Another questionabout lights

[Gooey]

For a 3 foot tank, do you have to get 3 foot long lights, or get the next size down ?
The reason I ask is i'm gonna make a hood for my ttank and i nee to know how big to make it for the lights.
Also i'm gonna plant it out, and need to know how many watts i will need (36 x 15 x 12)
and one more thing which kind of lights do I get that is good for plants and good at showing off the colours in the fish, or do I have to get two different bulbs ?

 

[Davy Reynolds]

Get the next size down 30inch tubs
I'd say you need 60watts but two 30inch bulbs will give 50watts. This should do. Also I'd suggest getting one of each, one for the plants and one for fish.
Start there and see how it goes. If the plants need more light then you'll need to get another bulb, It also depends on what plants you get, some require more light than others, and some easy some not.

Which bulbs to get are easy, maunfactures made bulbs which are specific, for plant or for fish, so it'lldepend on your lfs