View Full Version : help with 29 gal lighting options
i have a standard 29 gal tank 30L 12W 18H. i would like to get a lighting system that would dump at least 3 watt per gallon of light on my plants.where is a good place to buy a cheap enclosure fixture assembly.im currently running 60 watts and my plants are turning brownish yellow on alot of leaves.
Skittyfish
05-21-2003, 9:17 PM
Check out ahsupply (http://www.ahsupply.com) .
They are very reasonable.
so how many watts per gallon would the ah supply 2 times 55 watt bright kit put my light level up to?
mogurnda
05-22-2003, 4:44 PM
You sure it's lack of light? Brownish yellow sounds more like a nutrient deficiency than lack of light. Have a look at this link (http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/nutrient-deficiency.html). If you go to 110W, I would be willing to bet you'll get spectacular algae growth.
carpguy
05-22-2003, 5:54 PM
Originally posted by jdwyz
so how many watts per gallon would the ah supply 2 times 55 watt bright kit put my light level up to?
My handy calculator tells me that 110w/29g=3.79w/g…
The 55w bulbs are a hair less than 24" long, which may leave you with shady corners. Its one of the standard problems with a 30" tank.
Also agree with mogurnda (excellent link, btw)… most plants should be fine at 2 wpg. I'd look at your ferts regimen before throwing the greenbacks at more light.
What are you doing for ferts? Any CO2?
mogurnda
05-22-2003, 5:59 PM
My handy calculator tells me that 110w/29g=3.79w/g… Showoff! Just to quibble, though, 110W of PC is probably a good bit higher than 100W NO, plus the AH reflectors are pretty spiffy.
carpguy
05-22-2003, 6:51 PM
My understanding of it is that PC watts and NO watts are more or less the same as far as the plants are concerned.
The efficiency of the PC bulbs is in the amount of bulb needed for a given wattage. For instance a 24" Power Compact bulb is 55w and a 24" Normal Output is only 20w, so the PC is obviously much brighter. But if you were to compare 55w PC to 60w NO (3 24" bulbs) you'd be looking at roughly equivalent amounts of light. The exception to this seems to be the new T5s which, according to Slip, are much more efficient in terms of wattage. aven't seen them myself.
But you're right about those reflectors. Quite spiffy :D.