T5HO = Too much light?

BagelDog

BagelDog

AC Members
Apr 21, 2009
231
0
0
Montana
Has anyone had the issue of T5HO bulbs putting out too much light per bulb to get an appropriate WPG for a low tech tank?

I'm looking to get a new lighting hood for my 55 gallon tank and at 54watts per 48" bulb, it's either 1, 2 or 3 WPG over the tank.

From what I've experienced, around 1.5 watts per gallon is nice for most plants and limited algae.

So, what has everyone done to combat this?

I'm thinking about going with three T5 bulbs over my tank at 28 watts each. What do you think?
 
IME, it really doesn't work to use a T5HO and try to do low tech with 3 wpg, that's for sure lol. I'm not sure if you could try anything lower and see if it does but don't count on it...not sure if T5 is worth the money if you're looking for minimal light.
 
Lowryder- A stock hood won't even come close to enough light to achieve 1.5 WPG. A single 48" T8 bulb only puts out 38 watts, putting me at roughly .7 WPG.

Most plants that I've heard are medium to high light have grown well in my tanks at around 1.5 WPG, although some of these plants have grown using only a stock light like you've suggested.

Jpappy- Do you have another suggestion instead of standard T5 for a medium /low light tank? (Just a reminder, standard 48" T5 lights are only 28 watts each, not 54 watts like the T5HO.)
 
You can use T5HO's but have to hang the light 9 to 11 inches above the waters edge. I love my T5HO Catalinaaquarium.com fixtures. I do have one tank that I could not suspend the fixture from the ceiling (14 foot ceilings) so I had to use the legs it came with. It's a 26g bow, with a T5HO 2x24w fixture. I have one light on for 4 hours, it goes off and the second light goes on for 4 hours. I have great growth on Hygro Angustifolia, enchinodorus quad, crypt wendtii, wisteria, penny wort, dwarf sag and Alternanthera Reineckii. I have no noticable algae, tho when I look real close, there is a spot or two of GSA. Below is a pic of the tank taken a month ago. Today, the pennywort is growing out of the tank, dwarf sag has carpeted the bottom, and the Hygro and Reineckii (which is a deep red color) are inches from the top of the tank. If I ever get my camera back from my daughter I'll post a recent pic.

plant to gwapa tank shot.jpg
 
The two t5ho bulbs sound like the way I would go. Your getting about 2 watts per gallon, which what I use in my low tech 40 gallon. I actually use 4 normal output t5s.
 
I must have read 100 times the past few years, you can't go by wpg when your using T5HO's...it's just more light than that theory was intended.
 
londonloco said:
I must have read 100 times the past few years, you can't go by wpg when your using T5HO's...it's just more light than that theory was intended.
Click to expand...
same really goes for any modern lights though.

i run several 60 gallon tanks with 2x54w no co2 just fine. you prob want to stick to 8-10 hours.
 
londonloco said:
You can use T5HO's but have to hang the light 9 to 11 inches above the waters edge. I love my T5HO Catalinaaquarium.com fixtures. I do have one tank that I could not suspend the fixture from the ceiling (14 foot ceilings) so I had to use the legs it came with. It's a 26g bow, with a T5HO 2x24w fixture. I have one light on for 4 hours, it goes off and the second light goes on for 4 hours. I have great growth on Hygro Angustifolia, enchinodorus quad, crypt wendtii, wisteria, penny wort, dwarf sag and Alternanthera Reineckii. I have no noticable algae, tho when I look real close, there is a spot or two of GSA. Below is a pic of the tank taken a month ago. Today, the pennywort is growing out of the tank, dwarf sag has carpeted the bottom, and the Hygro and Reineckii (which is a deep red color) are inches from the top of the tank. If I ever get my camera back from my daughter I'll post a recent pic.
Click to expand...

Would you mind sharing with us exactly which fixture you have from the catalina site? Does yours have separate power cords (or switches) for each bulb?

Thanks,
Harry
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom