Aquaticlife led .5 watt freshwater

[Tobykourtney]

Just bought this light for my 20 gallon tall and I'm a bit disappointed I expected it to be much brighter for the price and with what experience I have with led lights I figured 9 watts would give me more bang for my buck. Does anyone else have any experience with led aquarium lights that could add there input please?

 

[gravereaper0]

I got a truelumen pro for my 90 gallon and when I lit it up over my 20 gallon just to see if it works I was so impressed I got a 24" one for the 20. Soooo much brighter then the t8 it came with. The reason it looks dim is because you have a tall tank so the PARs on the bottom are very low. You can add another strip or sub with a ho t5. Or return it and get the truelumen pro strip, its 16 watts with ho drivers.

 

[Tobykourtney]

I got a truelumen pro for my 90 gallon and when I lit it up over my 20 gallon just to see if it works I was so impressed I got a 24" one for the 20. Soooo much brighter then the t8 it came with. The reason it looks dim is because you have a tall tank so the PARs on the bottom are very low. You can add another strip or sub with a ho t5. Or return it and get the truelumen pro strip, its 16 watts with ho drivers.

I have some led lights that came with the tank when I use them with the aquaticlife led I lose the shimmer effect. I can't win lol

 

[gravereaper0]

I have some led lights that came with the tank when I use them with the aquaticlife led I lose the shimmer effect. I can't win lol

That sucks. I don't use the hood of mine after I got the strip. The evaporation is a bit higher but its no big deal. And when the water temp goes up I just turn on the ceiling fan and it helps a lot. The shimmering with my strip is beautiful, next time I'm home I can make a short YouTube video.

 

[Tobykourtney]

The light was for my ebjd with the old light I couldn't even see the little guy so I guess it's not that big of a deal. I just need to find a way to make the tank brighter without losing that shimmer besides dropping another 80 bucks on another light :-(

 

[Tobykourtney]

That sucks. I don't use the hood of mine after I got the strip. The evaporation is a bit higher but its no big deal. And when the water temp goes up I just turn on the ceiling fan and it helps a lot. The shimmering with my strip is beautiful, next time I'm home I can make a short YouTube video.

I don't use a hood on my 75 but I have to on the 20 or the trapdoor snails will escape

 

[gravereaper0]

The light was for my ebjd with the old light I couldn't even see the little guy so I guess it's not that big of a deal. I just need to find a way to make the tank brighter without losing that shimmer besides dropping another 80 bucks on another light :-(

But why spend $ on something you're not pleased with. I'd return it and get the right one.

 

[Tobykourtney]

But why spend $ on something you're not pleased with. I'd return it and get the right one.

Guess so but it's the only led they sell I might just supplement it with a high output light and turn it into a planted tank. I tend to so that a lot lol

 

[gravereaper0]

You don't buy online?

 

[Tobykourtney]

You don't buy online?

Usually but the light I bought would have been more expensive to buy online so I decided to go for it. I think the reason it seems dim is because the tank next to it has 2 dual t5ho fixtures lol.

 

[gravereaper0]

When you crop out the tank next to it it don't look "that" dim. But if you wanna turn it into planted you'll deff need more light, but looks like I don't have to tell you that.
And how do you feel about ebay? I'm an ebay junkie, got my strip new for $60 on it.

 

[Tobykourtney]

When you crop out the tank next to it it don't look "that" dim. But if you wanna turn it into planted you'll deff need more light, looks like I don't have to tell you that.

Yea it'll probably be awhile before I do that anyways I have to swap out the gravel for eco complete and get co2 before I even begin to worry about lighting lol

 

[gravereaper0]

If you already running co2 on the other tank just get a dual output setup and you don't have to buy another cylinder/regulator

 

[Tobykourtney]

If you already running co2 on the other tank just get a dual output setup and you don't have to buy another cylinder/regulator

I'm doing diy on the 75 and I'm getting pretty good at the mixture and not wasting any. I route it through my canisters. I'd probably just do the same for the 20

 

[gravereaper0]

Oh then definitely. If you can supply a 75 gallon with a diy it'd be silly to get a cylinder for a 20 gallon.
How do you measure your levels, drop checker?

 

[Tobykourtney]

Oh then definitely. If you can supply a 75 gallon with a diy it'd be silly to get a cylinder for a 20 gallon.
How do you measure your levels, drop checker?

Yea ista drop checker comes with enough solution for 10 months for around 11 dollars