Lights for planted tank

Why not just do a low light set-up for now, and upgrade once you have enough money for not only the lights, but the fertilizer and substrate to go with them? There are tons of really nice low light plants out there, and you can create some very nice looking tanks with them.
 
Personally I would start out with T5HO with 2watts per gallon of whatever size tank you have. Theres more technical stuff that you can get into later doin research in the planted forum section. Dont forget that substrate is a key factor as well. Big heavy gravel isnt the best for plants. Plus youll need to get the ferts. Like user said. Have you thought about ferts yet?Ill throw a list out of the more common stuff of each category for you and then you can go from there.
Lights : I am using Current Nova Extreme 2x54w T5HO on a 55gal. I believe corallife also sells decent lights (youll have to google it) Just check ebay to get a good idea of prices and styles and such
Substrate: Flourite, Eco Complete are the more common but theres ADS soil and if your more hands on theres mineralized soil (google it theres a description and how to floating around the web) and of course sand (pool sand is prefered)
Ferts: Flourish(common liquid) or you can buy empty gel caps on ebay size 00 and Osmocote Plus(it has both macro and micro nutrients)
 
I've done some research I'll be getting Eco complete and flourish and/or flourish excel. The reason money is tight is because I'm a teen without a job lol but I sell stuff.


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To be honest your best bet would be to check ebay, here in the market section, or amazon for your cheapest solution. Theres always craigslist but in my area its usually ppl that are tryin to get what they paid for it when it was new and theyve had it for years. If you think your handy enough and/or know someone with tools you could build a canopy and retrofit it with the lights you need(check ebay). You can always go super cheap with shop lights from a home improvement store but they arent the best and if your living at home youll have to talk the parental units into letting you hang them from the ceiling. Typically your looking at $125 as a base number maybe more
 
^^^ check "TopDogSellers". They have a nice variety of lighting from Odessya and great pricing with free shipping.
http://stores.ebay.com/topdogsellers/_i.html?_fsub=218232819

A friend just picked up a 24" quad T5HO. I am impressed with how well the light was made. I was expecting a very cheaply built unit but it is put together quite well.
 
Hi
I use two shop lights with daylight white bulbs . 40 buks for it total. I grow in pots and driftwood to avoid substrate .
using boiled canadian peat Grows everything but carpet types. Malkes cleaning so MUCH easier lol.
Right now I've also added a lovely carpet of algae lol gary
 
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