How much light for a planted tank?

Skittyfish

Skittyfish

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Jan 8, 2003
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Somebody help me! I have a one year old 72 gallon bowfront. It has the same light that it came with. I have decided to add lots of plants and I need to know how much light I need. I currently have one 40W AquaGlo lamp in it. I currently only have a couple of plants (Java Fen, Water Sprite, and two I don't know what they are). I am going to add Flourite to my existing gravel (going to be a big mess!)

I also want to know about water flow in a planted tank. I have read that plants don't like to have a lot of water movement, but will it hurt the fish to point the spray bar down or to the back?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. And Thanks in advance!
 
Aloha e Skittyfish,

Welcome to Aquaria Central, home of the most plant-friendly tanks on the web!

My suggestion would be to upgrade your lighting. I think the rule-of-thumb is that 2 watts/gallon is the dividing line between moderate and high lighting. If you can't swing that, at least replace your existing bulb. The usefulness of flourescents drops off pretty sharply after about 6 months.

If you do go to high light, you may also need to consider CO2 injection. There are lots of useful articles on plants and lighting at The Krib.

HTH.
 
Hmmm

Thanks! But how do I upgrade to two or three watts per g?
My hubby offered to build me a new light holder if I can find out exactly what I need. I've read the other postings about lighting, but I don't know the difference between T8 and T12, or wattage or the difference of regular flourescent and power compacts. Do I need two bulbs? And if so what kind. I am really new at plants.

I have an eheim Pro 2026 filter, 2 200w Visi Therm heaters
lots of fake plants.
6 Serpae Tetras
2 Spotted Pictus Catfish
3 Otocinclus
1 Green Cory


Just traded in one Green Severum, 4 Silver dollars, a yellow Pleco, an Iridescent shark and chinese algae eater.
Tank looks empty.

Thanks for the help!
 
Well, if hubby is helpful and handy ("If women can't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy"), then you could probably go with a DIY hood and some power compacts.

AH Supply has a good reputation here at AC. They sell retrofit kits, which are everything you would need to attach lights (including the lights BTW) to something. They'll even send you free plans to build the something.

Depending on the dimensions of your tank, and whether you want a full hood, or a light strip. You gound get a 2x55 watt kit to mount either side by side or end to end. Or a 1x96 watt kit.

I'm on the verge of ordering a 55w kit from them myself. I just don't know if I'm gonna have the time to build a hood.

Good luck!
 
OK. Thanks. I think I'm going to get 2x55 from AHSupply.
Next question.....do I need 5300K or 6400K bulbs?
I've read differing opions on this, so is it just the difference in color?

Hubby's going to build me a strip light end to end, I have a glass top. Do we need a fan or will these lights get very hot?


Also, will this fit in my existing strip light case? If so that would be a huge bonus (cheaper). It's 48 long by 4''w and about 3''high.

Would it be easier to just get another single strip light and add it on top?

Thanks a million for your help.
 
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I think the lights can be retrofited into your excisting canapy.
Its sounds about the right size. I would add fans, they can be fairley cheap and why temt fate when it comes to heat?
Also for yor tank I would get 2 96 watts instead of the 55.
Of course youd have to go co2 but you can do a dyi on that.
Also the 53 or the 64k would work, you can get 1 of each?
Also the spray bar. Keep in under water. It is surface agitation that bleeds off the co2 you want for plants.
Sorry, just reread your post. 4" wide seems a little narrow for 2 lights. mine at home is about 7". But you should be able to make a canopy inexpensivley.
 
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