Lights for a planted tank

[GregMa]

I have a question about the lights. I have a 75 gallon and would like
to start adding plants. I can get either T12 dual shoplights, or T8
dual shoplights for $7 a piece. Each T12 is 40 watts so, for 3
shoplights that would provide 240 watts, which is a little over 3 watts
per gallon. But the T8's are only 32 watts each which would only be 192
watts or about 2 1/2 watts per gallon. I've also seen fewer variety of
bulbs for the T8's. Which would you prefer?

Thanks!
Greg

[JJOPP]

Greg,

T8's put out more light per watt, use less energy and last longer. May I ask
where you found the T8 fixtures? If I redo my 55g, I'd switch to the T8's
based on the research I've done. Side by side I'd expect a 32 watt T8 to be
brighter than a 40 watt T12.

JJ

[Rex Grigg]

On 08 Apr 2003 21:42:21 GMT, (JJOPP) wrote:

I have seen a couple of different T8 fixtures at the BORG (Big
Orange Retail Giant).

>Greg,
>
>T8's put out more light per watt, use less energy and last longer. May I ask
>where you found the T8 fixtures? If I redo my 55g, I'd switch to the T8's
>based on the research I've done. Side by side I'd expect a 32 watt T8 to be
>brighter than a 40 watt T12.
>
>JJ


Semper Fi!

Visit the forums at Aqua Botanic!
http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/#1

Need Nitrate or Potassium for your tank? Go to www.litemanu.com
(Just a happy customer of the above!)

[Rex Grigg]

On Tue, 08 Apr 2003 21:08:17 GMT, GregMa
> wrote:

Well since you asked....... Do yourself a favor and just go to
www.ahsupply.com and get some 55 watt PC kits. I had a 55 gallon with
two shop lights over it. Should be 3 watts per gallon. But due to
the poor design of the so called reflectors on the shop lights I was
barely getting 1.5 watts into the tank. I got more useable light out
of two 55 watt CF lights and the AH Supply reflectors than the shop
lights gave me. I now have 220 watts of AH Supply sunlight over my 55
gallon tank. And things are going great.

>I have a question about the lights. I have a 75 gallon and would like
>to start adding plants. I can get either T12 dual shoplights, or T8
>dual shoplights for $7 a piece. Each T12 is 40 watts so, for 3
>shoplights that would provide 240 watts, which is a little over 3 watts
>per gallon. But the T8's are only 32 watts each which would only be 192
>watts or about 2 1/2 watts per gallon. I've also seen fewer variety of
>bulbs for the T8's. Which would you prefer?
>
>Thanks!
>Greg


Semper Fi!

Visit the forums at Aqua Botanic!
http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/#1

Need Nitrate or Potassium for your tank? Go to www.litemanu.com
(Just a happy customer of the above!)

[Christopher]

I assume you plan to do CO2 injection?

"GregMa" > wrote in message
. ..
> I have a question about the lights. I have a 75 gallon and would like
> to start adding plants. I can get either T12 dual shoplights, or T8
> dual shoplights for $7 a piece. Each T12 is 40 watts so, for 3
> shoplights that would provide 240 watts, which is a little over 3 watts
> per gallon. But the T8's are only 32 watts each which would only be 192
> watts or about 2 1/2 watts per gallon. I've also seen fewer variety of
> bulbs for the T8's. Which would you prefer?
>
> Thanks!
> Greg
>

[GregMa]

In article nk.net>,
says...
> I assume you plan to do CO2 injection?
>
> "GregMa" > wrote in message
> . ..
> > I have a question about the lights. I have a 75 gallon and would like
> > to start adding plants. I can get either T12 dual shoplights, or T8
> > dual shoplights for $7 a piece. Each T12 is 40 watts so, for 3
> > shoplights that would provide 240 watts, which is a little over 3 watts
> > per gallon. But the T8's are only 32 watts each which would only be 192
> > watts or about 2 1/2 watts per gallon. I've also seen fewer variety of
> > bulbs for the T8's. Which would you prefer?


Actually I don't plan on doing injection. At least not at the start.

Thanks!
Greg

[LeighMo]

>Actually I don't plan on doing injection. At least not at the start.

Do not go over 3 wpg without CO2 injection. In fact, staying close to 2 wpg
would be better. Just leave some of your lights off until you can get a CO2
system set up. (Compressed would be best for a tank as large as 75 gallons.)

Too much light without CO2 injection will be algae hell. Worse, it can cause
pH swings extreme enough to kill your fish.


Leigh

http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

[WhiskerFish]

What Leigh said!
I am taking today off work to go shop and build a CO2 system. I have
55 gallons Moderately- Heavily planted with about 2.5 watts per
gallon and for 3 -4 weeks now Algae has consumed all of my time! The
plant growth slows to a halt and the algae takes over. If it is
possible to ballance this out with any significant plant growth and
without CO2 I can not figure it out. If you back the light off to
control the Algae the plants stop developing. And if you do not the
plants run out of CO2 and stop developing leaving the Algae to take
over. Either way the plant growth slows to a crawl and the Algae is
my tanks best producer.

WF



On 10 Apr 2003 10:59:28 GMT, (LeighMo) wrote:

>>Actually I don't plan on doing injection. At least not at the start.
>
>Do not go over 3 wpg without CO2 injection. In fact, staying close to 2 wpg
>would be better. Just leave some of your lights off until you can get a CO2
>system set up. (Compressed would be best for a tank as large as 75 gallons.)
>
>Too much light without CO2 injection will be algae hell. Worse, it can cause
>pH swings extreme enough to kill your fish.
>
>
>Leigh
>
>http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/halloween/881/

[GregMa]

In article >,
says...
> >Actually I don't plan on doing injection. At least not at the start.
>
> Do not go over 3 wpg without CO2 injection. In fact, staying close to 2 wpg
> would be better. Just leave some of your lights off until you can get a CO2
> system set up. (Compressed would be best for a tank as large as 75 gallons.)
>
> Too much light without CO2 injection will be algae hell. Worse, it can cause
> pH swings extreme enough to kill your fish.
>

Thanks for the warning! I'll have to rethink and maybe increase my
timetable to adding CO2.

Thanks!
Greg

[GregMa]

In article >,
says...
> What Leigh said!
> I am taking today off work to go shop and build a CO2 system. I have
> 55 gallons Moderately- Heavily planted with about 2.5 watts per
> gallon and for 3 -4 weeks now Algae has consumed all of my time! The
> plant growth slows to a halt and the algae takes over. If it is
> possible to ballance this out with any significant plant growth and
> without CO2 I can not figure it out. If you back the light off to
> control the Algae the plants stop developing. And if you do not the
> plants run out of CO2 and stop developing leaving the Algae to take
> over. Either way the plant growth slows to a crawl and the Algae is
> my tanks best producer.
>


Thanks for the followup! Very valuable information!

Thanks!
Greg