Scrap The Tropical Tubes?

[adam98150]

Well i have a basic 24, 12, 15 aquarium, with two 18" tropical 15w tubes. Do you think i should scrap the two tropical tubes and get two 18" arcadia freshwater tubes, and with the FW bulbs could i have a fully planted aquarium? (With ferts etc, but no co2)

 

[Fwapp]

Well i have a basic 24, 12, 15 aquarium, with two 18" tropical 15w tubes. Do you think i should scrap the two tropical tubes and get two 18" arcadia freshwater tubes, and with the FW bulbs could i have a fully planted aquarium? (With ferts etc, but no co2)

The difference you will see by moving to two freshwater tubed will be that the aquarium will probably look brighter. I would guess that the light from the two tropicals will appear dull/red/orange? This is because the lamp has been designed to promote plant growth. Other plant specific tubes (but not all) appear to have this orange/red cast as well (my Hagen flora-gro does, for instance). Moving to freshwater tubes will not drastically alter the plant growing abilities of your tank, but if you are concerned about the physical appearence of the light, how about changing just the one tube? This will brighten your aquarium, give equally good plant growth (for all intents and purposes), and give you one spare tropical for later this year! I've tried to keep the explanation as non-techno as possible, as there are lots of factors regarding light wavelength/lumen output/lux/light temperature that I do understand, but am a little shaky on explaining. If one of our heavyweights wants to wade in, the floors yours..

As regard Ferts/CO2, I make you out as 1.66 WPG, so close to the point (2 WPG?) where CO2 is virtually mandatory. However, there a lot of people not using CO2, just dosing ferts and having a great looking tank. I put a yeast based system in my tank, and the difference is very tangible, with deeper greens and better growth.
Maybe DIY would tempt? Link

Hope this helps, and If anyone sees any big mistakes in what I've said, please let us both know!

 

[George Farmer]

As I suggested previously using a combination of the two is a good idea. The blue/red peaks of the OT and green of the FW. Both combined should be ok for plant growth and colour rendition.

 

[adam98150]

Thanks ill combine the two bulbs, but would i be able to have a fully planted thriving aquarium?