Refresh my memory about lighting

[Wrench]

I've been messing with my reef tank for so long that I forgot all about my FW. Unfortunately it's not what it used to be Time to change that I've got a 4x65w PC light setup over my 55g tank and I know the bulbs are ready to be replaced. Plants quit growing and some died. What bulbs are the hot ticket now? Are Coralifes still decent on FW planted setups? How about spectrum? The tank looks awful yellow, what would be a good combination that's not quite as yellow but still supports good growth? I think I've got all 6500k in there now. Big difference from the 10000 and 14000k on my reef

:help:

 

[musho3210]

6500k is recommended

 

[Wrench]

What plants will do well under that lighting with no CO2?

 

[phanmc]

Ignore the k rating, if you think the 6,500k looks too yellow then switch to the 10,000k bulbs. K rating matters very little in terms of plant growth.

As far as namebrands go, I just go for the best deals available. Coralifes are fine .

 

[WeeNe858]

kelvins are just how hot a bulb burns... but you want the blues and reds that are given out by the bulb for the plants

 

[Mgamer20o0]

thats a lot of lighting over a 55gal tank not to be adding co2.

i always try for a mixture of bulbs. try some 6700 and 10000

 

[Rex Grigg]

I seriously doubt the bulbs need to be replaced. A majority of people with high light FW planted tanks only replace bulbs when they die.

I would look at your nutrient regime as the reason the plants died. And CO2 is a nutrient at those light levels.

 

[Wrench]

Ok so I'll switch out a pair of the 6700's for a pair of 10000k to brighten the tank up a bit. I know that the higher up you go on the K, the amount of usable light available to the plants drops of significantly but since I've got too much light as it is I should be fine. I'm not going to add CO2 because I haven't got the time or money to invest in it now. Maybe down the road but not now. I had a mini paintball setup on it a while ago but ended up getting rid of it because I got tired of fiddling with it.

What are some plants that will do well under moderate light with no CO2? I've got a flourite/gravel bed.

 

[phanmc]

Turn off a set of lights if you can, 260w of CF lighting is too much for a 55g tank without CO2. The spectrum isn't important, a 10,000k bulb will generate about as much PAR light as a 6,500k bulb so you are still dealing with a massive amount of light.

 

[quadpants]

Echoing everyone else, you need CO2 at those light levels. Turn off 2 bulbs and you might be ok but even at 2.4 wpg thats stretchinig it without CO2.

And 6700k vs 10000k is really just a visual preference, plants grow the same under each.