Can I use this?

O

Opicana

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May 13, 2006
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Toledo, Ohio
I purchased a 72g setup today. It was previously used for saltwater, but I intend to use it as a freshwater planted.

It came with a 48" 40W High Intensity Power-Glo light fixture. Is this at all helpful for a freshwater?

I was originally planning on getting the lighting separately, so didn't even factor the lighting fixture into the cost we paid for the tank (it was a steal w/o the lights) so the lights were just and added bonus. At first, I dismissed them because they were just 40w. But then I read the "high intensity"...so I was wondering if they are useful at all.
 
Power-Glo is a namebrand of Hagen lights with a K rating of 18000k, which is fine for a planted tank. High intensity could mean it's a T5HO bulb, is it a very thin bulb? T5HO would be preferable but it would still not be enough light for a 72g tank, you'd want to double the wattage.
 
phanmc said:
Power-Glo is a namebrand of Hagen lights with a K rating of 18000k, which is fine for a planted tank. High intensity could mean it's a T5HO bulb, is it a very thin bulb? T5HO would be preferable but it would still not be enough light for a 72g tank, you'd want to double the wattage.
Click to expand...

I don't know if its a T5 bulb...nor can I tell if its really thin...I am totally new at this and don't know what the various bulbs look like.
 
Is it the size of this little one...(T5)
8to5installation2.jpg



Or this bigger one (T8).....
8to5installation1.jpg



Either way, the Power-Glo bulbs are what I have on my 90G...they are nice bulbs, but if you are going to do live plants, you may need a couple more of them...(the T8 fixtures can be found really cheap at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.)

If it is 48" and 40W, it is most likely a T8 bulb (bigger one)
 
At minimum you'll want to add another bulb to grow low light plants. If you're getting a new fixture, aim for something that provides a total of 100-130w.
 
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