Lighting Requirements

[Dave Spencer]

Hi,

I have just ordered a brand new Juwel Lido 120 (25 UK gallon) litre tank in which I want to run an EI system. Fortunately, I don`t think they have arrived in the UK, giving me plenty of time for research. Unfortunately, I am finding the lighting levels a bit of a minefield.

Would changing the tanks lighting to two Interpret T5 36W lights be adequate?

Secondly, would using one daylight plus and one triplus enhance both plant growth and fish colour?

Thirdly, would the new lights be relatively easy to fit in to the new Juwel hood?

Finally, exactly how much improvement in lighting can be gained by adding reflectors?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

 

[George Farmer]

Hi Dave and welcome to TFF!

Glad to hear you're going EI. It is a very effective way at fertilising a heavily planted tank. Just don't forget the 50% water changes....

I also highly recommend pressurized CO2, or at least a yeast-based sytem.

2 x 36w PC T5s would provided ample light. I ran 72w T8 in my Juwel Rio 125 with success (see 33 gal. photos in my signature).

Personally I would keep the existing Juwel light-bar and add lighting in front and/or behind it. You can easily balance extra tubes on the centre brace. Either T8 or T5 (HO or PC) would work well, with PC T5 creating the most heat (an issue for some) but also the most light per inch.

Losing the Juwel light-bar and replacing with PC T5 could prove tricky as the light bar provides support for the tank's covers/flaps.

A mix of Daylight Plus and Triplus would create a pleasing colour rendition as well as good plant growth. The Interpet tubes are available in T8 and PC T5.

Reflectors are very effective at boosting lighting intensity. I consider them an essential purchase for a planted tank. Unfortunately I do not think the UK has PC T5 reflectors but I have modified T8 reflectors successfully to fit.

All the best with the new project.

 

[Themuleous]

1) leave the existing light fixture as it is. Then ADD more lighting, it is easy to attach under the hood. A pair of 36w T5's sounds ideal. I see it comes fitted with 2x 15w. So in total you'd have 102w over a 31USg tank, or around 4WPG, that sounds idea for a high light EI tank and you'd probably be able to grow pretty much anything in the tank, but you would need CO2 and to dose ferts regularly.

2) Mixing light tubes is generally a good idea, as they all tend to have slightly different light spectrums so mixing means you cover more, and also as you say allows to to enhance different colours in the tank.

3) Yes

4) If you think about it, without reflectors, almost half the light produced by a bulb goes out the top of the tube, adding a reflector means most of this light can be reflected back down into the tank. It wont mean you get the full 100% of the light into the tank but its much better than it being 'lost' out the top. And reflectors are a cheap, one off expense that are well worth the money.

Hope that helps.

Sam

EDIT - ninja'ed by George!

 

[Dave Spencer]

Thanks for the advice guys, looks like my EI tank gets the green light (pun intended). Hopefully I will be visiting Maidenhead Aquatics at Bold Heath tomorrow to look at the other essentials (substrate, water sampling, CO2 etc.). Can`t wait to get started!

 

[Dave Spencer]

I forgot to ask about stock levels for my Lido EI tank. Having read up on the subject, I appreciate that I should stock lightly, but would like to introduce the following critters:

Cardinal Tetras (a personal favourite)
Ottos
Corydoras (undecided on type)
Rams
Algae eating shrimp

Can anyone give me a reasonable estimate on how many of each I could have, whilst keeping them in sufficient numbers to keep each type happy in terms of shoaling requirements and still under stocking the tank?

Thanks, Dave.

 

[RadaR]

Id say:

10 Cardinals
6 Ottos
5 Corydoras
2 Rams (one male, one female) that is if you have soft (GH of 3) water. Otherwise dont get them as they will soon die in hard water.
12 Amano Shrimps

What does everyone else think?

 

[cleekdaFish]

get 3 rummy noses they ares so beautiful

 

[Silverlady]

get 3 rummy noses they ares so beautiful

Rummy Noses school better in a larger group.

 

[DarkEntity]

Hi,

I have just ordered a brand new Juwel Lido 120 (25 UK gallon) litre tank in which I want to run an EI system. Fortunately, I don`t think they have arrived in the UK, giving me plenty of time for research. Unfortunately, I am finding the lighting levels a bit of a minefield.

Would changing the tanks lighting to two Interpret T5 36W lights be adequate?

Secondly, would using one daylight plus and one triplus enhance both plant growth and fish colour?

Thirdly, would the new lights be relatively easy to fit in to the new Juwel hood?

Finally, exactly how much improvement in lighting can be gained by adding reflectors?

Thanks in advance, Dave.

They are here, and they are rather lovely. All my local Aquarists shops have them in stock