Too Little Light?

[abandonedbrain]

Hiya.
 
OK, so after some bad starts (poor used tank purchase, flushed that, starting with a new tank), I'm getting a new tank this weekend (if the stand made it in today at the local shop). 75 US gallon glass.
 
With my bad used purchase (don't ask) I picked up a great AquaClear 500 (now called the 110, I guess) with a shite impellor, and a single 48" strip light with a crusty bulb. I'm spending a ton on all new equipment now (Fluval 406 canister as my main filter with extra bio-rings to replace the carbon, new 75 gallon tank, new stand, new dual 200W Aqueon aluminum heaters, et al). Originally, the plan was to go with just freshwater tropical fish to get my young'ens into it (at 10 and 12, their first pets because of allergies).
 
Now, as I'm preparing to actually start setting up the new tank, I find myself drawn to a lightly planted tank. Something calming about it, hopefully calming enough to help me forget about my bad luck with the first tank.  
 
So, I have this single strip light, running with a crusted-up All-Glass 40W Preheat bulb, so I have no idea what the specs are on this light. I'm hoping to take the bulb with me tomorrow to get a new one, and use the single-strip light to at least start the tank, until I can afford a new T5 HO dual-strip light (like a GLO or AquaticLife 48" dual), maybe a few weeks out.
 
Anyway, as I'm trying to start plants (and we're talking simple plants, java ferns and such), is this light going to be far too wimpy to at least keep them alive while I get the tank cycled? I'm planning to use fishless + filters from another tank (local guy is happy to provide chunks of his from a cyclid tank).
 
TIA.

 

[techen]

Do you mean using the 40watt light for the 75 gallon. Am somewhat confused. Does the new tank not come with lighting?

40watts in a 75gallon would be quite poor lighting. Weather it be T8 or T5 who knows we'd need more info but as I said you'd be lucky to get much if any growth with it.

 

[abandonedbrain]

New tank is just a tank, I didn't buy a combo unit. Old light is from an old tank, person I bought it from had it on the bad 75-gallon tank. He didn't keep plants, so it was probably enough to watch fish with. You're right in that I don't think I'll see any growth, but I can't start the tank with what I've spent this month AND buy new lighting. So for up to a month, I need to know if one 48" 40W light can keep the plants alive, at least, until the tank is cycled. Then next month, I can get a dual-light T5 HO.
 
If it won't keep the plants alive, at least (I planned on using liquid fertilizer, they're going into Fluorite Dark gravel, and I use hard well water, pH 7.6), then I'm going to have to wait another month until I can afford the lighting.
 
On the current single light, there's no info on it other than what I found on the bulb, relayed above. It's by All-Glass Aquariums, and on the back of the unit it states it's an "All-Glass Aquariums 48" Deluxe Fluorescent Reflector". The bulb just says it's a 40W, and it's 1 1/8" in diameter, so I THINK it's a T8. Correct me if I'm wrong.
 
Thanks!

 

[abandonedbrain]

(Sorry, I didn't see a way to edit my own post...)
 
Got the new tank and stand, and I picked up a T8 40W 6700K bulb to at least start with. LFS tech agreed that it would be OK to start the plants under this, but don't expect much growth. That's fine, I just need to get the tank started on a cycle as soon as possible; this is taking WAY longer than I had first thought, and wifey is looking for some results now that expenditures are over budget.  
 
 
Now I just need to pick a few starter plants and get some wood chunks. LFS said I should start with low-light plants with the single 6700K 40W bulb. She said anything with 'crypto' in front of the name would be great for starting out, maybe some java fern. I should be able to add new plants after the tank is established and the lighting situation changes, right?
 

 

[frapadoodle]

Depends on what plants you get. Anubius does well in low light, and are great begginer plants.
You can hav nice scape with low lights.
Also you can leave the lights on longer with low light.
Keep the kids involved in every step, including research.
Live plants are great, and the fish will thank you.
Shame about the bad start with equipment, glad to know you aren't discouraged.

P.S. happy to hear going for a fishless cycle.