Lighting Tube

[Sunny.C]

Hey guys after telling you guys the best light i can find for my planted tank was a 10000k tube, i can now get 2x 18watt 7100k tube is this perfect for plants???

 

[houndour]

I dunno if it's perfect, but it's better.

What size is your tank?

 

[Sunny.C]

It's 34g but it's a tall tank.

 

[houndour]

ok well that'd only be 1 watt per gallon. I think you'd only be able to grow plants like java fern and java moss.

The rule of thumb is 3 watts per gallon. But then when you start increasing light you then need CO2.

 

[Sunny.C]

So i need more stronger lights??? more k's???
How's 2x 18watt 14000k each

 

[houndour]

if you're serious about setting up a planted tank, you'll need more watts.

But you still want _each_ tube to be within 5000-6700 K ideally.

What type of light fixture have you got? arcadia, interpet?

 

[jimbooo]

no 7100K is okay, any higher than 7500K and algae will grow better than plants hence with 1400K you'll have a stagnant stinking mess of algae in a few weeks.

what you need is more watts ie more tubes rated between 3000K and 7500K.

i just posted my equipment list on one of the other lighting threads if your interested.

link to thread

edit: sorry hondour you just beat me to it

 

[Sunny.C]

So if i had 2x 22watt 7100k that would be better right?, so basically as long as i have between 5000 to say 7500 thats cool i just need my watts right?

 

[jimbooo]

for 3 watts per gallon you need 102 watts over the tank so with 22 watt tubes you really need 4 of them to get good plant growth.

ie 4 x 22 = 88 watts

divided over 34 gallons gives you 2.58 watts per gallon.

you should be able to grow most things with that but you will need to add CO2 or algae will take over (regardless of K rating)

 

[abstract]

2 watts per gallon really should be sufficient to grow a lot of plants...you can always upgrade later...i don't think 3 wpg should be recommended because at that point co2, fertilization, and many other factors become more important than anything else...at 2 wpg you can get away without co2 and have a relatively self-sustaining tank..

if you want a gorgeous planted tank that requires some work and money in the future (fertilizers, better substrate, etc), then go 3 wpg or above...if you want plants to grow and thats that, stick w/ around 2 wpg and you don't have to worry abou tthe other factors i mentioned

 

[Sunny.C]

I don't think i can get any higher than 20watt tubes for my tank what should i do guys?? would you like to see a pic of my tubes?

 

[Sunny.C]

Ok guys my LFS said this is the best tubes for my tank, they don't make any better. They also said that these tubes are fine for plants & the best available for my tank.I have 2 of these tubes in my tank. What do you guys think??