More lighting woes

norm3000

norm3000

AC Members
Sep 11, 2004
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Clawson, MI
Ok, so I've got a 44 gallon tank (only 12" deep) and I've got Four 40 watt, 160 watts total, flourescent lights from the Hardware store. I think they're phillips FD20T12 "Plant and Aquarium" lights (specs can be found here: http://www.nam.lighting.philips.com/us/ecatalog/fluor/pdf/p-8499.pdf). I had read somewhere where someone recommended these lights over "specialty" ones at the LFS simply because they are $5 (at Meijers $7 at Walmart) versus $20 for specialty ones at the LFS.

That being said, my plants are not doing so well. They are turning a light yellow color rather than a nice green and are not growing very well. I watch my Nitrates/Nitries/Ammonia/PH regularly and they are all doing well and I don't have a CO2 system (yet). I don't have a cover for my tank (the tank gets hot if I have the cover on it, it's right by a window) so my lights are suspended from the ceiling by pullies that allow me to pull them up in order to do water changes. This makes the lights about 6-9" above the water. I run the lights 12 hours a day on a timer.

So to make a long story longer, the guy at the LFS says I need these specialty lights and then I'll be golden.

Could I get a second (and third and fourth....) opinion on this? 160Watts should be plenty for this 44gallon shallow tank right? Are differnt bulbs going to make a diff?

Thanks,
Norm
 
Don't listen to the LFS guy. while specialty bulbs may make your tank look greener due to having a higher CRI (color rendering index) rating, it won't prevent your plants from turning yellow.

Plants turning yellow is usually a sign of nutrient deficiency like lack of iron, potassium, magnesium, etc. Are you adding fertilizer at all and what kind of substrate are you using? You also have alot of wattage and that amount of lighting needs CO2 injection. Since you're not injecting CO2, that's probably causing an imbalance in the nutrient uptake.
 
With over 4 watts per gallon, you're going to need CO2 and fertilizer dosing, yesterday. They plants aren't yellow because of the color of the lights, they need food, badly.

List your tank specs, water chemistry, substrate type and dosing regimen. That will make it much easier for us to help you diagnose issues.

Oh, and your LFS guy just wants you to spend more money on lights. Don't do it.
 
The model is F40T12 (my mistake earlier) or 392282 but the stupid PDF gives the Color Index for all bubs BUT the Plant and Aquqarium bulbs. Althought their "Daylight Delux" bulbs are 6500K so maybe I should switch to those?

I'm not using any fertilizer at this time, any recommendation for a store bought fertilization to start with? I'll work on a DIY CO2 system this weekend as well, looks easy enough.
 
Timmain42 said:
List your tank specs, water chemistry, substrate type and dosing regimen. That will make it much easier for us to help you diagnose issues.

Oh, and your LFS guy just wants you to spend more money on lights. Don't do it.
Click to expand...

I'm at work right now (not working very hard obviously) so I'll have to post the exact chemistry specs later. No fertilization at this time besides fish waste (which I vaccume approx 30% of the rocks each week). Substrate is small gravel with some "special" black gravel thats supposed to break down into a clay like substance over time (according to the LFS [different one than the guy trying to sell me lights]). I don't quite get this stuff tho, doesn't seem to be breaking down at all and even if it does seems like my Siphon would just spit it out anyhew....

Thanks for the suggestions so far. This Forum has been the best Aquarium resource I've found! :D

-Norm
 
hey, the color of those plant and aquarium bulbs is 5500k, i was just looking at them last night.

I'm trying to use a shop light too, but I'm not sure if I should get a T8 or a T12...there's a t12 with a magnetic ballast that would seem to work, but the t8's are supposed to be better, apparently....ack
 
T8 tubes are more compact, uses less energry, and offers a better CRI than T12. Since they're more energy efficient, they also produce less heat.
 
not to hijack or anything, but where can I get t8 bulbs for say, a shoplight? I want to put together a cheap light for a lightly planted tank, I was going to do a t12, but I think a t8 with two bulbs will work, but home depot doesn't sell any specialty t8 bulbs. Should I go to my LFS and pick up some? Do t8's come in 40 watts?
 
T8 do come in 40 watt 48" tubes which will fit a shoplight. They will also run using the ballast that comes with the shoplight which is designed for T12. However, you will lose the energy saving benefits using T12 ballast and I have no idea whether or not it will shorten the lifespan of the T8.
 
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