Lighting Advice

[mfpreach]

Hi all, just looking for some lighting advice.
I have a 30gallon tank 36" long on top.

I previously had a coralife t5 fixture with two 6700k bulbs in it. With this setup I had very good plant growth, almost out of control. I didn't have horizontal growth on the bottom, but this is probably because I didn't have enough lighting.

Anyways, fast foward to now. My T5 fixture broke from getting too wet, the leads actually corroded. I went to the LFS and the sales person sold me a Coralife Aqualight power compact with a 50/50 10000k blub in it @ 96w. I have noticed I don't have nearly the same amount of growth as the previous set up. I should also note, I was injecting c02 into the previous set up, AND this set up and still didn't ahve good plant growth, only my Val continues to grow fast.

I am thinking of changing the bulb out for a a 6700k blub.
Will this make a difference in growth? Are T5s better? Should I get a new fixture all together?

I was thinking those power compact bulbs without a colormax bulbs put out more? ie. Not two strips, but no colormax.

Thanks for your advice in advance, I have been stumped up to now.

[tanker]

It is the bulb. The 50/50 is probably 1/2 10000K and actinic==not much use in a planted tank. Either get all 6700K or a combo that has 6700K and 10000K.

PS--Is the bulb "straight pin" or "square pin"??

[mfpreach]

Yeah thats what I was thinking, I think it is square pin. I will order one that has both 6700k.

Are T5 lights better than power compacts?

And I was wrong by the way, its 1 50/50 64W 21" bulb (30" fixture) , my mistake, that can't be enough light then especially not on the 50/50

[tanker]

Are T5 lights better than power compacts?


I am a PC user and am happy. T5 are (I think) the NEW light. All my tanks are PC and do not want to change---This is my tank in January of 2008.