So Confused By Pinned Topic

[ShoC]

I read the pinned topic about lighting but am left confused,

From various places I read about lights also,
and I'm left with the understanding that I could pop into B&Q and buy a T8 lamp and use it for planted tank,

Im looking at the T5 lamps alot but they are costly,

Im thinking of buying a 40w for my 20gallon,
but dont want to pay heck loads so do I have to buy lights from LFS or can I pop in and buy any old light?

 

[garuf]

I read the pinned topic about lighting but am left confused,

From various places I read about lights also,
and I'm left with the understanding that I could pop into B&Q and buy a T8 lamp and use it for planted tank,

Im looking at the T5 lamps alot but they are costly,

Im thinking of buying a 40w for my 20gallon,
but dont want to pay heck loads so do I have to buy lights from LFS or can I pop in and buy any old light?

i had a lot of hassle with lighting and gave up trying to understand the rules, i used to run a single b&q t8 on my 10 and couldnt grow anything, not even java moss.
for a 20 gallon to get 2wpg which is considered the minimum, youll need 40w but most people like to go higher than this, im running 36w t5 over 10gallons and compaired to the t8 the change is amazing.
for your 20 you could probably get away with going on aqua essentials and ordering the power unit that powers 2x 36w t5s and the assosiated starters for about £50 i know its alot of money but theyre a hell of alot better than any old b&q T8 which just wont come anywhere close in light intensity probably wont be in the right spectrum and will limit your choise of plants considerably so it realy is worth splashing out the money on good lighting, it'll repay you tenfold
hope this helps and i havent misunderstood your question
gareth

 

[ShoC]

Thats great Help garuf
regarding T5 I was just eyeing them up but dont understand how they connect,

Im thinking of buying a 2x 36w on on aquatics direct,

as with the T8 I have 2x clips that the bulb hooks onto then thats it alll done,

how will these t5 hold under my hood?

And i am lost on what bulbs to buy for it they all seem to mention good for corals not planted tanks.

If you could give a shot of how yours is or something that would be superb

 

[JamesC]

Most cheapo fluorescent tubes from B&Q, etc have a very poor spectrum that isn't suitable for plants. You need tubes that have good red and blue spectrum. There are some standard daylight tubes that work well but unless you know which ones they are it's best to stay with aquarium tubes designed for plants.

James

 

[garuf]

Thats great Help garuf
regarding T5 I was just eyeing them up but dont understand how they connect,

Im thinking of buying a 2x 36w on on aquatics direct,

as with the T8 I have 2x clips that the bulb hooks onto then thats it alll done,

how will these t5 hold under my hood?

And i am lost on what bulbs to buy for it they all seem to mention good for corals not planted tanks.

If you could give a shot of how yours is or something that would be superb

mine are of a single ended design and since i have a custom made hood (thats code for my dad made it cause im a cheapskate lol) i would go for the 2x36 option, if you post a picture of the underside of your hood i can tell you how i think it would be best to attach the lights, but mine are a simple metal clip that the tube pops into and stays in place.
its my understanding that any t5 because of their broadspectrum would be suitable. the best option in my eyes would be ask someone with alot of knowledge not the store. my t5 doesnt have any branding other than its basic specs sorry i cant help more. but judging by the light it seems to be in the 1000kelvin temp range

 

[ShoC]

the colour is a bit weird because of the Camera,

but as you can see its 2x metal clips at either end,

If assuming they have clips then I can hook on to either side!

and do they have reflectors?

EDIT: forgot to add link for pic , hehe

 

[garuf]

the colour is a bit weird because of the Camera,

but as you can see its 2x metal clips at either end,


If assuming they have clips then I can hook on to either side!

and do they have reflectors?

EDIT: forgot to add link for pic , hehe

for your tank it would simply be a case of unscrewing the metal clips you already have there and replacing them with the ones that come with the ballast unit thingy. imagine if you where to bend your current bulb 180 back on itsself, thats essentialy waht a t5 is just a smaller diameter
no they dont come with reflectors, you could add them if you want but i chose not to and painted the inside of the hood white (as i said, cheapskate). reflectors will certainly help but ive always seen them considered an optional extra from the reveiws and things ive seen, theres no doubt theyll help though... youd have to canibalise an arcadia t8 reflector set though.

 

[ShoC]

Fantastic,
Thanks you have been a superb help,
Now I can buy them knowing they will be okay,
Best get my homemade co2 out else I'll have a huge algae boom

 

[garuf]

Fantastic,
Thanks you have been a superb help,
Now I can buy them knowing they will be okay,
Best get my homemade co2 out else I'll have a huge algae boom

work out your wpg, i would but im mathmaticaly retarded, you might find youll need 4 bottles of ownbrew co2 on the go or somthing else rediculous

 

[ShoC]

3.6 i believe,

Not that high might only need one, or if I had a choice none,
I cant invest into a proper kit my g/f would strangle me as I just bought a 3rd tank

 

[garuf]

3.6 i believe,

Not that high might only need one, or if I had a choice none,
I cant invest into a proper kit my g/f would strangle me as I just bought a 3rd tank

oooof im glad mine donest come round my house i think shed go mad if she knew the real sum ive spent on my tank instead of her lol
3.6 means high light just like mine.
id run 2 bottles of diy co2 just to be on the safe side considering most people who have highlight use pressurised co2

 

[ShoC]

maybe I could buy a 36w control unit and use lower power lights?
or would I assume that just overpower the lower watt lights?

just i worry my two co2 bottles might kill my fish as its impossible to my knowledge to control the amount of co2 that goes in!!

I hope this increase gets my dwarf hair gross enjoying itself
I want it to carpet my tank

 

[fishbone]

[/quote]

for your tank it would simply be a case of unscrewing the metal clips you already have there and replacing them with the ones that come with the ballast unit thingy. imagine if you where to bend your current bulb 180 back on itsself, thats essentialy waht a t5 is just a smaller diameter
no they dont come with reflectors, you could add them if you want but i chose not to and painted the inside of the hood white (as i said, cheapskate). reflectors will certainly help but ive always seen them considered an optional extra from the reveiws and things ive seen, theres no doubt theyll help though... youd have to canibalise an arcadia t8 reflector set though.
[/quote]

Sorry to highjack the post but what did you use to paint your hood?
K

 

[garuf]

for your tank it would simply be a case of unscrewing the metal clips you already have there and replacing them with the ones that come with the ballast unit thingy. imagine if you where to bend your current bulb 180 back on itsself, thats essentialy waht a t5 is just a smaller diameter
no they dont come with reflectors, you could add them if you want but i chose not to and painted the inside of the hood white (as i said, cheapskate). reflectors will certainly help but ive always seen them considered an optional extra from the reveiws and things ive seen, theres no doubt theyll help though... youd have to canibalise an arcadia t8 reflector set though.


Sorry to highjack the post but what did you use to paint your hood?
K

industrial standard brilliant white satin emulsion, same stuff i used to paint my room with only reflects some light but its a whole lot better than tin foil or mirrors so im sticking with it for the time being. im using a condensation tray so im not worried about it getting in the water or anything since splashes on the inside are rare and its fully water proof