Can I just use any fluorescent light for my corals?

[Alpha_and_Gec]

Added 3, 54w, 48” T5 bulbs, a Antinic, a purple, and a blue plus.
The fixtures I got off Amazon for $80 each. So the whole light for under $400.

You’ll need to match the length to your tank width, the shorter the cheaper.

I see that they're supplementing your leds. Is it enough alone or are the leds necessary?

 

[Alpha_and_Gec]

dont know what size you need, but here is a quick fix.

1) Buy these: https://growgreenmi.com/commercial-...MI4L6e8L3JggMVVDjUAR3K8ggTEAQYBCABEgKlnvD_BwE

2) Buy the bulbs here:https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/4...MIqJz7qL7JggMV0S3UAR0XDge9EAQYASABEgJB1vD_BwE

Problem solved.

Oh god, that is cheap...
do they ship to canada?

 

[FUNGI]

Oh god, that is cheap...
do they ship to canada?

Bro..................
You want me to buy them also for you?

 

[FrugalReefer]

How are you measuring PAR and what lighting intensity are you running? I have the Nicrew Hyperreef 150 mounted 9” off the water surface. At 100% blues and 30% whites I’m getting around 400 PAR at the top of my rockwork and around 200 PAR at my sandbed measured with an Apogee 510. 60 to 70 PAR seems awfully low.

 

[sfin52]

Well yes... that's why this post exists. XR30s are stupidly expensive and I'd rather get cheap but passably usable lights.

You can get great t5 lights.

BLOWOUT SALE! Agrobrite T5 2Ft/4-Tube Designer System w/ Bulbs - NO WARRANTY / CLOSEOUT ITEM

Hydrofarm’s new Designer T5 System delivers performance, flexibility and high lumen output in any growing environment. These daisy-chainable systems allow you to choose multiple hanging configurations to meet your garden’s design. They combine German specular aluminum with...

growgreenmi.com

 

[sfin52]

a 4-8 bulb 4ft t5 fixture will be more than sufficient just make sure you are getting a hood (fixture) made for the high intensity bulbs, Seeing as how you are in Canada there is probably a fairly large market from the indoor gardening community where you might be able to find some affordable used fixutres or some used MH hoods and bulbs, a 400 plus watt metal halide will grow the hell out of anything and look great doing it.

Absolutely thats where my fixture came from

 

[Lavey29]

Yep so why xr30s? Best to get the t5 A 4 or 6 bulb would be a good place to start or halides. Both better than leds

True it's an option and we'll proven but as the other poster mentioned once you start replacing T5 bulbs on a regular basis the cost evens out. With modern leds you get control via your phone and a bazillion hours of service at the specified levels you set not fading out T5s.

 

[hexcolor reef]

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Good-Earth...-High-Bay-Plant-Grow-Light-Fixture/5005536057

 

[hexcolor reef]

You can get great t5 lights.

BLOWOUT SALE! Agrobrite T5 2Ft/4-Tube Designer System w/ Bulbs - NO WARRANTY / CLOSEOUT ITEM

Hydrofarm’s new Designer T5 System delivers performance, flexibility and high lumen output in any growing environment. These daisy-chainable systems allow you to choose multiple hanging configurations to meet your garden’s design. They combine German specular aluminum with...

growgreenmi.com

$25 for this woah!!! I’ll buy this just for it being so cheap. Is this a US company

 

[FUNGI]

$25 for this woah!!! I’ll buy this just for it being so cheap. Is this a US company

Yes US....shipping is $$$$$$$$

 

[Reefifier]

I was also looking at a viparspectra 450. they're a bit more difficult to come by. Still have the issue where I have no clue how to repair them, but ig they exist...

Get them new on amazon, vipar spectra timer controled dimmable,165w, costs 139 with the 20 dollar coupon, order them 1 at a time. Has a remote and timer, good for 2 Square ft footprint. I have 3 over my 60 inch frag tank cost 420. I have reefbreeders over my 72 inch display, cost close to 3k. I was playing with t5s which are great, but have to replace bulbs. Can get cheap fixtures and buy the expensive bulbs, now they are sitting in my used pile.

 

[cdbias]

a 4-8 bulb 4ft t5 fixture will be more than sufficient just make sure you are getting a hood (fixture) made for the high intensity bulbs, Seeing as how you are in Canada there is probably a fairly large market from the indoor gardening community where you might be able to find some affordable used fixutres or some used MH hoods and bulbs, a 400 plus watt metal halide will grow the hell out of anything and look great doing it.

400? Lordy! 250w 12k dbl ended HQI was all I ever used.

 

[YOYOYOReefer]

T5 bulbs are cheap A 4 foot tank needs 1800 worth of radions . or A cheap t 5 6 bulb fixture for 100 Bulbs are like 75 bucks a Year. so can buy 15 years of bulbs till breaking even…. Each year the t5 will be full force. Each year the led will diminish. Hmmmm. How long will leds last?

 

[cdbias]

Like these? 600 watt growth light. I'm not sure what bulbs are good for these but there's apparently an overwhelming majority confirming halides do work.

250w HQI metal halide bulbs are 10x smaller and the reflector will be more refined with a glass cover. I still have the Hamilton fixtures.

 

[Lavey29]

T5 bulbs are cheap A 4 foot tank needs 1800 worth of radions . or A cheap t 5 6 bulb fixture for 100 Bulbs are like 75 bucks a Year. so can buy 15 years of bulbs till breaking even…. Each year the t5 will be full force. Each year the led will diminish. Hmmmm. How long will leds last?

Mine are rated for 7 years use

 

[Reefifier]

T5 bulbs are cheap A 4 foot tank needs 1800 worth of radions . or A cheap t 5 6 bulb fixture for 100 Bulbs are like 75 bucks a Year. so can buy 15 years of bulbs till breaking even…. Each year the t5 will be full force. Each year the led will diminish. Hmmmm. How long will leds last?

What kind of bulbs? I'm looking at ati t5 48 inch, they are all over 20 a bulb.

 

[Widdlyscudds]

400? Lordy! 250w 12k dbl ended HQI was all I ever used.

on what size tank?

 

[piranhaman00]

cheap doesn't always work in the long run....if you do a 3 year cost analysis, LED vs T5, LEDs work out cheaper albeit, initial cost is higher. Remenber, you'lll need to change out T5 bulbs after 8~12 months.....and they aren't that cheap

Complete rubbish

 

[F4u-SuperCorsair]

Yes US....shipping is $$$$$$$$

Shipping starts at $100. from what I can tell.

 

[Brymac1]

I am currently using 6500k t5 bulbs off Amazon in my hybrid fixture and am happy with the way make the tank look along with my kessils.