24 inch tall tank. too tall for NO lighting?

[CHINABOY1021]

i plan on getting a 65 gallon. it's 36L x 18W x 24H

is 120 watt of normal (NO) fluorescent lighting enough to grow plants?

i plan on having amazon swords and vals. tall plants.

and some "lawn" plant.

can i do it? thanks

[Mantis_22]

I'd say it can be done, flo or not 120 watts is a killer :D

[djlen]

120 watts is not a lot of light for a tank that size and height. Especially if you intend to grow Vals. and "lawn" types.
IMO, you're going to need more light to get down into that tank with all that depth for high light plants.
Len

[Mantis_22]

Well i dont think there are they many more options. When I said it is enough it is for lowlight plants such as what I like to use in my tank. Its up to what you want tho. Go flo and high wattage if your going with vals, swords, and sag.

[CHINABOY1021]

what is "flo"

yah i know, im a newbie.

btw, i can stick in a little 15 watter.

OR. MAYBE, this is the deal. my 2 x double fixtures are 12inch in width. (both combined)

leaves me with 6 more inches in width to fit another light. MAYBE i can get a shop light. as long as the width is around 4 inches, because i have to leave space for my hot mag and AC 300 intakes and outtake tubes.

but would 30 more watts (150total) be any better than 120 watts?

[brianfl]

For the vals, that will be tough. I use 160 watts on a 120 that is 24" deep. I do have swords but they don't grow real fast, they hang in there, though. My anarchis and cabomba do fine and grow fast.

[CHINABOY1021]

anyone ever used GLO-MAT electronic ballasts made by Hagen?

if i buy this, is this all i need to light up the bulbs? i mean do i need to buy other wires or whatever?

http://www.hagen.com/img/aquatic/products/a1575.jpg

this is the product that im thinking of buying. it'll add 60 more watts. "i think". i have no idea how it works.

right now i just have 2 x double strip LFS light fixtures.

with GLO MAT, do i have to do a diy cover? does the kit include everything i need? just plug bulbs and go?

[CHINABOY1021]

btw. will amazon swords do well in my tank?

65 g. 120 NO fluorescent watts.
2-3 mm gravel.
root tabs.
co2

[Mantis_22]

flo=flouresant

[RTR]

At less than 2 W/gal. NO fluorescent you are a bit low on light. On my 30XH (also 24" tall) I use 80W (4x20W NO), ~2.7 W/gal and have excellent growth. At only 3x20W, or 2W/gal, it was not so good. I also have thick substrate (4-6").

On an 18" tank, you should be able to easily fit 3 each 2-tube strips (I do on my 75), or at least another single-tube strip.

Most carpet plants are a bit demanding on light, they may be tricky for you, but the val and swords sgould do fine so long as you have the 5 or 6 tubes (2.3-2.7 W/gal)

[CHINABOY1021]

im most likely going to buy a fixture from HD or a shop light.

[Dabbler II]

That glo-mat is "plug and play" it has all the wireing (sp). It comes with end caps that just slip over the bulb and then you clip your bulbs into the holders, and then plug it into the wall. mmm... lets see if I have a Pic.....
http://www3.telus.net/public/dabbler/Picture_0322crop.jpg
they work good I have since upgraded to compact florsent on my 120 to 550 watts ( don't have a pic yet)
*My 120 is 52L X 22D X 24H My vals and amazone sord grew just fine with 160 watts on the 120

[CHINABOY1021]

sweet. thanks for the pic. im going to go out and buy a double glo mat ballast.

btw, are there any buzzing noises created from these ballasts?

[Dabbler II]

Nope they are as quite as a church mouse. If you ever decide to go to compact floresent lights I can give you a line on some cheep ones. I just added 440 watts for $300.00 cdn. You have to do some wiring but it is better than $1000 at Big Al's.:D