Best Light for planted tanks

[AQUA_OBSESSION]

What is the ultimate set up for a planted tank???

I just got a 90 gal tank and want to have it as a planted discus tank.

2 Questions:

#1 Best light on the market (money being no object)?

#2 Best value light on the market?

Thanks in advance for your feedback....

[Mgamer20o0]

it all depends on what you want to do with the tank. there are low light plants and there is high light plants. if you want some great power compact lights i would go with ahsupply.com. if you need to go cheaper i would go with some T8 lighting from home depot. here is a link about lighting that helped me out a lot.

http://woo.gotdns.com/Aquarium/Lighting.htm

[phanmc]

If money wasn't a factor I'd get a metal halide setup, something like this:

http://www.adgshop.com/Grand_Solar_1_p/108-055.htm

Best value within reason is:

http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm

[Hound]

Wow, I've been thinking of getting a 100g tank for a planted discus tank myself. My lighting plan if I do take the plung would be to construct a custom light fixure using a 1x96 watt and a 2x36 watt fixture from ahsupply. My hope would be to keep to low and mid light plants in order to keep the aquarium as low maintenence as possible. Even then I'm thinking of having injected co2 though.

[misopeenut]

best lighting solution would be metal halide
best value would be metal halide, you get what you pay for..
when you can manage the tank with metal halide youre true aquatic planter :)

[misopeenut]

If money wasn't a factor I'd get a metal halide setup, something like this:

http://www.adgshop.com/Grand_Solar_1_p/108-055.htm



for 90 gallon youd need two of those puppies...

[reiverix]

I've not tried halides but the best lights I've used are HO T5s. Because of the slim diameter you can pack a bunch of them over your tank and get a very even spread of light.

[AQUA_OBSESSION]

I appreciate everyone's great feedback. Unfortunately, money is a factor in my decesion - as much as I would love to go with 2 of those amano lights there is no way I can justify spending that much.

My question is with the ahsupply company. Do they send you everything you need in that kit or do I need to order anything else (except for the bulbs).

Matt

[TwoTankAmin]

AH Supply kits are great- have used them for years. The more important consideration here is your choice of fish- discus- do not like bright light. One wpg or so is enough for them but not enough for many plants.

Discus also need warm water, something many plants dont like, so pay attention to this in your choice of plants.

[Goatman]

Best bang for the buck is definitely ODNO (overdriven nowmal output) lighting. If you are relatively handy, you can put together all the lighting you need over your 90 for about $70. Here's the plans I used for my 55. I'm running 2x ODNO 6500K T832s, and 2 NO 6500K T832s.

http://www.gwapa.org/articles/ODNO/

[Hound]

I'd still go with Ahsupply lighting myself. I'm pretty much assuming that you've done at least some research on keeping discus. I'm fairly certain that by contacting reputable breeders they will also have recommendations about lighting amounts and what plants can be kept.

[AQUA_OBSESSION]

Here is the light that I am leaning towards....http://www.aquauniverse.com/component/page,shop.product_details/flypage,shop.flypage/product_id,871/category_id,50/option,com_phpshop/Itemid,31/

[fresh_newby]

Hi AO
Do you plan on injecting pressurized CO2? Do you plan on heavily planting the tank? Do you plan on dosing dry macros and micros? All of this plays a huge part in your lighting choice. If you are deciding to use pressurized CO2, you want to shoot for 3-4 wpg but keep in mind ferts are a major part or you will be fighting algae instead of growing plants. MH is great, that is what I have....Coralife MH 150x2 for a 90 gal, and I took out the actinic bulbs and replaced them with 50/50 pc's 55w to start off and end the day, mimicing sunup and sundown, but if you want the best value you can go with T5's. These can be found even at Home Depot. You can also talk to Kim @ AH Supply on line to get an economical setup for a 90 gal. I went with Mh because my place is very high tech and contemporary so it works well all around. Good luck!