Cheap Budget Lighting under 70 dollars for 20 gallon

[Kaz Reefer 57]

Looking in a better lighting system for my tank and wanted some budget recommendation or ideas.

 

[C-Reefer]

Your not going to find a good reef light on a 2o gallon for under 70. Your best budget option is probably a Current Marine Orbit.

 

[tdileo]

Lighting is one of the most expensive aspects. It’s a bit over $70, but I’d like the chinese black box LEDs like MarsAqua. They aren’t fancy and controllable other than some knobs for the channels, but are more than enough to grow any coral you want.

 

[C-Reefer]

Lighting is one of the most expensive aspects. It’s a bit over $70, but I’d like the chinese black box LEDs like MarsAqua. They aren’t fancy and controllable other than some knobs for the channels, but are more than enough to grow any coral you want.

I'd forgot about the black boxes. I'm just always leary of them though becuase they're such fire hazards. BRS posted a video on them, worth a watch before buying so you know the risks. They are very powerful though and will definitely grow coral. They'll also grow algae better then quality lights but thats a small price to pay for the cheapness and brightness. Finally testing the Black Box LED | BRStv Investigates - YouTube

 

[Water Dog]

While I do enjoy the very informative BRS videos, scaring new hobbyists by calling the Chinese black boxes fire hazards is a bit of a heavy handed marketing tactic IMO. There are many in this hobby that have had great success using the Mars Aqua fixtures. Perhaps the fire hazard thing was an issue in the very early inception of black box fixtures 5-6 years ago!?! I dunno, but I certainly haven’t seen anything recent years from any black box users on this forum or on RC. Quite frankly, I’ve seen more complaints and photographic evidence of faulty Vortech wetsides than fire issues with black boxes... you certainly won’t see that bought up in any BRS video. The OP is looking for an economical solution to lighting his 20 gallon for around $70... for 25 bucks more, they’ll have a fine solution that has had proven success.

 

[Pntbll687]

Check out a 2 bulb T5 fixture. You can find em online in the 40 range, and swap out the bulbs with ati bulbs.

https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/1...qgo5TVxnMwVfpuvvwNCWQ2MqLDR9bFpwaApAJEALw_wcB

J3ggYpiDg9QwzogTVLqVFYALVnPgSywkzcx9wG4i50JIErxIu5AeIaAsFWEALw_wcB

Throw in an outlet timer and your good to go. If you don't want to hang the light, build a pvc support for about $10 more.

It's not the greatest, but will do the job. I personally have a 4 bulb over my 29 and it works great.

 

[tdileo]

I'd forgot about the black boxes. I'm just always leary of them though becuase they're such fire hazards. BRS posted a video on them, worth a watch before buying so you know the risks. They are very powerful though and will definitely grow coral. They'll also grow algae better then quality lights but thats a small price to pay for the cheapness and brightness. Finally testing the Black Box LED | BRStv Investigates - YouTube

I’ve never had a problem with black boxes in the many times I’ve used them. They don’t get hot enough to scare me about a fire, and I’ve never even had a diode or fan go bad. They are definitely not amazing lights, but in my opinion they are the best entry level LED you could do.