get the 4watts/gal lighting system for 150, instead of the 2watt/gal for 100. My main question is, will the extra watts pergallon hurt or somehow negate the lowlight plants i want, without co2?