Need Lighting Help!

[RyanV]

I have two 55 gallon tanks (220L) that both have two 15w 8,000k full spectrum florescent lights. I have been told these are not enough to grow a planted tank very well. What do you recommend as an upgrade? Most of the light fixtures seem so expensive.. what's are the advantages of LED vs florescent?

As I was looking a came across these that would fit both my tanks! Ebay They are LED and was wondering if it was better than what I have now? Do you know if this is a good fixture? It seems so much cheaper than most I have looked at.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

From what I can tell that's not a lot of light at all for a tank that size.

 

[RyanV]

What fixture would you recommend for good lighting for plants? My tank is 48'' long.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Can you not find any tube lights? They'd be your cheapest option.

 

[RyanV]

Can you not find any tube lights? They'd be your cheapest option.

Like a fixture that can hold 2 lights? I found this: http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+23753&pcatid=23753
Almost as much as an LED..

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Yeah but the light you will get out of it will be more use then the lighting from the LED unit. You could grow anything under those T5's.

 

[RyanV]

Yeah but the light you will get out of it will be more use then the lighting from the LED unit. You could grow anything under those T5's.

Any fixture's like that, that are cheaper? I have two tanks so this would be very costly

 

[RyanV]

I found this: http/www.ebay.com/itm/T5-Dual-48-6500K-Aquarium-Light-Strip-Grow-Plant-Discus-Angel-Freshwater-108W-/300724669677?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D290743957555%26ps%3D54

Its a 108W 2 bulb fixture for $60. There's also a 216W 4 bulb fixture for $100 with 4 Lunar LED's.

Is the 108W one good? or would you recommend the 216W one?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

With lighting you get what you pay for, meaning sometimes you get a cheap unit and it will not last but the 108W is plenty of light for your 55G and it might be ok. I'm not experienced in those units as they're from the states although you could grow anything under it really but you'd be looking at needing CO2 and ferts. If you want to go no CO2 then you want to look at a unit with similar watts to the amount of gallons you have.

 

[RyanV]

Can't I just use liquid fert and CO2? I will be planting with soil.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Yeah that's cool.