lighting for planted (2B) 3ft?

hi guys and gals

i would like to consult you guys on what lighting to use for my upcoming planted 3ft.bigsmile I'm fairly new to planted but will end up high tech soon i expect. now to the topic: lighting. what lighting would you guys reccomend for my 900x500x500mm tank? i'v been reccomended four 39w t5s, (for high tech, co2 etc.) i'm sure i can find them and haven't had much of a search yet BUT the local guys have 54w (i think. fifty something anyway...) t5s and i was wondering if there would be any problem with these? i assume not, but i thought i'd ask anyway. The bigger question i meant to ask was how many? i want to buy enough to go high tech soonish, and then i'll just run half (or something) until i do go high tech. So in other words pretend i have pressurized co2 etc, etc. what lighting do i need? how many 54w t5s would be adequate? i don't want to underdo it. and of course not overdo it either...:wacko:

 

Thats a nice size tank to go planted!

here is a link on my old std 3ft: http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?8181-Vez-s-Planted-3ft-tank&p=116660#post116660

it only had two small T8's in!

so to answer your question, IMO i would go for the 4 34w T5's, as its a tall tank, and you wana go High Tech! just something to remember, T5's are hot light, meaning they can heat your tank up fairly easy! im sitting with only 2 54W T5's in my main tank, and now my Temp is on 32C, with no heater! so thats also something to consider, as our plants dont like the high temps!

HTH

 

I think the 54w may be too long for your 3 foot.

I would personally go with 2 x 34w. 4 is going to become an algae pit! There are many many many 4 foot "high tech" tanks out there only running 2 x 54w... If you put in 4 x 34watts, you have more light per litre than the 4 footer guys are running on.

 

zoom i think its 39w t5's? but yes like zoom said, 2 of these should be enough.. they way brighter than t8's

 

but @Fishygirl101 i rem when chatting to u that u want to go to co2 soonish too.. then i'd suggest going to petstop and buy a 4x39w t5 fixture.. they one of the cheapest ive seen so far.. also there are switches so that you can run 2 lights at a time untill you get ur co2

 

Yes, I was referring to T5's

 

Yes, go with the 4 x 39 watt T5 unit! You Really can't go wrong with that!! It's perfect for a tank that size. The only reason I would say go with the 4 x 39watt unit and not the 2 x 39 watt unit, is because of the 500mm depth of your tank. If you had a 400mm deep tank, I'd go with the 2 x 39watt unit. The bigger unit will give your light greater depth penetration.

 

To re-iterate..
For YOUR PURPOSES
..if you found a unit with INDIVIDUAL REFLECTORS, AND decent output, spectrum T5 lamps
..you should not require more than 2*39W

Penetration is a function independent of the number of lamps.
ie ONE 39W T5, penetrates to the same depth as 2, 3, 4 or 6

It's the lateral coverage which alters.
I know the 4*39W units mentioned.
I have handled and supplied them in the past.
You have to discard the unsuitable marine blue lamps supplied! Wasted cash spent....:sad2:

Even though the units are T5, they are far from ideal, and for just a little more expense incurred you CAN have a more energy efficient system.

Even if your tank is 500mm water depth, or tank is upto 600m deep

For more than adequate light coverage , it's a matter of centralising the light source over the tank...
OR Tilting, possibly shifting forward or back even, over the area requiring the highest light output.

A few more tips to note when choosing aquarium light fixtures. [Same applies if you go DIY]
...maintaining , clean and clear splashguards (if you choose a unit with acrylic)
Correct Lamps,
Individual reflectors, of proper material
Assume well-matched lamp and electronic ballast combo!

T5 39W = ~85cm
So a unit will encompass your entire aquarium length

OH! If the lamps, and the reflectors are properly separated ...ie distance between adjacent lamps is around ~12cm and reflectorscover around 25cm (front-to-back)
you will indeed achieve decent spread of light front to rear

If such a solution isn't available off the shelf, or it's outside of your DIY/friends' help?
You may want to PM me , as I now also custom manufacture such solutions

PS The setup outlined above would not just be good for aquarium plants, but will sustain a decent photosynthetic coral reef aquarium as well.
Not the entire base will require the same amount of radiant energy, so why light up the entire surface area equally?

HTH :noworry:

 

see bottom quote. is that the fixture you mean? thanks for the advice.

thank you! a very useful post!

to the red: yes, i think so too, but i already have one . its only a nano though. but i also have a 225L cube in the garage waiting to be setup. i'm thinking to go the sps route with it. sigh, marine is sooo dam expensive. thats why im not to stingy about getting co2.

 

hi again, just wanted to let you know i think ill do a DIY unit. 4x 39w t5s.

 

forget that, there has been change of mind.

http://builditallstore.co.za/products/%252d-KD32-W-Strip-light-flourescent%252d--874mm-T5-21w-%252b-lamp.html

will these work? how many would i need? 5? 6?