Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > Freshwater

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-21-2009, 08:22 PM
Agranized Agranized is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rivers, MB
Posts: 10
Agranized is on a distinguished road
Default Lighting Question

I'm going to try and set up my first planted freshwater tank and need a little advice on lighting requirements. My aquarium is 30" deep and I'm just looking for mainly low light plants to fill in the landscape and provide refuge for fish. I am wondering if T5's would do or T5 HO's or do I need to go the halide route? I'm leary about halide's as I'm running an acrylic aquarium and the heat aspect is worrisome. How many watts?
Ideas?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-21-2009, 08:44 PM
sphelps's Avatar
sphelps sphelps is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Lyalta, East of Calgary
Posts: 4,777
sphelps is on a distinguished road
Default

I'm no expert on freshwater put I was under the impression you could get away with a couple T8s for most plants.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-21-2009, 11:36 PM
Agranized Agranized is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Rivers, MB
Posts: 10
Agranized is on a distinguished road
Default

What about LED lighting?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-22-2009, 12:10 AM
trilinearmipmap trilinearmipmap is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Prince Rupert B.C.
Posts: 1,213
trilinearmipmap is on a distinguished road
Default

There is no need for halides even for high light plants.

You could get a 2 x 24" T5 retrofit kit.

Then if you want to upgrade to a high-light, CO2 injected system later you could add on two more 24" T5's.
__________________
120 gallon sps/anemones/LPS reef since 2004
Apex controller
8 x 54 watt T5 PowerModule
Herbie's silent overflow system
Jebao DC 12000 return pump
Jecod CP-40 Cross-flow circulation device
Mini Bubble King 180
Barr Aquatics calcium reactor
Bucket fuge
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-22-2009, 12:18 AM
Myka's Avatar
Myka Myka is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Saskatoon, SK.
Posts: 11,268
Myka will become famous soon enough
Default

For a 30" depth I would think that you would want to use T5NOs for low light plants. Halides are used on planted tanks at times, but usually only for exceptionally deep, high CO2, high light demand plants.
__________________
~ Mindy

SPS fanatic.

Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-22-2009, 01:38 AM
ElGuappo's Avatar
ElGuappo ElGuappo is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Calgary, Ab
Posts: 1,593
ElGuappo is on a distinguished road
Default

imo a single tube t8 may be enough, at least for low light plants
__________________
72 Gallon Bowfront Reef.. Hardware:2x250w Luminex Elite HQI Reflectors (Phoenix Hexarc Bulbs), Galaxy 2x250w Electronic ballast, Euroreef 130 Skimmer, Sedra KSP 7000 Retern... Live Stock: Pair of Hawaiian Flame Wrasse, Leopard Wrasse, Pink Streaked Wrasse, Pair True Percula Clowns, Potters Angel, African Flameback Angel, Orange Fin Tomini Tang, Yellow Assessor, Tailspot Blenny, Purple Firefish..

45 G FW Asain Barb Community tank.


Last edited by ElGuappo; 08-22-2009 at 01:41 AM.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
lighting


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 09:11 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.