Lighting

[johno]

Hi all.

Im sure u get these posts all the time, but ive been googling and researching for a few days now and im still no further foreward

Basicly what i need to know is what light(s) or hood i need, and where to get it from.

My hood only has a slot for 1 bulb.
The bulb is 24"

My tank dimensions are 30" x 15" x 12"

I dont want to have an intense super planted tank, just a few to make it look good

No doubt i have forgot somthing..

Thanks.

 

[SuperColey1]

18W T8 + polished metal reflector.

Arcadia Freshwater should be OK

Andy

 

[johno]

18W T8 + polished metal reflector.

Arcadia Freshwater should be OK

Andy

Thats great!

So i only need 1 of these, and it will fit in my current hood?

Cheers mate.

 

[SuperColey1]

24" 18W over 23USG = .78WPG. This would mean low light plants only and you MUST have a reflector

Alternatively get one of these T5HO 30W T5 which I use in my 30". It is an all in one reflector and light. the ballast and end caps are housed into the reflector. it has clips that screw easily into the hood and an on/off switch. You just strip all the old light out.

These lights last 2 years+ and then you throw the whole unit in the bin once it has diminished too much. Superb light and would put you at 1.3WPG which for a T%HO is about as high as you want to go:

Cost would be £34 but a new 18W + reflector will cost £17 from P@H and you are almost doubling the light with this unit.

LINK TO HOT5

Andy

 

[johno]

24" 18W over 23USG = .78WPG. This would mean low light plants only and you MUST have a reflector

Alternatively get one of these T5HO 30W T5 which I use in my 30". It is an all in one reflector and light. the ballast and end caps are housed into the reflector. it has clips that screw easily into the hood and an on/off switch. You just strip all the old light out.

These lights last 2 years+ and then you throw the whole unit in the bin once it has diminished too much. Superb light and would put you at 1.3WPG which for a T%HO is about as high as you want to go:

Cost would be £34 but a new 18W + reflector will cost £17 from P@H and you are almost doubling the light with this unit.

LINK TO HOT5

Andy

Thanks alot for the help!

I ended up ordering the 24" 18W & Reflector before u posted about the T5HO 30W T5

I have 1 more question, i remember reading somwhere that airstones are a no-no with planted tanks because it removes CO2, is this correct?

 

[SuperColey1]

Most likely in your case a no no.

With low light I guess you are intending not to inject CO2 therefore you should also not be doing water changes to keep existing CO2 stable and making sure that there is minimal turbulence on the water surface.

You can use airstones/have turbulent water surface if you have pressurised and know what you are doing. lol

Andy

 

[johno]

Most likely in your case a no no.

With low light I guess you are intending not to inject CO2 therefore you should also not be doing water changes to keep existing CO2 stable and making sure that there is minimal turbulence on the water surface.

You can use airstones/have turbulent water surface if you have pressurised and know what you are doing. lol

Andy

Hmm, i am amazingly paranoid that my fish aint gettin enough oxygen when the stone isnt on

It doesnt help when i see the corys going to the surface and making a little air bubble then going back down!

 

[Mikaila31]

Thats a normal cory thing...

 

[johno]

Got the light and reflector today, Havent put the reflector in yet as im gonna have to cut some new holes in the lid...

It looks soo green and weird cant see the fish half as good as i could with my old bulb, altho the plants look fantastic!