T5 Lighting Question

[oldwhitewood]

Hi guys, I'm planning a new tank the dimensions of which will be 60x35x40cm. I'm planning on keeping ferns in this, moss and some stem plants in the background, it will use pressurised CO2. Now my question is regarding light I want to use an arcadia 60cm overtank t5 luminaire. They do two versions, one with 2 T5s and one with 4 T5s, which one should I go for?

I wont be getting one with the plant pro tubes as the colour of them is quite dire. However the marine ones come with an 8500k spectrum, do you think this would be ok or should I swop them for 6500k? I think amano using 8000k on his tanks.

Cheers,

Neil

 

[Themuleous]

I cant say Ive ever used T5's, but marine tubes produce a lot of blue light from what i understand to help with coral growth, but in a freshwater tank it just helps algae growth.

Sam

 

[oldwhitewood]

Well the actinct tubes do encourage it I think. I've done some research and the marine tubes are actually 9500k which is naff. Arcadia in their infinite wisdom dont ship these units without their plant pro or marine white tubes both of which aren't good for planted tank people.

It's more a case of will the light be powerful enough on 2 tubes or would I need 4. I'm thinking 4 to be honest, but amazingly there is little price difference between a 60cm and 120cm unit which is a bit off IMO. As far a lighting manufacturers go they have us by the danglies!

 

[George Farmer]

I'd go for 4 tubes personally. You could get away with 2 but with 4 you won't be limited by plant species if you want something more demanding. I'm assuming you can switch 2 tubes off if required.

6500K is my preference. The ADA NA Lamp (T8 fluorescent) is 8000K with loads of green, same with their MH HQI. I don't think they do T5 yet.

3rd product down - http/www.thearc.co.uk/catalogue1.php?cur...+Daylight+6500k Cheap as chips!

 

[oldwhitewood]

that is a good recommendation and good site mate, I will check it out. I too love 6500k and now I would'nt use anything else, but the ADA tubes do interest me, they reckon amano is definately onto something using 8000k but having never seen it in the flesh I dont know.

We could do with arranging a forum field trip to the ADA gallery!

 

[George Farmer]

We could do with arranging a forum field trip to the ADA gallery!

££££ though!!

 

[ksam]

thats a brilliant link gf225 you wouldn't happen to know what their postage charge is by any chance??

 

[George Farmer]

thats a brilliant link gf225 you wouldn't happen to know what their postage charge is by any chance??

£3.95 I think.