tank not bright enough need a few questions answered

[grannylvsfish]

So I have noticed brown algea since the danw of this tank, I am tired of it, and I think if I upgrade my lights from this...

http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20051011210106/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p_rd_930221_13966S.jpg


to this....
http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20051011212226/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p_rd_930624_21232Dblk.jpg

Enhance your aquatic display with All-Glass Twin-Tube Strip Lights. Two fluorescent tubes and a built-in reflector (plastic in 24" & 30", aluminum in 36" & 48") make your aquarium even more fascinating and beautiful. Internally mounted ballasts with an instant-start circuit can be operated on a timer or switch-controlled outlet. Highly efficient light housing cooling extends tube and ballast life. Use with Rapid Start or Preheat fluorescent tubes. Accepts T-8, T-10 and T-12 bulbs. Comes with two 9325ºK bulbs.



will this help my tank a lot and finally grow my java moss? and the bulbs that come with it, are they good ? ( Comes with two 9325ºK bulbs. )

not even my java moss will grow in my tank right now :(

[grannylvsfish]

I will only have java moss and java fern and moss balls maybe a bit of floating plants. , is this lighting good for them? I can not afford co2 thanks

[Sammie7]

How much does that light cost? How many watts is it? Have you tried looking on http://www.ahsupply.com/

[grannylvsfish]

it says 2 watts per gallon. my tank is 29 gallon.

[Sammie7]

How does it say 2 watts per gallon? Is it made for 29 gallon tank? Again, how much does it cost? It might be cheaper to get it from ahsupply. If it is 2 watts per gallon, it should be able to grow quite a bit of different variety plants. What other plants were you thinking of growing?

[grannylvsfish]

here is the web site I am getting it from. and I read a post where someone said it was 2 watts per gallon.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3800&N=2004+113349


I do not want any other plants but moss and maybe some other easy to grow plant like java fern. I am not going to go co2 so I do not need a huge amount of light for my tank. just enough to grow my java moss which is not growing at all :( the light on the tank now is this....

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3785&N=2004+113349


yes it is made for a 29 gallon tank, and I will be using a versa glass top .

[Sammie7]

See, but if you don't know the wattage how are you supposed to know how many watts per gallon it is? You can't just say it's 2 watts per gallon, because that depends on the size tank it's going over. It doesn't look that special to me or look like they care anything about being able to grow live plants under it, but maybe somebody else will know more. Good luck.

How many watts is the light you have now? Are you sure it's the light that's the problem for the moss?

[grannylvsfish]

I do not know what the wattage the light on my tank is now, and I do not know what the wattage is in the one I would like to get this week. what I am asking is, will it be brighter and help the moss grow better. If you do not know, I am hoping someone more qualified will know.
or at least take a look at the one i have now ( above) and the one on doc fosters site ( above) that I want to buy and tell me if it will be a lot better lighting.

[didy]

One of my tanks has a lot of plants. The cheapest and easiest way to go is to buy an incandescent hood, and use the screw in fluorescent bulbs that you can buy at any Wal-Mart or hardware store.

[Sammie7]

Ok, well I looked up T-8, T-10, and T-12 bulbs and I can find nothing on specific wattage attributed to the specific bulbs. That means they can very widely. Unless you know the wattage of the bulb, I don't know what you want us to tell you. I'm stumped. You know that you need 2 watts per gallon so when you get to the store see if you can find the wattage on the lights, or perhaps buy some bulbs with a higher wattage that will fit in the hood. Maybe someone else with this hood will come along. Hope everything works out.

[Sammie7]

One of my tanks has a lot of plants. The cheapest and easiest way to go is to buy an incandescent hood, and use the screw in fluorescent bulbs that you can buy at any Wal-Mart or hardware store.

That's what I did didy, for my 10 gallon and it works just fine. No fancy bulbs that are hard to find and no special hood.

[bert55441]

Looking at drsfostersmith.com at the replacement light tubes. The T-8 9325ºK is rated at 30W each. (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3810) So 60W of light for a 29Gallon tank should be fine for growing plants. I should look into something like that my self.

[Fishnoob.]

Ok, in theory the stronger lighting will help your plants grow better. However, (not an expert just going on stuff ive read) the plants you are wanting are considered low/medium light plants so if you make the lighting too strong it will kill them.
Here is a good page regarding lighting, not sure how accurate it is but it sure makes everything a whole lot less complicated.
http://www.aquajake.com/blog/hardware/lighting/lighting-how-much-do-you-need/

[Sammie7]

Java moss is fine in higher light. It just grows faster and it pearls. Anyway 2 watts per gallon isn't that high.

[Que]

Looking at drsfostersmith.com at the replacement light tubes. The T-8 9325ºK is rated at 30W each. (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3810) So 60W of light for a 29Gallon tank should be fine for growing plants. I should look into something like that my self.
Me too.

Q

[grannylvsfish]

Looking at drsfostersmith.com at the replacement light tubes. The T-8 9325ºK is rated at 30W each. (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3810) So 60W of light for a 29Gallon tank should be fine for growing plants. I should look into something like that my self.

thank you for the acurate info :) I will buy these today. thanks much.

[phanmc]

The wattage of the tubes depends on it's length. If you are getting the 18" tubes the wattage is 15w, the 24" tubes are 20w, and the 36" tubes are 30w.

Once you buy your hood, go out and get alot more plants. The biggest mistake new plant growers make is to plant lightly in the beginning, you want to have a fully planted tank from the start or else you'll run into algae issues.

[shaggbark]

I purchased this same light a few weeks ago. I purchased the all-glass twin strip light in black from Petsmart.com and it was cheaper, more like $37 plus free shipping when you spend over $50. HTH, Michelle