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01-10-2012, 10:14 PM #1
LED 20gal planted: Commercial vs. DIY options
I've searched and read through lots of posts, but I still have some questions about my options for adding LED lighting to my 20gal Marineland kit that will support high light plants. Ideally I'd like to find high output LED strips that I could add to the inside of my existing hood, so I don't have to get a new cover as well. As I understand it my options are:
Commercial fixture
The Marineland Reef LED light
Pros: Relatively inexpensive at $215 for the 24-36 model, 1 year warranty
Cons: Can't use existing hood, all lights on single switch
DIY fixture
Aqua Style sells this DIY LED Kit
Pros: Inexpensive at ~$85-100, can separate power for different colors allowing for use with timers
Cons: Can't use existing hood, more work including assembly and waterproofing, unclear on warranty of parts
Supplement existing lighting with additional LED strips/fixtures
LEDs from American Aquarium Products (looks to be overkill for my 20 gal tank...)
Smaller Aqua Style LED units
Pros: May be able to use existing hood, can be inexpensive
Cons: More work including assembly and waterproofing, unclear on warranty of parts
Are there other options (especially for supplementing my hood's existing lighting) that I've missed? Any recommendations are much appreciated!20g high planted community tank - 10 green neon tetras, 2 guppies, nerite and malaysian trumpet snails, amano shrimp, sand substrate
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01-17-2012, 06:33 PM #2
UPDATE
I found Ecoxotic LED lights that appear to be exactly what I'm looking for. I want to keep the cost down (this is already going to cost more than I paid for my entire aquarium kit!) so I'm going to pick one LED light strip (12" or 24") for my planted 20 gal.
Do I want any blue LEDs or just white LEDs in the strip? I don't use the light at night, only during the day so I don't care about moonlight effects I just want optimal plant growth LEDs.
Also for the white LEDs should I get 8k or 12k?20g high planted community tank - 10 green neon tetras, 2 guppies, nerite and malaysian trumpet snails, amano shrimp, sand substrate
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01-17-2012, 06:46 PM #3
For growing plants 8000K is going to be better. Natural sunlight is about 6500K, that's what plants would be getting in the wild.
Last edited by hyp0r; 01-17-2012 at 06:51 PM.





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