T5's Or T8's?

[ChilliPepper]

Getting a new 4ft, so need some lights for it.

I don't dose CO2 at the moment, nor for the foreseeable future, just EasyCarbo and Profito.

I want a pretty densely planted tank though.

Is it better to go for T5's or T8's, as I am currently getting BBA, and it does my nut in.

I have an Eheim 2217+ and a Koralia Nano, so together it makes my turnover 10x which should be sufficient.

Oh and I am thinking of using a plant substrate this time as I can it from stratch IF it makes my plants grow better.

 

[lljdma06]

I like my t5s a lot. My current system has HOT5s, which are ok, but save yourself a buck and get the NOt5s. They get the job done real nice and have good penetrating power, and they are not much more expensive than T8s. You can also find some nice 48" strip lights... See, here's one. You don't have to go with that one specifically, but it's a nice example of something simple and not too expensive.

http/www.aquacave.com/48-aqualight-t-5-doublebr-strip-fixture-790.html

Swap out the 10k and the Actinic for some plant bulbs, or whatever pleases your eye (color temp isn't really all that important) and you've got some good lighting for a non-CO2 tank or if you chose to add CO2 later, a nice amount of light to grow most of what you want.

What do you want to grow?

Liz

 

[holidayinn]

T5's cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly..plus they're brighter and it doesn't fade as quick as t8's.

 

[micko]

T5's all the way.

If your having algae problems then reduce the length of time your lights are on.

 

[minnnt]

Plants don't seem to grow in my tank with t5 bulbs, but my Roma 125 with t8 bulbs seems to do very well!! Good luck chilli.

 

[ChilliPepper]

Thanks everyone

I know T5's are better, but was wondering if T8's would help my algae issues.

I like my t5s a lot. My current system has HOT5s, which are ok, but save yourself a buck and get the NOt5s. They get the job done real nice and have good penetrating power, and they are not much more expensive than T8s. You can also find some nice 48" strip lights... See, here's one. You don't have to go with that one specifically, but it's a nice example of something simple and not too expensive.

http/www.aquacave.com/48-aqualight-t-5-doublebr-strip-fixture-790.html

Swap out the 10k and the Actinic for some plant bulbs, or whatever pleases your eye (color temp isn't really all that important) and you've got some good lighting for a non-CO2 tank or if you chose to add CO2 later, a nice amount of light to grow most of what you want.

What do you want to grow?

Liz

Thanks Liz. The product you linked to looks good, but I'm in the UK so think they'd come with a different plug. I see what you mean though, and will have a look about.
We may end up putting the ballast from my 50g into this tank. Not sure yet. Ideally we want two 2ft ballasts with two bulbs each.

I am growing:

Aponogeton Boivinianus
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown
Cryptocoryne Nevellii
Echinodorus Parviflorus
Anubias Nana on wood
Nymphaea Tiger Lotus Red
Vallis
Java Fern
Red Cabomba
Green Cambomba
Hygrophila Rosae Australis
Juncus Repens
Aponogeton Ulvaceus
Moss balls

So quite a few different types. I lost the two crossed out. One was a bulb which never grew, it rotted. Not sure why as I only partially submerged it in the sand. The other went all brown, so I chucked it.

 

[StandbySetting]

What are you wanting to grow would be my question, there's no point in having tonnes of light on a set up that doesn't need it, how deep is the tank? A single T5 running the length will grow anything with adequate CO2 and nutrients.

 

[RadaR]

I don't dose CO2 at the moment, nor for the foreseeable future, just EasyCarbo and Profito.

Is it better to go for T5's or T8's, as I am currently getting BBA, and it does my nut in.

BBA is low/unstable CO2 related. How long are your lights on for? You might not be dosing enough Easycarbo.
Also, if you are dosing Easycarbo then you should also be dosing macro nutrients (NPK). Carbon increases the growth rate of the plants and so their demand for nutrients goes up as well. Don't worry, you're not the only one. Far too many buy and use Easycarbo without realising they need to do more work as a result. Oh....you should also be doing 50% water changes per week because you're adding Easycarbo. More carbon means more growth which means plants produce more organic metabollic waste.

Organic waste, gets broken down into it's biological and chemical constituents. One of these constituents is NH3/NH4 (ammonia/ammonium). Another is NO2 (nitrite). Therefore, high levels of organic waste means that high levels of ammonia and nitrite will be produced. This is the same effect as overstocking.

Organic waste buildup in a tank has the effect of adding to the thickness of the biofilm by adhering to the plant leaves, thereby blocking gas exchange and impeding nutrient/CO2 uptake by the leaves.

As for bulb choice....I've never had t5s unfortunatly but I've had great success with t8s.

 

[ChilliPepper]

What are you wanting to grow would be my question, there's no point in having tonnes of light on a set up that doesn't need it, how deep is the tank? A single T5 running the length will grow anything with adequate CO2 and nutrients.

Erm my current tank is 55cm high - odd dimensions. The new one will be 4x2x2.

I don't dose CO2 at the moment, nor for the foreseeable future, just EasyCarbo and Profito.

Is it better to go for T5's or T8's, as I am currently getting BBA, and it does my nut in.

BBA is low/unstable CO2 related. How long are your lights on for? You might not be dosing enough Easycarbo.
Also, if you are dosing Easycarbo then you should also be dosing macro nutrients (NPK). Carbon increases the growth rate of the plants and so their demand for nutrients goes up as well. Don't worry, you're not the only one. Far too many buy and use Easycarbo without realising they need to do more work as a result. Oh....you should also be doing 50% water changes per week because you're adding Easycarbo. More carbon means more growth which means plants produce more organic metabollic waste.

Organic waste, gets broken down into it's biological and chemical constituents. One of these constituents is NH3/NH4 (ammonia/ammonium). Another is NO2 (nitrite). Therefore, high levels of organic waste means that high levels of ammonia and nitrite will be produced. This is the same effect as overstocking.

Organic waste buildup in a tank has the effect of adding to the thickness of the biofilm by adhering to the plant leaves, thereby blocking gas exchange and impeding nutrient/CO2 uptake by the leaves.

As for bulb choice....I've never had t5s unfortunatly but I've had great success with t8s.

Aha, this may be where I am going wrong then! Where do I source these macro nutrients? What is this TPN I hear mention of?

I do 50% waterchanges every week already, have done for years now

 

[RadaR]

TPN+ is a popular choice. This contains macro and micro nutrients. Dosage is 1ml per 20litres. Hence on larger tanks, EI is more cost effective. There is an article on EI in the PARC section the planted forumn.

 

[ChilliPepper]

TPN+ is a popular choice. This contains macro and micro nutrients. Dosage is 1ml per 20litres. Hence on larger tanks, EI is more cost effective. There is an article on EI in the PARC section the planted forumn.

Thanks, i will have a read at some point.

i'll keep with the t5's then

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Ive had next to no algae since i changed tanks, the only major difference being that I had t5s and BBA and now with t8s i dont... Obviously it may not neccessarily be the lighting, but i think t8s are plenty, depending on your setup

 

[RadaR]

Ive had next to no algae since i changed tanks, the only major difference being that I had t5s and BBA and now with t8s i dont... Obviously it may not neccessarily be the lighting, but i think t8s are plenty, depending on your setup

t8s are not as intense therefore your plants didnt need as much carbon compared to when the tank was fitted with t5s. The carbon levels in the tank must be enough to fit the demands of the plants with that t8 light but weren't high enough when you had t5.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Yeah i didnt understand when i first got my tank about the other needs of the plants, such as nutrients, CO2 etc just like most thought good lighting would be beneficial for ny plants, where as, in reality, t5s are not beneficial in a low tech setup and I wonder why Juwel have these as standard on their aquariums, apart from the cheaper to run, more green reasons. I mean, on the bigger, newer tanks there is now 4 x t5s! Is that just as bad as running one 2 x t8 strip?

 

[lljdma06]

T5s are fine in a low tech setup if you don't that much wattage. I had T5s in Endor but I had only 28w over 36g.

4xT5 may be giving the tank the option to run as a marine system, but I'd have to know the wattage of the bulbs in those tanks to know for sure. They are also used in Planted setups, but IMO that much light is just overkill. But what do I know? I've got 2 x 24W HO T5 in my current tank & everybody here knows I don't have an algae mess. But that's just a weird system.

1 strip of T5 is great. The one I recommended will work too. T8s will work fine too.

Liz