Hi all just getting my 90 gallon planted going and well i am lost for lighting. At the moment i have 1 double standard fuorescent that totals 72 watts. I was wondering if i added another double it would be ok or i have seen a comapact fluorescent fixture that contains 2 x 55 watt tubes meaning total light would be 182 watts which would be better thanks James :idea:
What lights?
- Thread starter jimmypossum
- Start date
In general the more watts per gallon you can get the better. A lot of it depends on what plants you have and how much light they need. See http://www.tropica.com/ for relative plant light requirements. The cheap route is to get a standard T12 fixture (Home Depot, Lowes etc). They typically hold two 40 watt bulbs in each fixture. 4 of those bulbs would give you 160 watts total which = 1.77 watts/gallon in a 90 gal tank. That would be for low to medium light plants I would say.
Compact flourescent typically have 65 watt bulbs but are a lot more expensive. I just bit the bullet and order a fixture with four 65watt bulbs for my 70 gallon tank. 4 of those would be 260 watts total which = 2.88 watts/gallon in a 90 gal tank which would be better for medium to high? light plants.
More than that and you're into metal halide which are tres tres expensive.
Lighting can easily be the most expensive part of your tank
Compact flourescent typically have 65 watt bulbs but are a lot more expensive. I just bit the bullet and order a fixture with four 65watt bulbs for my 70 gallon tank. 4 of those would be 260 watts total which = 2.88 watts/gallon in a 90 gal tank which would be better for medium to high? light plants.
More than that and you're into metal halide which are tres tres expensive.
Lighting can easily be the most expensive part of your tank
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Thanx Norm for the advice 1 pet shop said that is all i need but like you i think more is better so i think the coampact with the 2 x 55 watts would be best and i may upgrade again eventually i live in australia and lights are the one things you cant get cheaper a standard t10 light fixture cost $100 -160 and we dont have home depot which a lot of people here talk about so i will start saving as i am still at school lol. thanx again what lighting do most people have?
I use a combination of regular and compact flour. on my 55 160w reg.-130w com. at differnt on times to simulate morning,high noon(all lights on) and evening using three timers. there are also cheap web sites for the diy.
1000 light bulbs.com, and fulsum.com the work horse ballast are great!!
1000 light bulbs.com, and fulsum.com the work horse ballast are great!!