T5HO = Too much light?

[plantbrain]

Since the goal is low tech, I assume no CO2/Excel dosing.
I'd suggest perhaps T8's.
A pair of them along with a good reflector would really do nice and a DIY effort could make them for 40-50$ easily. T8's are pretty good.

A single T5 would do the trick also I think, I'd get 2 such bulbs and consider CO2 personally.

I'd then chose easier to care for plants that require less trimming etc.
Then do water changes maybe every 2-4 weeks, light dosing and a rich sediment like ADA AS or worm casting DIY soils etc.

Up to you really. Some do this + Excel dosing etc.
You have a few options/ways to go here.
CO2/Excel does not imply you must have high light, I suggest the reverse actually, lower light= CO2.

You get much more out of the low light you have this way, so plants can grow well on less since they need not try to waste energy trying to get limited CO2, instead, they grab every last photon.

Growth rates are still very easy and manageable as well.
I can grow any species together I want nicely, but not weedy growth.
CO2 and nutrient management is also 10X easier.
But I am not trying to suggest one is better than the other, non CO2 has some real good merits. I have non CO2 planted tanks myself.


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[fabsroman]

Since the goal is low tech, I assume no CO2/Excel dosing.
I'd suggest perhaps T8's.
A pair of them along with a good reflector would really do nice and a DIY effort could make them for 40-50$ easily. T8's are pretty good.

A single T5 would do the trick also I think, I'd get 2 such bulbs and consider CO2 personally.

I'd then chose easier to care for plants that require less trimming etc.
Then do water changes maybe every 2-4 weeks, light dosing and a rich sediment like ADA AS or worm casting DIY soils etc.

Up to you really. Some do this + Excel dosing etc.
You have a few options/ways to go here.
CO2/Excel does not imply you must have high light, I suggest the reverse actually, lower light= CO2.

You get much more out of the low light you have this way, so plants can grow well on less since they need not try to waste energy trying to get limited CO2, instead, they grab every last photon.

Growth rates are still very easy and manageable as well.
I can grow any species together I want nicely, but not weedy growth.
CO2 and nutrient management is also 10X easier.
But I am not trying to suggest one is better than the other, non CO2 has some real good merits. I have non CO2 planted tanks myself.


Regards,
Tom Barr

I second this. Plus, Tom is pretty well known in the aquarium plant community.

I have a 10 gallon with vals in it and a 20 gallon with dwarf sag in it. Both tanks share a 48" T8 shop light and the growth has been pretty good for me. I dose ferts on Wednesday and Sunday and do water changes every 2 weeks. The 10 gallon doesn't have CO2, but will shortly, and the 20 gallon has had CO2 since I started it back in December. From 20 dwarf sag plants in the 20 back in December, I now have the entire bottom covered, with some reaching almost to the top of the tank, and I have sold over 100 plants from that tank. I used Eco-Complete in both tanks. I am using a 6500K and 6700K bulb in the T8 and they are on for 8 hours every day. The T8 is suspended about 4 inches over the tanks.

Personally, I don't think T5HO lighting or PC lighting is really needed until you get to some deeper tanks, but I would defer to Tom on that assumption since I am not 100% sure on it.

 

[dundadundun]

Since the goal is low tech, I assume no CO2/Excel dosing.
I'd suggest perhaps T8's.
A pair of them along with a good reflector would really do nice and a DIY effort could make them for 40-50$ easily. T8's are pretty good.

A single T5 would do the trick also I think, I'd get 2 such bulbs and consider CO2 personally.

I'd then chose easier to care for plants that require less trimming etc.
Then do water changes maybe every 2-4 weeks, light dosing and a rich sediment like ADA AS or worm casting DIY soils etc.

Up to you really. Some do this + Excel dosing etc.
You have a few options/ways to go here.
CO2/Excel does not imply you must have high light, I suggest the reverse actually, lower light= CO2.

You get much more out of the low light you have this way, so plants can grow well on less since they need not try to waste energy trying to get limited CO2, instead, they grab every last photon.

Growth rates are still very easy and manageable as well.
I can grow any species together I want nicely, but not weedy growth.
CO2 and nutrient management is also 10X easier.
But I am not trying to suggest one is better than the other, non CO2 has some real good merits. I have non CO2 planted tanks myself.


Regards,
Tom Barr

bingo :woot:

and cost less overall in the long run since you'll only need to buy one bulb at a time and you'll get more light for less power than t8.

 

[MixtecoBlue]

I'm running a single 54w T5HO over my 55 gallon low-tech/no CO2/no Excel tank with weekly fert dosing and it works perfectly! I have a 6700k bulb and it runs 8hrs per day.

 

[WeedCali]

lol i have .56wpg. now THATS low lighting :laugh: