VHO for Freshwater Planted Tank

T

thadius65

AC Members
Jul 30, 2006
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I have a 125 gallon tank with the following plants:

Large Amazons
Anacharis
Grass
Java Moss

Current lighting is via 10,000k 35 watt 36" flour bulbs.

I was given a Ice Cap 430 Ballast and end caps for two bulbs. I was thinking of using this instead of the low watt I have today. Using two 95watt (36") bulbs in addition to or instead of my 35 watt.

Question on the bulb? Is Ultraviolet Resources Aqua Sun good for freshwater plants? Here is some more info:

The URI Aquasun (10K) is a technologically advanced aquarium lamp containing a mixture of unique triband phosphors. 180º internal reflector allows 40% more light output. Excellent for all marine applications, hard coral, plants, fresh water, and salt water tanks.

Thanks,

Ted
 
ted,
I have been doing quite a bit of research (nothing conclusive so far)

I also have VHO that came with my 75 I have 2 110w 10,000k one is blue actinic the other full spectrum.

I believe the actinic may be useless for plants , I wonder if it may the reason I fight algae.

I'm finding the the the k rating is a measurement of the heat but referred to as part of the color spectrum also.
basically 5000k is better for plants from what I gather..I also find that some recommend looking at the lumens

I am now on the hunt for vho 5000k
but the research continues.

I think for saltwater the 10000k is preferred as it promotes algae growth.

I found some sites say 10000k daylight (referred to as full spectrum)

many of the vho bulbs(URI) i have found have internal reflectors
my search continues

ed
 
10,000k is fine for growing plants. Plants will grow in almost any white light if given enough wattage. Some lights with higher shifts in the red and blue wavelengths may provide a little better growth but you can grow plants with incandescent lights if you provided enough wattage.

A 5,000k bulb is not necessarily better than a 10,000k bulb, phosphors in different bulbs will use different wavelengths to generate the color you see. The amount of light in the red and blue wavelengths is what's important and not the K rating.

10,000k will not promote algae any more than other lights, and neither will an actinic bulb. Whether or not an actinic is useless for plant growth is debatable, though I doubt it since plants do use light in the blue wavelength.
 
thanks Phanmc, there is a lot of info that is confusing re VHO

some say 10000k is out of the useful range(tho I tend to believe that as long as it is full spectrum you are providing beneficial light)

some could be misinformation relayed.

it helps relieve some questions so I can work on balancing my tank. which I beleive will really help algae issues.
 
I'm using 110watts of 10,000 kelvin lighting over my 29 gallon planted aquarium, and all my plants are doing great.
 
Hmmmm... So will two URI AquaSun 10,000k VHO 95w bulbs (190watts total) provide a excellent light source for optimum growth in my 125 watt? Sound like it, correct?

Thanks!

Ted
 
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