Lighting
- Thread starter Gibby1
- Start date
ALways aim for the 3 watts per gallon rule +/- . I am sure a lot will vote for t5HO which is the most common. There will be a lot of choices with regards to lighting but all will depend on your budget . I use CFL's as I am comfortable using them for more than 10 years now. Just make sure the lights spectrum of the bulbs you are going to purchase will be between 6000-8000K to get optimum results.
What kind of plants?
What kind of fish?
Do you use, or want to use injected Co2?
Do you use, or want to use additional ferts?
What kind of fish?
Do you use, or want to use injected Co2?
Do you use, or want to use additional ferts?
depends on everything oo7genie said, and also on how much you are willing to spend and if you want a heavily planted tank with weekly work, or a regular planted tank with less care/work.
I would go with this for heavily planted with Co2
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1426
I would go with this for heavily planted with Co2
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=1426
Well I am not sure about what plants yet I have looked at 100's of websites with plants, I have researched the Co2(I feel it is a must) and I think I would like to eventually end up with heavily planted tank but I am sure this is going to take time. I have been using Flourish in my current tank. I am planning on running 2 405 for filtration and I am pushing towards eco-complete 3 to 4 inches for substrate. As for budget it is not no expense spared but if I have to wait longer I will to do it right. I also think I am going to have to go with a RO because my PH is 8.2 out of my well most plants seem to like lower PH.
These are my current fish they have been in my 55 gallon for about a year.
2-Angles
1-swordstails
2-clown loaches
3-Pictus Cat(new to tank)
2-Singapore Flower Shrimp
This Planting thing is all new to me but I am very excited to learn something new. Any other info on getting started I am open to any suggestions.
These are my current fish they have been in my 55 gallon for about a year.
2-Angles
1-swordstails
2-clown loaches
3-Pictus Cat(new to tank)
2-Singapore Flower Shrimp
This Planting thing is all new to me but I am very excited to learn something new. Any other info on getting started I am open to any suggestions.
Stop with the pH stuff, focus instead on KH of the tap water.
pH is meaningless, it is indirect and changes with dissolved CO2 content, same with plants, they do not care about a specific pH, it's the CO2 they want.
As far as deciding about light and CO2:
http://www.tropica.com/advising/technical-articles/biology-of-aquatic-plants/co2-and-light.aspx
So low light + CO2 will give you the most management ease and the least trouble with 90% of folk's goals.
I STRONGLY discourage anyone from even thinking about 3w/gal of T5 lighting.
This is about 2x what anyone might need to produce the nicest aquascapes you will find in the ADA aquascaping contest.
I use 1.5w/gal tops and this is 36" from the lights to the bottom of the tank(so deeper than your tank + another 12" above the surface):
This is a 180 gal tank with 1.5 w/gal
450 with 1.2 w/gal
Another 180 gal that has the Exact same light intensity as measured with a PAR meter as my 180 gal TANK:
So...........if anyone has something better to present that disproves these tanks require MORE light, I am all ears.
pH is meaningless, it is indirect and changes with dissolved CO2 content, same with plants, they do not care about a specific pH, it's the CO2 they want.
As far as deciding about light and CO2:
http://www.tropica.com/advising/technical-articles/biology-of-aquatic-plants/co2-and-light.aspx
So low light + CO2 will give you the most management ease and the least trouble with 90% of folk's goals.
I STRONGLY discourage anyone from even thinking about 3w/gal of T5 lighting.
This is about 2x what anyone might need to produce the nicest aquascapes you will find in the ADA aquascaping contest.
I use 1.5w/gal tops and this is 36" from the lights to the bottom of the tank(so deeper than your tank + another 12" above the surface):
This is a 180 gal tank with 1.5 w/gal
450 with 1.2 w/gal
Another 180 gal that has the Exact same light intensity as measured with a PAR meter as my 180 gal TANK:
So...........if anyone has something better to present that disproves these tanks require MORE light, I am all ears.