Lighting for a planted tank

[cmcpart0422]

Decided to try some plants in my 20L and need some help on lighting. I did some research and need help picking how many watts. I can get a fixture with 2x24watt bulbs or 4x24watt bulbs. My concerns are that the 2x24watts is to little and the 4x24watts are to much for the 20L. Thoughts?

 

[minifoot77]

do you want 2.4 or 4.8 watts per gallon are you running a high tech set up? or low light?

 

[rsretep]

i got a 20 L with two coralife T5 fixtures with four 18 watt bulbs (2 bulbs each fixture) for a total of 72 watts and am using co2 on a timer and all is well for me

 

[kewx]

How much light (approx watts) do discus get in the wild? Ken

 

[Enkay]

I just pull the drapes aside and let the sunshine come in . The best part is its free.

 

[londonloco]

When you get into T5's, wpg is not useful. 20g long is shallow, I wouldn't go T5HO, way too much light. T5NO is fine, but the bulbs are hard to find. I have a two bulb coralife T5NO on my 20glongs, dose Excel and macros (PPS) 2 mL per day, plant growth is slow, but steady, and algae is not a problem. I've read they are going to discontinue the coralife T5NO fixture, but I'm not sure that's true.

Go here:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...t5-t12-pc.html

scroll down to the chart that gives you distance light is from water and bulb types. Hope this helps.

Edit: I'm assuming 20L is 20 gallon long.

 

[cmcpart0422]

When you get into T5's, wpg is not useful. 20g long is shallow, I wouldn't go T5HO, way too much light. T5NO is fine, but the bulbs are hard to find. I have a two bulb coralife T5NO on my 20glongs, dose Excel and macros (PPS) 2 mL per day, plant growth is slow, but steady, and algae is not a problem. I've read they are going to discontinue the coralife T5NO fixture, but I'm not sure that's true.

Yes its a 20 gallon long. Well, It seems like most of the fixtures I am coming across are all T5HO. My plan was to start with some easy hardy plants and use flourish excel. I was hoping to not spend too much money of the lighting alone. Is there a decent fixture out there for my set up that is in the range of $75-$125?

 

[londonloco]

These are my fixtures:

http://www.petstore.com/ps_viewitem...se&utm_campaign=pscseggl2&utm_content=ES58121

I got mine from bigalsonline for 36$ each, but they have stopped carrying them.

I think this guy sells SolarMax T5NO fixtures:

http://www.alphaprobreeders.com/

but I have no experience with this fixture or the vendor. I was at Centreville Aquarium last week, I know David carries the SolarMax brand, might call him for info? If you quote online prices with shipping, he will match the price IF he can justify it.

Problem is, if what I have read is correct, it will be a problem getting new bulbs in a few years.

Have you thought about Marineland LED double brights? I have heard they are ok for shallow planted tanks, but honestly, I have no idea. I'd def research it on plantedtank.net before investing.

 

[cmcpart0422]

Did some research on the marineland double brights and have seen lots of debate on if they are good enough for plants or not. They look nice and all but some people say they are fine for low tech while others say that aren't good for any plants.

what about something like this?

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13612

 

[mscichlid]

Hagen Glo T5 HO Lighting System http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_...em_s/547.htm?gclid=CN_P5MGq46gCFQpy5Qod_GNxBw

I would use one bulb and raise it up off the top of the tank.

With a 24" light you will have some 'falloff' on each end though.

 

[Avatar]

I have a 96W HO 6700K on a 40 Breeder and there are a dozen species of plants in it.

Swords, cabomba, couple of red-leaved varieties that typically need more light in addition to low-light species like hygro, guppy grass, water sprite, hornwort, wisteria - all without any supplements. Since you're not going the CO2 route (yet), strikes me that 2 X 24 (the same W/gal. ratio as is on mine) gives you plenty of wattage assuming it's the right wavelength. And if you can get one 6700K and one 10000K bulb you should really be styling.

 

[londonloco]

what about something like this?
http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=13612

A 20g long is only 13" high, tho I haven't grown plants with T8 bulbs, I know many people still use them. The chart hoppy put out (link in previous post) says T8 bulb 12" from water edge sitting on top of tank or 4" from top of tank is medium light. Just might do the trick, but I wouldn't buy it from the site above.

Look here:

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=71_72&products_id=1225

First I'd like to say enough good things about CA T5HO fixtures (I own 4 of them). However, I haven't owned one of their Fluorescent hoods.

I would call them, ask them about a 2 bulb Fluorescent hood, customize it to have each bulb on a separate switch, which gives you lighting options. Then go googling for best T8 bulbs for plants. I like 6700K for my plants. Just a thought...

 

[Avatar]

I have a 48" Catalina, sweet light, one oddity...

...occasionally when I walk by it at night I notice a momentary flash, as if some accumulated or residual voltage is bleeding off. Anyone else experience this?

 

[londonloco]

...occasionally when I walk by it at night I notice a momentary flash, as if some accumulated or residual voltage is bleeding off. Anyone else experience this?

Never had that with any of my fixtures. Did you buy it from the site I quoted above? They are not all the same, the ones on ebay are not them, or so they told me. In any event, if you did buy them from the site above, call them.

 

[cmcpart0422]

Thanks all for the recommendations and advice but I think I'm getting a little lost now.

It seems like most of the fixtures out now are t5ho bulbs. Now I am slightly confused about what I need to grow plants.... Some places say I need between 2-3watts/gallon to achieve healthy plant growth. Then I look at hoppy's chart and it says that 1 t5ho bulb that is only 24watts is "TOO HIGH". But 24 watts is just over 1 watt per gallon. Can someone explain this to me.

 

[londonloco]

Watts per gallon is old school, before T5's were created. That method refers to Fluorescent bulbs, specifically T8's. T5's produce a more intense light, but were high on everyones list because they run cooler, and use less electricity, less cost to run them. The "planted lighting" experts are throwing that method out, and using par meters to measure amounts of light needed to grow plants in a water box.

The problem is with the height of the 20 gallon long. The intensity of the T5 bulb decreases with distance, the 20gl is only 13" high, so your plants will get way more light than the same bulb on a tank that is 25" high.

I know it's confusing, but that's the extent of my knowledge of planted lighting, more than that and my eyes glaze over. I always check with Hoppy's chart before buying any light, for any tank.

Once you decide on lighting, check out dosing and co2. I give mucho credit to anyone who can sustain a planted tank, it's not easy.

 

[Hawkman2000]

Check out Ecoxotic. Badass LED systems. I read about a guy how put some of the modulars in a Eclypse 3 on his 29gal planted and was very happy. He had to remove the old lighting and customize it of course.

 

[Andrewtfw]

I used to have a 20L with an AGA twin tube flourescent t8 fixture on it. It did fine growing crypts, swords, anubias and rotala indica but I was unable to grow foreground plants. Plus with the 1/2 life of a t8 being about 6mos, I was constantly changing bulbs.
Now I have a 40b with 2- Deep Blue t5ho fixtures and compressed co2. No problems at all!
The deeb blue fixtures come with reflectors, 2 bulbs (not good for plant growth) and built in LEDs. They have independent switches for the bulbs and are relatively inexpensive.
If you want a price quote, call Tropical Fish World 301-921-0000.

 

[ddavila06]

Hagen Glo T5 HO Lighting System http://www.marineandreef.com/Hagen_...em_s/547.htm?gclid=CN_P5MGq46gCFQpy5Qod_GNxBw

I would use one bulb and raise it up off the top of the tank.

With a 24" light you will have some 'falloff' on each end though.

those are way too expensive,

catalinaaquariums.com is the best ! tell them you are in a fish club and they will give you a deal. two bulbs should be enough to grow most everything. i prefer 10k 65k for my plants. and if you have a chance to/want to hang instead of use legs tell them and they put hanger pieces on it.

 

[George]

All this stuff sounds way too complicated and expensive. Just put it on the porch in the sun.