New Tank =) But Lighting Question

[Scotty2k7]

Hi All,

First post on here =)

I wanted to setup a moderatly planted tank, something i havnt really done...

I have just purchased today from my lfs a Fluval Vicenza 180 - Really lovded the look of it in the store, before I set it up I have been researching a little (I have a habbit of rushing into things as im so excited so I combat it by researching before I even open the box !)

Thanks to this post - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...=fluval+vicenza by Mangoed

I know the lights in the tank are 2x Power-Glo Fluorescent Bulb - 24W - T5 with a reflector on each light. The bulbs are specified as 55cm (22"), T-5 (16mm), High Output, 24W, 18000K, 900 lumens, 122 lux

A quick question, is this lighting sufficient for a 180litre tank (151 useable)? Am i right in thinking that my tank is approx 40 useable gallons and so i have only got just above 1watt per gallon? will this severly limit my choice of plants to low light ones? is there anyway I can boost my lighting without the need for extensive modifications or alot of ££££££ ?

Are there any other lights I can get that will help, I noticed Hagen sell some "Life Glow" lights rather than power glo, but they have a lower Kelvin rating (last time I done anything with the Kelvin scale was many years ago at school)

Thanks for you help,

Scott

 

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi, yes a 180l is about 40gal i have two jewel180s but mine use T8s 36inch 30w tubes on research i found tropical freshwater lights have 7500k which is supposed to be ideal for planted tanks, two 30w is 60w per tank yes it is only 1and a half wpg but to increase that i have fitted to one side of my lid a 24inch 18w which now gives me 78wpgplus all three have reflectors on them. But because yours use T5s i do not know i always though that T5s were brighter and better than T8s. Anyway maybe there is someway you could increase your lighting by adding another tube.
As i am still learning extra bits sorry i can not be more helpful.

 

[Scotty2k7]

Thanks Jeff,

I am not sure either as I heard T5's are better for light output but I dont know how this relates to how much wpg I am getting.

Can anyone else shed some light in this?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[Richard James Patrick]

Hi guys I'm not the man to answer your questions, instead and I know it's a bit cheeky I've got one of my own to ask on the whole lighting subject.

So here goes Q: I've also got a Juwel 180 which has 2 x 30 Watt 36" bulbs fitted. I have various plants growing quite hapily but I'm always looking for ways to improve my set up. I was wondering if reflectors are worth investing in. I'm always suspicous of extras like these in case there just part of a money making raket by the manufacturers. Do they make a difference?

 

[ulster exile]

You'd be better posting your questions in the plant forum as you're likely to get more replies.

Yes, 48W of lighting on an approx. 40 US gallon tank (using the useable volume stated by you) which is just over 1WPG. There are plenty of plants that will grow in this light (have a look at George farmer's 1WPG tank in this thread here but if you add more lighting you will have more options plantwise (but with higher lighting usually comes more work as it may mean CO2 and fert regimes are necessary in order to avoid algae).

I would strongly suggest having a look at the stickies in there too - the Basic Guide to lighting is a must.

T5's are better because you get more watts of lighting in a T5 tube than a T8 like mine

Your T5 bulbs have a very high Kelvin rating (18000K didn't you say?) which must make the tank look very blue? A very high kelvin rating isn't all that great for plants on it's own. Natural daylight is more like 6500K. Personally I'd change the bulbs but that's jmo.

As for reflectors, they do make a difference - i installed reflectors on mine (just DIY ones) but the difference was noticeable to the eye. They do not double your lighting per the claims on the reflectors sold in shops , they just mean that less of your existing lighting is wasted.

HTH

 

[Richard James Patrick]

As for reflectors, they do make a difference - i installed reflectors on mine (just DIY ones) but the difference was noticeable to the eye. They do not double your lighting per the claims on the reflectors sold in shops , they just mean that less of your existing lighting is wasted.

HTH

What did you make the reflectors from, I'm all in to recycling materials?

 

[ulster exile]

What did you make the reflectors from, I'm all in to recycling materials?

I can't fit shop bought reflectors to my tank because they won't fit - the lighting arrangement is a little odd!

I bought a roll of mylar from a hydroponics shop for £3.75 for a metre (but they sent me two rolls of more than a metre each ) and basically lined the inside of the lighting arrangement with the mylar using aquarium grade silicone to stick it in. It's not ideal, as really it's not reflecting the light at the right angles, but I can't get over the difference it's made to the tank. It looks loads brighter.

 

[Richard James Patrick]

Sounds good to me, thanks for the tip.

Apologies again for the hijack!

 

[scottca]

Hi, Sorry to Hijack again..

I also have a fluval vicenza 180, if the lights are 22" T5's 24Watt, there are 48Watts for the tank, can i get higher wattage 22" T5 bulbs or are they all going to be 24 Watts ? Just wondering if there is anyway of boosting the light output without installing aditional light units or modifying the tank etc.

Cheers,

Craig

 

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi guys I'm not the man to answer your questions, instead and I know it's a bit cheeky I've got one of my own to ask on the whole lighting subject.

So here goes Q: I've also got a Juwel 180 which has 2 x 30 Watt 36" bulbs fitted. I have various plants growing quite hapily but I'm always looking for ways to improve my set up. I was wondering if reflectors are worth investing in. I'm always suspicous of extras like these in case there just part of a money making raket by the manufacturers. Do they make a difference?

Hi, yes as already mentioned reflectors do help and yes you dont get any more wpg but you use all the lighting instead of some just lighting the lid of your tank. If you have the 36inch or any size from 18inch you can buy reflectors their not expensive i have just bought mine a couple of week ago for both tanks and the plants are coming on a treat. I remember reading a letter on one of the forums probably last year or before that, that the general concensis was to have 2wpg in a planted tank and i was told the best lighting was tubes that have 7500k that is why i use tropical freshwater because they are the only ones i have found so far.

 

[ulster exile]

Hi, Sorry to Hijack again..

I also have a fluval vicenza 180, if the lights are 22" T5's 24Watt, there are 48Watts for the tank, can i get higher wattage 22" T5 bulbs or are they all going to be 24 Watts ? Just wondering if there is anyway of boosting the light output without installing aditional light units or modifying the tank etc.

Cheers,

Craig

All T5s of that particular length will be 24W I'm afraid.