I want to set up a planted 55 gallon tank and I've been reading about lightning. I know that I need to have for plant between 2 and 3 watt per gallon, that means that I need something between 110 and 165 watt for my tank.
I've also been looking at the prices for the lights that I need to get that wattage and they seem a little bit high for my budget and when I add the canopy I need it makes it more expensive so I decided that I'm going to build my own canopy but what I still don't know is this.
I'm thinking in putting "Two energy saving bulbs (according to the box, input 13 Watt, output 60 watt, they are those spiral bulbs) and a 48" long and 40 watt fluorescent lamp, that will give me 160 watt (in theory) that's what I need for my tank but I'm not sure if those bulbs really give 60 watt output or if they are ok to use for a fish tank. The 48" long that I'm going to put is one of those with blue light because I've read that I need the blue light also for my tank. I don't really understand too much about that blue light but since I've seen in more than one place I guess I better put it.
Any suggestion would be very , very apreciate it.
Thanks,
Ario.
I've also been looking at the prices for the lights that I need to get that wattage and they seem a little bit high for my budget and when I add the canopy I need it makes it more expensive so I decided that I'm going to build my own canopy but what I still don't know is this.
I'm thinking in putting "Two energy saving bulbs (according to the box, input 13 Watt, output 60 watt, they are those spiral bulbs) and a 48" long and 40 watt fluorescent lamp, that will give me 160 watt (in theory) that's what I need for my tank but I'm not sure if those bulbs really give 60 watt output or if they are ok to use for a fish tank. The 48" long that I'm going to put is one of those with blue light because I've read that I need the blue light also for my tank. I don't really understand too much about that blue light but since I've seen in more than one place I guess I better put it.
Any suggestion would be very , very apreciate it.
Thanks,
Ario.