Lighting For Vals, Swords, Cabomba

[Fish_Mike]

I am interested in setting up a 90 gallon aquarium for angelfish, tetras, corys, etc. and want to keep live plants, such as vals, swords and cabomba, which (I think) are found in the fishes' natural habitat.

I am also aware that I will need quite a bit of light to keep my plants happy.

I don't want to get into CO2 and nutrients and all that other stuff. Just plants with sufficient lighting.

Will one 2x65 watt power compact fixture be enough for what I want to do?

Thanks!

 

[aaronnorth]

if those tubes were T8, then you mght get away without CO2,

 

[Fish_Mike]

I thought that power compact bulbs offer more light/watt (well that's not the technical terminology behind it - but I just thought they were considered better).

 

[Nick16]

yes thats right. normally for examle, a 900mm tube the max wattage you can get is 30w for a t8 tube, whereas with power compacts as they are bent and folded the tube can be made longer so you can get higher wattages. have you considered t6 bulbs. 40% more output than t8.

 

[aaronnorth]

I thought that power compact bulbs offer more light/watt (well that's not the technical terminology behind it - but I just thought they were considered better).

yes they do, but more light requires more nutrients & CO2, and you said you didnt want this.

 

[Fish_Mike]

I've never come across T6 bulbs here in Canada.

So, the 2x65W PC bulbs are enough for the plants I want to keep, right?

However, I am introducing too much light and not enough CO2, so I'm assuming I might be overrun with algae? Is that correct?

 

[Nick16]

yeah u might be, is the tank in direct sunlight? do some diy co2 and add some ferts or root tabs, it will make a massive difference.

 

[aaronnorth]

I've never come across T6 bulbs here in Canada.

So, the 2x65W PC bulbs are enough for the plants I want to keep, right?

However, I am introducing too much light and not enough CO2, so I'm assuming I might be overrun with algae? Is that correct?

correct