12-27-2025, 02:43 AM
I’m trying to build a small, self-contained hydroponic system for leafy greens inside a repurposed 80-gallon glass aquarium I got for free, but I’m hitting a wall with the lighting. My space is a cool, north-facing sunroom with no direct sunlight, and I have a strict budget of about $200 for the entire setup beyond the tank. I’ve seen people use LED shop lights, but I’m worried about spectrum and intensity for full growth cycles—I want to avoid leggy, weak plants. The catch is I need to keep the whole thing whisper-quiet and the total power draw under 300 watts due to the room’s old wiring. I can’t seem to find a pre-made LED solution that fits the 48-inch tank length, stays within my power and noise limits, and doesn’t blow my remaining budget on just the lights.