Need Help With My Lighting Please

[kinyo21]

I posted this question in the hardware section but it seems i should post it here instead.

Im looking for some advise on my lighting from anyone willing to help. I currently have a 14g tank which is moderately planted. I only have one 15w T8 light which works out at roughly 1 wpg. I have noticed some of my lower plants are stuggling a little and my glosso isnt forming a carpet but instead starting to rise up which indictates a lack of light. so can anyone advise me on if i should upgrade my lights and what to get? i was thinking of going with t5 tubes but would that mean i would have to get a new starter unit suitable for t5's? or would one work with my current unit?i have no co2 by the way.

 

[aaronnorth]

you need a new ballast to run T5's as they are thinner in diamteter compared to T8's

Be careful when running T5's though as they are much more powerful so even if you only have 1.5wpg T5 you will still need CO2.

 

[kinyo21]

you need a new ballast to run T5's as they are thinner in diamteter compared to T8's

Be careful when running T5's though as they are much more powerful so even if you only have 1.5wpg T5 you will still need CO2.

ok thanks. so what would you reconmend for me as i cant afford CO2 at the moment (maybe in a couple of months)but i want to get the best out of my plants. maybe two 15w t8's or one t5? if t5 what sort of wattage would you recommend? my tanks only small messuring 24x12x15in but the small foreground plants seem to be suffering and lack of light seems to be the problem. obviously i dont want to add too much light and encourage algae. sorry for all the questions im just not sure what to do

 

[kinyo21]

if i was to add diy CO2 or something like the nutrafin CO2 fermentor would you recommend i get t5's?

 

[aaronnorth]

i would say 30w T8 OR 15w T5


foreground plants do need a more light, if you stilll struggle after theni would reccomend marsilea hirstuta which is less light demanding. Running DIY CO2 or using liquid carbon and dosing a fertiliser will help with Glosso too.

liquid carbon check out aqua essentials. They do excel, easycarbo, and aquacarbon.

 

[kinyo21]

i would say 30w T8 OR 15w T5


foreground plants do need a more light, if you stilll struggle after theni would reccomend marsilea hirstuta which is less light demanding. Running DIY CO2 or using liquid carbon and dosing a fertiliser will help with Glosso too.

liquid carbon check out aqua essentials. They do excel, easycarbo, and aquacarbon.

thanks for the help