lighting question.

[joander123]

ok, i'm going to be planting my 46 gallon bow front. Its 36" and i'm wondering what type of light would be ok for most types of plants. Don't want to get anything expensive really, just looking for a light that will work.

What should i look for?

[livingword26]

It depends on several things. If you want low light plants that you do not need co2 injection or fertilizer for, then you can go with around 1 1/2 watts per gallon. If you want higher light plants then you will need to add Co2 and fertilizers. Here is a link to a website that describes plants and their needs in different categories, such as lighting requirements.

http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php

Here are some links to some lights, there are many more out there.

http://www.aquacave.com/36-glo-dual-t5-hobr-2-x-39w-lighting-systembr-by-hagen-2011.html

https://www82.safesecureweb.com/webaquatics/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CL53016&Category_Code=CAFCFF

https://www82.safesecureweb.com/webaquatics/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CU01125&Category_Code=CT5HO4F

[joander123]

thanks for the response.

I want a variety of plants that will grow, but i want to stay away from Co2 injection i think.

how does 2 watts per gallon sound? Maybe some DIY co2 like the soda bottles, but i dont really want to get into the whole system...

[gmh]

Two watts per gallon on the bowfront will give you decent low to moderate lighting. I have 2.1 watts per gallon on a 40 gallon breeder; it is shallower than your tank and so needs a bit less wattage but I grow Amazon Swords , Hygro, Italian val, various varieties of crypts and java fern with pretty good success. I do not use CO2 and dose only occassionaly with Flourish Excell.
You just want to stay with the low to moderate light easy care plants.

[jones57742]

46 gallon bow front. Its 36" ... Don't want to get anything expensive really
Joan:

46Gx36" is tough with respect to standard lighting.
I anticipate that the depth of your tank is approximately 20".
Also I do not know what your definition of "expensive is".

I believe that a 96W PC (Power Compact) fixture will grow most plants in your tank (but do not even think about red pigmented plants).
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CU01005.html

Should you decide to go with greater intensity of light then two 96W PC fixtures are available.
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idProduct~CU01015.html
If you choose this alternate, IMHO, you will need floating plants and you will need quite a bit of experimentation in order to determine the appropriate feeding protocol, lighting duration and density of floating plants.

TR

[joander123]

ok, well what about MH?

Ebay sells cheap "grow light" metal halides that are meant to grow plants... i don't know anything about them because i'm really a SW guy and they are useless for saltwater corals... but what about fresh water plants?

[Yoemen]

you can always go the shoplight route.

I have 3 2 bulb shoplights over my 75 gallon and with CO2 I grow pretty much everything from Tiger lilies to baby tears, to chain swords, to rotala and blood stargrass. Again I use CO2 though.

If you want to use real aquarium lights though, most swear by ahsupply.com

[joander123]

i thought of shoplights, but they are usually found in either 4 or 6 feet fixtures. I need a 3 foot fixture not only for tank size but also to fit it into the corner the tank is in.

[joander123]

ok, well i think i decided on the 36" t5ho nova extreme fresh water light from drfostersmith.com its like 80 bucks shipped to my house and i already have 60 bucks credit there, so i figured i cant go wrong.

It will give me about 1.7 wpg, but i'm just going for mostly low light plants here, and only DIY co2.