Reviews on this fixture

[Ceej]

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/Thishttp://www.aquatraders.com/24-inch-2x24W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Fixture-p/52121p.htm

Any comments, concerns, or any advice on this fixture before I buy it? Have any of you bought this or know of anyone who has it?

It'll be going on my 29g lightly planted tank. Lightly planted for now. Planning on adding to it. I'm hoping the brackets will fit and be stable. The tank is 30" long.

Thanks in advance for any comments

 

[calfishguy]

That's too much light for a lightly planted tank IMO. Unless your going high tech with c02 and high light plants you don't need a t5h0 fixture. A t5no or cfl will be fine.

 

[Ceej]

That's too much light for a lightly planted tank IMO. Unless your going high tech with c02 and high light plants you don't need a t5h0 fixture. A t5no or cfl will be fine.

It's only lightly planted for now.

 

[blert]

So the tank is 18 inches tall, no?
Lightly planted or not, that much light with no CO2 equals algae farm.

 

[Ceej]

So the tank is 18 inches tall, no?
Lightly planted or not, that much light with no CO2 equals algae farm.

Really? Alright. I wouldn't have thought that since its just over 1.5 watts per gallon.

 

[blert]

Really? Alright. I wouldn't have thought that since its just over 1.5 watts per gallon.

Watts per gallon is an extremely outdated "rule". It does not really apply to T5HO fixtures, and other modern lighting, unless you have a pre existing baseline and are comparing apples to apples.

 

[Ceej]

Watts per gallon is an extremely outdated "rule". It does not really apply to T5HO fixtures, and other modern lighting, unless you have a pre existing baseline and are comparing apples to apples.

Lol well crap. That idea is down the drain.

 

[calfishguy]

A fixture like this would be fine IMO. http://m.petsmart.com/mt/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=11248153

 

[jetajockey]

I have mixed feelings about the oddysea fixtures, they are kinda junky. For the price it's hard to argue, though. I suggest going with a 2 bulb t5ho fixture if you plan to go high tech at any point in the future, just get one that has individual switches so you can run 1 bulb at a time. A single well made t5ho over a 29 is plenty of light for low-medium (possibly even a bit much, depending), and the option of running 2 bulbs means you can go high tech in the future.

You could achieve this with that oddysea fixture by taking one bulb out, but honestly with the quality of those fixtures even the 2 bulb one might not put you into high light. (Can you tell that I'm disappointed with their performance?)

If you plan to keep it low light then some decently reflected dual t8's will do the job just fine. I fabricated a pair of screw in CFL's over my 29 and it has lots of healthy (albeit slow growing) plants.

 

[Ceej]

I have mixed feelings about the oddysea fixtures, they are kinda junky. For the price it's hard to argue, though. I suggest going with a 2 bulb t5ho fixture if you plan to go high tech at any point in the future, just get one that has individual switches so you can run 1 bulb at a time. A single well made t5ho over a 29 is plenty of light for low-medium (possibly even a bit much, depending), and the option of running 2 bulbs means you can go high tech in the future.

You could achieve this with that oddysea fixture by taking one bulb out, but honestly with the quality of those fixtures even the 2 bulb one might not put you into high light. (Can you tell that I'm disappointed with their performance?)

If you plan to keep it low light then some decently reflected dual t8's will do the job just fine. I fabricated a pair of screw in CFL's over my 29 and it has lots of healthy (albeit slow growing) plants.

I can definitely tell that you're disappointed in their performance. I didn't expect something amazing for $40. I'm a firm believer in "you get what you pay for." Most reviews I've read about it say you can grow really nice plants. I'm tight on money. Well, more it's more so that I don't want the wife getting mad that I bought a $75 fixture!

There's a ton of plants that I want, but my T8 just doesn't do the trick. Maybe I'll wait and save up for something worth the money.

 

[blert]

You might be surprised at what you can keep under a T8 fixture with a good bulb.

 

[jetajockey]

One thing you can do if you have too much light is raise the fixture up higher over the tank. Floating plants or a light diffuser can help also.

 

[Ceej]

You might be surprised at what you can keep under a T8 fixture with a good bulb.

If my fixture could handle more than 17w, I'd be happy!

 

[Ceej]

One thing you can do if you have too much light is raise the fixture up higher over the tank. Floating plants or a light diffuser can help also.

Never thought about floaters! What do light diffusers do?

 

[jetajockey]

They diffuse the light, like the things over the ceiling lights in places like schools. There are several different kinds.

 

[Ceej]

I figured it was what I thought, but just couldn't picture a fish tank version lol. I'll look into them. I'm sure floating plants wouldn't hurt either.

 

[Ceej]

Bought the Odyssea 48w fixture. I'm going to attempt DIY co2 as well. Hopefully the outcome is good!

 

[calfishguy]

Good luck

 

[jlk]

Good luck! I have an Odyssea T5HO on my one tank but it has screw on brackets. No complaints so far (had since dec) & the plants grow like crazy.

 

[Reygan2]

A fixture like this would be fine IMO. Aqueon® Freshwater T5 Light Fixture - Lighting & Hoods - Fish - PetSmart

Following along....I bought that exact fixture for my 29g, and was advised to return it and buy the dual T5HO if I wanted decent growth, even without CO2. Sure enough, my plants are showing a lot of new growth, and I don't have an algae issue (not yet anyway).