Lighting a 600G HELP

Yeah, CFL's aren't going to be effective lighting on a tank that deep. To have anywhere near a decent planted tank, you'll have to do Power Compacts or Metal Halides.

Yes, the wpg rule doesn't apply, but putting 100 watts over a 600g tank tank that's 30" deep isn't going to grow plants. For a high tech 600g tank, you should shoot for about 430 watts. Low tech, *maybe* half that.

But, you might could use a couple of these babies:

http://www.1000bulbs.com/105-Watt-Compact-Fluorescent/31681/

430 watts isn't even 1 wpg how's that high tech?
 
Oh....I didn't see it on my first run though, all the font blurred together.


Those CFL's will grow plants, actually, they'll grow almost all plants, but maybe not to their greatest potential. The restrike causes two issues: 1. You have to go way overkill on the wattage just to grow decent plants 2. when a tank that big/that much wattage, the overkill will really effect your power consumption.

I did CFL in the beginning, but ultimately I replaced them with power compacts due to the reasons above.
 
430 watts isn't even 1 wpg how's that high tech?

hehe I was going to go with 5 actually but still short of 1 wpg. After all the really great info I'm looking into the overdriven T8 as a promising option after a quick google search. I'm also reading every article linked here. I'm hoping this thread gets somewhere and has an end to it. I've seen way to many threads where the OP just stops posting one day and leaves us all in the dark (yes a pun) on what worked and what didn't. Right now I guess I'll do everyone a favor and and post a quick vid of the tank and imagine what it will look like full of Jungle Vals and other nice green plants!. [YT]<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uHyXnVBUqCw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uHyXnVBUqCw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>[/YT] Its an older vid updated stock is 2 spotted/florida gar, longnose gar, Yellow Perch (2 more on the way) , Pumpkinseed Sunfish, 2 Green Sunfish and a Bluegill. Thats going to be the end of the Stocking to.
 
Because with big tanks like that the watts per gallon "rule" doesn't even apply. It's not even something you can work with. For a 600g tank, throw the wpg rule out the window.

Supporting information:

http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/11/amanos-ideal-light-levels-revealed.html


and

http://www.fitchfamily.com/lighting.html


Its not really supporting information. for it to be supportive wouldn't it have to be in a controled enviroment and multiple test run using the same exact parameters..... Just my opinion
 
Its not really supporting information. for it to be supportive wouldn't it have to be in a controled enviroment and multiple test run using the same exact parameters..... Just my opinion

Well... From looking at Amano's tanks and if the data they gathered is from his tanks and accurate as they claim about what wattage he uses on all his tanks of different sizes It might be good support. Its hard to argue anything against an Amano planted tank. according to the calculator I'd need 430 W
 
Well... From looking at Amano's tanks and if the data they gathered is from his tanks and accurate as they claim about what wattage he uses on all his tanks of different sizes It might be good support. Its hard to argue anything against an Amano planted tank. according to the calculator I'd need 430 W


The type of lighting that you use will make a difference too a MH will put of more light that a CFL and so forth besidese the data has gallons & watts it does not tell us what type of lighting he was using much less k rating ....



Any how please keep us updated on your tank I am very interested PICS?
 
AquariaCentral.com