Would This Light Be Sufficent?

[~T~]

I'm looking to start a new planted shrimp/invert tank. To start off I will just be using xmas tree moss, marimo moss and crypts but may add CO2 and keep some carpeting plants.

Would this light be sufficient to at least grow the less demanding plants? Of not could you suggest an alternative solution? I dont want to spend much more that this.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAGEN-GLO-T5-LINEAR-...3%3A1|294%3A100

 

[JenCliBee]

I'm looking to start a new planted shrimp/invert tank. To start off I will just be using xmas tree moss, marimo moss and crypts but may add CO2 and keep some carpeting plants.

Would this light be sufficient to at least grow the less demanding plants? Of not could you suggest an alternative solution? I dont want to spend much more that this.

[URL="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAGEN-GLO-T5-LINEAR-...3%3A1|294%3A100"]http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAGEN-GLO-T5-LINEAR-...3%3A1|294%3A100[/URL]

By my calculations that makes it 2.7 w per gallon which in that case CO2 would be a must aswell as dosing. you could in theory grow anythink under that lol but the plants would demand alot more nutrients.

 

[~T~]

I'm looking to start a new planted shrimp/invert tank. To start off I will just be using xmas tree moss, marimo moss and crypts but may add CO2 and keep some carpeting plants.

Would this light be sufficient to at least grow the less demanding plants? Of not could you suggest an alternative solution? I dont want to spend much more that this.

<a href="http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAGEN-GLO-T5-LINEAR-...3%3A1|294%3A100" target="_blank">http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/HAGEN-GLO-T5-LINEAR-...3%3A1|294%3A100</a>

By my calculations that makes it 2.7 w per gallon which in that case CO2 would be a must aswell as dosing. you could in theory grow anythink under that lol but the plants would demand alot more nutrients.

Yeah I meant to say that I would be using eco complete as my substrate. I'm wary of adding ferts due to the shrimp although I do hear there are shrimp safe kinds.

 

[JenCliBee]

Yeah I meant to say that I would be using eco complete as my substrate. I'm wary of adding ferts due to the shrimp although I do hear there are shrimp safe kinds.

With that sort of light m8 you would need to dose with ferts the plants will require alot more becasue of the high amount of light, many people have dosed TPN+ and easy carbo with shrimp and said there shrimp have been fine the easy carbo wouldnt be needed if you went the pressurised CO2 route but then you have more expense. i would personally look for a luminair with slightly less wattage and go lower tech ... low light and plants wont require so much fertilisation but it will restrict a certain amount of plants that you chose.


im pklanning on using eco complete on my next planted tank simply becasue it's an all in one and doesnt need capping etc.

 

[Gav935]

Is that light not a bit long for a 20g tank? Its minimum size is 47" or are you gonna suspend it?

 

[~T~]

Is that light not a bit long for a 20g tank? Its minimum size is 47" or are you gonna suspend it?

Oh yeh I thought that was the smaller one.

I would probably go with this one instead (2 x 24w for 61cm tank).

http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shopcom_uk/shop/f...ghts/81529#more

 

[JenCliBee]

Is that light not a bit long for a 20g tank? Its minimum size is 47" or are you gonna suspend it?

Oh yeh I thought that was the smaller one.

I would probably go with this one instead (2 x 24w for 61cm tank).

[URL="http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shopcom_uk/shop/f...ghts/81529#more"]http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shopcom_uk/shop/f...ghts/81529#more[/URL]

Still quite high amount of light so the above with ferts etc etc would still apply me thinks

 

[~T~]

Is that light not a bit long for a 20g tank? Its minimum size is 47" or are you gonna suspend it?

Oh yeh I thought that was the smaller one.

I would probably go with this one instead (2 x 24w for 61cm tank).

<a href="http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shopcom_uk/shop/f...ghts/81529#more" target="_blank">http/www.zooplus.co.uk/shopcom_uk/shop/f...ghts/81529#more</a>

Still quite high amount of light so the above with ferts etc etc would still apply me thinks

Thanks.

What if I was to keep one light off until I decide to try more light demanding plants? Would I still get decent growth from the plants I mentioned?

 

[~T~]

Would I be better off getting this as I can get the eco complete from the same place at the same time?

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARCADIA-32-T8-OVERTA...93%3A2|294%3A30

 

[JenCliBee]

That 1 is about 20cm to big for your tank m8, you can shorten the legs but the overhang would just bug me pmsl, i personally go with T5 and not T8 but for low level plants it should be fine. What wattage are the bulbs?

Looks exactly the same as mine but i have 3x T5 bulbs in mine..... There really smart looking and if you dont mind the over hang then for what you want to do with it should be fine

 

[~T~]

That 1 is about 20cm to big for your tank m8, you can shorten the legs but the overhang would just bug me pmsl, i personally go with T5 and not T8 but for low level plants it should be fine. What wattage are the bulbs?

Looks exactly the same as mine but i have 3x T5 bulbs in mine..... There really smart looking and if you dont mind the over hang then for what you want to do with it should be fine

Yeh I would probably just get the larger tank to suit the larger luminaire. Not sure of the wattage though but probably 24w each giving me 48w.

 

[JenCliBee]

That 1 is about 20cm to big for your tank m8, you can shorten the legs but the overhang would just bug me pmsl, i personally go with T5 and not T8 but for low level plants it should be fine. What wattage are the bulbs?

Looks exactly the same as mine but i have 3x T5 bulbs in mine..... There really smart looking and if you dont mind the over hang then for what you want to do with it should be fine

Yeh I would probably just get the larger tank to suit the larger luminaire. Not sure of the wattage though but probably 24w each giving me 48w.

Fits a rio 125 perfect m8 well mine does anyways, so if you got that it would work out if my calculation are right(ish) around 1.2 wpg which is probably perfect for the plants you plan on keeping, dosing i think would still need doing but i guess you could dose lower with that sort of lighting just to make sure no harm comes to the shrimp

 

[~T~]

That 1 is about 20cm to big for your tank m8, you can shorten the legs but the overhang would just bug me pmsl, i personally go with T5 and not T8 but for low level plants it should be fine. What wattage are the bulbs?

Looks exactly the same as mine but i have 3x T5 bulbs in mine..... There really smart looking and if you dont mind the over hang then for what you want to do with it should be fine

Yeh I would probably just get the larger tank to suit the larger luminaire. Not sure of the wattage though but probably 24w each giving me 48w.

Fits a rio 125 perfect m8 well mine does anyways, so if you got that it would work out if my calculation are right(ish) around 1.2 wpg which is probably perfect for the plants you plan on keeping, dosing i think would still need doing but i guess you could dose lower with that sort of lighting just to make sure no harm comes to the shrimp

Hmmm I had a look at other sites and they do say the can come with 14w tubes so at that price thats probably what I would get. I do like the slimmer ones better too.

What about this?

http/www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/cat...24w-p-2133.html

 

[JenCliBee]

Arcadia lightbars are excellent m8, pitty juwel didnt make theres with such quality, will fit on a rio 125 perfect obviously if the right size is purchased that is lol (you will need the 80 cm version for the rio125) , no need for the luminair that one either

 

[~T~]

Arcadia lightbars are excellent m8, pitty juwel didnt make theres with such quality, will fit on a rio 125 perfect obviously if the right size is purchased that is lol (you will need the 80 cm version for the rio125) , no need for the luminair that one either

I'm just going to buy a cheap tank that should cost me no more than £30. I dont need a stand or anything.

I'm going to see what the fish shops have in tomorrow.