Lighting

[JenCliBee]

Hi all, rite soon i will be starting a rio 180 as a planted tank... will be pressurised CO2 and all the rest.

My question is i need idea's for lighting, tank works out at 47USG, i want a luminair but i will have to have a piece of glass sitting on top like a cover glass where the original lighting would be solely becasue my cats will go fishing .

Any idea's for the best lighting and would i have to 'up' the lighting that little bit more becasue i have a piece of glass between the light and plants?

any other idea's on how to use the existing light which is 2x T8 bulbs which are i think are 30watts each. or would be buying a T5 light bar be sufficient.

Plants will be like HC, glosso, blyxa, dwarf hairgrass, heferi.... them sort of plants.

luminair has to be 100cm/39-40 inches

Thanks all in advance

jen

 

[tom_os]

reflectors?

i have thin acrylic on some of my tanks to act as a lid. the bottom gets covered in consensation but when the light comes on it clears a patch underneath it so it shines through fine

 

[Truck]

i got most of the plants you mentioned going under the stock T5's

 

[JenCliBee]

reflectors?

i have thin acrylic on some of my tanks to act as a lid. the bottom gets covered in consensation but when the light comes on it clears a patch underneath it so it shines through fine

I dont think reflectors will be sufficient for the current lighting, either way im going to have to add some or replace.

i got most of the plants you mentioned going under the stock T5's

yeh i was thinking this but i still dont think 70watts of light would be sufficient enough for a 47 gallon tank?

 

[Dave Spencer]

yeh i was thinking this but i still dont think 70watts of light would be sufficient enough for a 47 gallon tank?

This will be plenty.

Dave.

 

[JenCliBee]

yeh i was thinking this but i still dont think 70watts of light would be sufficient enough for a 47 gallon tank?

This will be plenty.

Dave.

awwwww...... but i wanted a luminair lol at least the 2 bulb luminair ive looked will be sufficient now then

 

[aaronnorth]

have you looked on ebay for a luminaire? you can get them for £30-£50 delivered if your good

 

[JenCliBee]

have you looked on ebay for a luminaire? you can get them for £30-£50 delivered if your good

I cant seem to find any below £75 new for the 100cm i need and even that 1 had 2 atinic blue bulbs which i would need to replace costing even more money lol

If you can find one or two let me know lol

 

[aaronnorth]

ahh well you have to bid!
tubes are available form lampspecs. I have just bought 2 x 54w T5 fr a 120cm luminaire costing £15 inc. postage. so you will get them cheaper.

are you wanting T5 or T8?

 

[JenCliBee]

ahh well you have to bid!
tubes are available form lampspecs. I have just bought 2 x 54w T5 fr a 120cm luminaire costing £15 inc. postage. so you will get them cheaper.

are you wanting T5 or T8?

Well T5 would be better, but i guess a 4 tube T8 would work just as well

 

[JenCliBee]

Thanks all for yur help i decided to convert the rio 125 becasue i managed to get a 3 tube luminair to fit so im sure another journal will be happening soon pmsl