What Lighting?

[verna2197]

I have a 75 gallon with about 17 freshwater fish, everything is all natural, gravel, wood, rocks and live plants. Anyway my plants are dying, I have 1 Aqueon Full Spectrum T8 32w bulb.

Can someone tell me what I need please to keep my plants growing?
Thank you
Verna 2197

 

[FreshyFresh]

Is the tank 48" wide?

That being the case w/ low/med light plants, I'd get a 48" twin-tube T5HO like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/T5-Dual-48-...021?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43bcd451d5

I've got one on my 55g and love it. I also run glutaral for my carbon source. You need proper lighting and a carbon source for plant maintenance.

 

[Trigger334]

Go with something is that close to 6500K. There are cheaper options and can go all the way to LEDS. Here is an example of a great light that would work for planted tanks. 6500K is the keep to get the plants to grow. Depending on what light you go with will depend on how many you need. For example if you just go with a CFl bulb, you would need more than LEDs.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/PowerCompact.html

 

[TL1000RSquid]

Concur with Freshy on the light, its pretty decent cheap light. Something along the lines of Excel, and root tabs for any root feeders.

Suggested CFL's would do the trick as well but kind of unsightly with out a hood IMO.

 

[Gregg]

The Aqueon Full Spectrum T8 32w bulb is not even close to the amount of light you would need for this size aquarium to grow plants well

I agree with the idea of LEDs, especially good quality LEDs.
Two of the TMC GroBeam 600s would be a good start

These will last you years, and unlike any fluorescent, these do not loose spectrum after a year.
So in the long run these may not cost as much as others since you will not need to replace lamps every 5000 hours to maintain spectral quality

Here are a couple of good sources about the use of LED lights:
http://aquarium-digest.com/2010/04/11/led-aquarium-lights-lighting/
http://aap.atrixnet.com/?p=338

 

[fishorama]

I had a 3 x T-8 fixture over my 75 & called it med-low light. Yours doesn't seem to be 4 ft long? I haven't tried LEDs yet but I have older PCF 2 x 65w & T-5 HO 54w x 2, both are fine for med light plants with no CO2. You might be able to pick 1 up used as more people switch to LEDs if money is an issue.

 

[ZorroNet]

I bought brooder box reflectors and Daylight 6500K CFLs to "save" my plants in a tank that had failing LED lighting. I spent $30 total and the plants are growing and photo-synthesizing like crazy! You probably need 3 or 4 for a 75 gal (I have 2 on 29 gals). Anyway, the advantage a brooder has over a work light is that it is bigger, deeper, and wider. It has clips that are removable, and no switch. You can hang them like a pendulum lamp if you like and no one would question their coolness I don't disagree with the other who suggested fancier lights, but if your budget is small and your need is immediate, this is the solution that might make sense in the now.


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