Is there any bulb I can get that will be adequate enough for a low tect 55gall tank. It has two 18" bulbs. They say 15w. I know its 2-3 watts per gallon but I was on drsfostersmith.com and they have ALOT of different bulbs so I didnt know if there was one I could get that wpuld be adequate enough. It is an All-glass 24" fixture with and 18" standard fluorescent bulb
Fluorescent Lights
- Thread starter Alexp08
- Start date
Any bulbs that fit the fixtures will be adequate for low tech - Watts per Gallon is a myth left over from T(something) bulbs...maybe even T12?
If the lighting isn't enough you can start adding reflectors.....
If you don't get the growth you want - you're too low tech....
If the lighting isn't enough you can start adding reflectors.....
If you don't get the growth you want - you're too low tech....
I would like to know what specific plants you are intending. Two 18-inch tubes (which will all be 15w) will work for low light plants, provided you have good tubes. Not all tubes of this length and wattage produce the same intensity or spectrum of light. These are T8 tubes obviously, and I have T8 over all my seven planted tanks, and I have experimented a fair bit with tubes over the years.
The watts per gallon was indeed a T12 invention, and it is fairly meaningless with all the lighting available today. Unless you are comparing identical tubes/bulbs, wattage will not give much indication of light intensity. One still reads this formula though, but should take no notice of it.
If you use good tubes, such as the Hagen Life-Glo, or the ZooMed UltraSun, you will have decent light for low and a few moderate-light plants. I can explain more when I know what you are planning.
Byron.
The watts per gallon was indeed a T12 invention, and it is fairly meaningless with all the lighting available today. Unless you are comparing identical tubes/bulbs, wattage will not give much indication of light intensity. One still reads this formula though, but should take no notice of it.
If you use good tubes, such as the Hagen Life-Glo, or the ZooMed UltraSun, you will have decent light for low and a few moderate-light plants. I can explain more when I know what you are planning.
Byron.
Well i bought bulbs before i read your post. But i bought Aqueon Floramax Plant Growth Fluorescent Lamp from drfostersmith. From everything i read they were the best bulbs they offer as far as plant growth. They are very strong in the red and blue spectrum. Anyways im pretty much open to any plants as this is my first big planted tank.
Don't worry about spectrum - Use the cheapest bulb you can afford, that makes the fish/plants look the way you want them to. In the UK it would be something like Lighting Direct - America I'd guess a WalMart or whatever massive shops you have there
HTH
HTH
Spectrum does make a difference, and especially when you are dealing with minimal lighting to begin with. However, this cuts both ways.
Studies have proven that aquatic plants in an aquarium will grow best under light having a colour wavelength between 5000K and 7000K. The "daylight" tubes work best, with a kelvin around 6500K. These are strongest in the red, blue and green wavelengths. Colour rendition of fish and plants is also true within this range. Red and blue are essential for photosynthesis; the addition of green is interesting, and Walstad suggests this may be due to the additional brightness of the light when green is included.
The problem with the so-called plant or aquarium tubes is that they are high in the red and blue but no green. The result is a sort of purplish hue. Some may like this, others don't, but more importantly is the fact that these tubes produce less intense light than the "daylight" I mentioned above.
I did a series of experiments with single tubes over my 29g tank a couple years back. With the same plants and fish, and same plant fertilizers and water changes, I found that the plants thrived under a Life-Glo tube. Under the Aqua-Glo (same size and wattage) they began to deterioriate within a few weeks. I also used a GE daylight tube and they again literally melted away. I put a new Life-Glo in the fixture, and the plants that were not completely dead revived over several weeks. Each of these tubes were over the tank for 5-6 months. There is certainly no doubt that the tube is important.
On my dual-tube tanks that take 4-foot tubes I do use the cheaper tubes. I've had good results from one Sylvania 5000K and one 6500K together, or two 6500K together. The 5000K adds a bit of "warmth" which is nice for the reds.
Two 18-inch tubes over a 4-foot tank with this depth is really pushing things. And I will guarantee that you will not have much luck unless you get either of the two tubes I mentioned previously, or something that is similar. I name these two because I have used them so I know what they will do.
Another option though is to replace the present fixture. A single T8 48-inch tube would be a slight improvement; I had this over my 55g back in the 1980's and some plants managed; again, use the Life-Glo or UltraSun tube. A dual-tube with 48-inch tubes would be much better and you could use the Sylvania or Phillips or GE tubes.
Byron.
Studies have proven that aquatic plants in an aquarium will grow best under light having a colour wavelength between 5000K and 7000K. The "daylight" tubes work best, with a kelvin around 6500K. These are strongest in the red, blue and green wavelengths. Colour rendition of fish and plants is also true within this range. Red and blue are essential for photosynthesis; the addition of green is interesting, and Walstad suggests this may be due to the additional brightness of the light when green is included.
The problem with the so-called plant or aquarium tubes is that they are high in the red and blue but no green. The result is a sort of purplish hue. Some may like this, others don't, but more importantly is the fact that these tubes produce less intense light than the "daylight" I mentioned above.
I did a series of experiments with single tubes over my 29g tank a couple years back. With the same plants and fish, and same plant fertilizers and water changes, I found that the plants thrived under a Life-Glo tube. Under the Aqua-Glo (same size and wattage) they began to deterioriate within a few weeks. I also used a GE daylight tube and they again literally melted away. I put a new Life-Glo in the fixture, and the plants that were not completely dead revived over several weeks. Each of these tubes were over the tank for 5-6 months. There is certainly no doubt that the tube is important.
On my dual-tube tanks that take 4-foot tubes I do use the cheaper tubes. I've had good results from one Sylvania 5000K and one 6500K together, or two 6500K together. The 5000K adds a bit of "warmth" which is nice for the reds.
Two 18-inch tubes over a 4-foot tank with this depth is really pushing things. And I will guarantee that you will not have much luck unless you get either of the two tubes I mentioned previously, or something that is similar. I name these two because I have used them so I know what they will do.
Another option though is to replace the present fixture. A single T8 48-inch tube would be a slight improvement; I had this over my 55g back in the 1980's and some plants managed; again, use the Life-Glo or UltraSun tube. A dual-tube with 48-inch tubes would be much better and you could use the Sylvania or Phillips or GE tubes.
Byron.
okay so ive found some other options.
A quad t5
http
/www.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=52305P&CartID=3
and an LED
http/www.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=56427P&CartID=1
Which would be better to get?
A quad t5
http
/www.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=52305P&CartID=3and an LED
http
/www.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=56427P&CartID=1Which would be better to get?
Alexp08 said:okay so ive found some other options.
A quad t5
http
and an LED
http
Which would be better to get?
The first, the Quad T5, is way too bright for your set-up. This is the sort of light a marine tank with corals would need. Even if you had diffused CO2, I would think this light too much for freshwater planted.
The LED I can't say much about. LED is an area where there is so much diversity; there are good planted tank LED fixtures, but there are also many that would be similar to what you have now. I bought one that was supposed to be equivalent to dual T8 (when my old fixture gave out) but it was anything but and I had to sell it at a loss. Hopefully some members will have experience with the linked fixture to offer help.
Okay fair enough! So the quad is too much, how about a duel T5?
http/www.aquatraders.com/48-inch-2x54W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Fixture-p/52123p.htm
http
/www.aquatraders.com/48-inch-2x54W-T5-Aquarium-Light-Fixture-p/52123p.htm
Alexp08 said:Okay fair enough! So the quad is too much, how about a duel T5?
http
This is too much for your set-up. I tried a dual T5 HO a year ago, over my 90g, and it was way too bright, so I tried it over my 5-foot 115g for a full week before taking it back as it was too bright.
On your tank, in fluorescent tube lighting, a single tube T5 HO would work, or a dual tube T8 (either taking 48-inch tubes). The LED options as I said previously I cannot comment on as I have only had the one experience.
Byron.
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