Another lighting question! sorry

pbrack

pbrack

GO SENS GO!
Oct 8, 2005
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Hey,
I'm just trying to figure out what's the best combo for lighting over my 50 gallon tank. I'd like to keep glosso, as well as several other high light plants. Here's what I found:

Combo 1
CF's 2x 65 watts + Normal fluorescents 2 X 32 watts

Combo 2
V.H.O Ballast kit 2 x 110 watts (I think this may be overkill!)

The problem is the CF's don't seem to come in a 48'' retrofit kit at Big Al's (.ca). Could that lead to a problem in terms of light distribution? Also, can the lights be suspended 12'' from the water without causing any problems?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice!
 
How about a 4X55 CF fixture? Two 55's on each side. That would give you an even 4wpg of CF light and you can grow glosso at that wattage.
That's the way I would go, in fact that's the way I went with my 55 gal. and it's deeper than a 50.

Len
 
All I seem to be able to find is a 4 x 65 Watts retrofit kit...Wuold the extra 40 watts be to much, since now I'm getting over the 5 watts per gallon mark. I don't want to blow my fishes eyeballs either :D

And, in this case, would V.H.O. be more effecient?
 
IMO, you wouldn't hurt the fish with the 4X65s, but I don't think it's necessary to go that high. Four wpg/CF will grow just about anything, again IMO.
www.ahsupply.com/ has 4x55s and I believe 4X65. Either would do the job, but if it was my tank I'd opt for the more forgiving 4X55s.

Len
 
I just want to make sure I'm getting the right thing...

http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

So the 4 X 55 bright kit is what you would suggest?

Also, have you ever ordered from here, and how good were they?

Thanks a lot for all the advice djlen :thm:
 
In that case, maybe he can offer a rebate to a hard working student, that needs money and that is busy studying really hard for his final exams :(


That student, of course, is me :D
 
pbrack said:
have you ever ordered from here, and how good were they?
Click to expand...


I've ordered twice from them in the last month or so. Very prompt with shipments, orders arrived within the week of my ordering them. They ship via priority mail. Easy to install with their detailed instructions. I have never done electrical and mine work. :D
 
I've never ordered from them personally but have heard nothing but good things.

Just wanted to ask you something, how familiar are you with planted tanks? With that amount of light you will definitely need to have a good handle on everything, specifically nutrients and CO2. I'm not trying to scare you away, just want to make sure you know what you are getting into.

There's a lot less room for neglect with that light too. You will want to be able to do regular water changes and fertilizer dosings. CO2 levels should be 20+ ppm all the time pretty much (unless u shut it off at night)
 
I'm not very familiar with planted tanks, but by the time I have everything all setup (which could be in a few months), I will have gained more experience since I'm now almost finished setting up a 20 gallon (2.75 Wpg) experimental tank for plants.

so, yeah....I'll take any advice :D

Btw, do people shut off their CO2 in order to prevent big fluctuations in pH and is that considered the best thing to do?
 
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