Lighting recommendation
 

I have recently acquired a used 55g acrylic aquarium. Based on the info in
the FAQ, I'm thinking a 2x96 or 4x65 watt fixture would be sufficient for
what I need. the tank is approx. 48" x 12" x 20" High. Should I get a 36"
lamp or a 48"? Any special considerations since its an acrylic tank?
I was thinking I'd like to build a simple wood valance for the top just to
hide things, so if a 36" light would work then I could do that easily.
Thanks!
Tom

TR wrote:
I have recently acquired a used 55g acrylic aquarium. Based on the info in
the FAQ, I'm thinking a 2x96 or 4x65 watt fixture would be sufficient for
what I need. the tank is approx. 48" x 12" x 20" High. Should I get a 36"
lamp or a 48"? Any special considerations since its an acrylic tank?
I was thinking I'd like to build a simple wood valance for the top just to
hide things, so if a 36" light would work then I could do that easily.
Thanks!
Tom


I've always found that if the bulb is shorter than the tank, plants on
the edges of the tank grow toward the middle where the light is
brighter. I don't like that effect so I put 48" bulbs over 48" tanks.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Thanks for the reply Elaine.
Having spent the afternoon with Google, I have some refinements for what I'd
like to do.
Given that I would like to build a wood top for the tank, I'm now leaning
towards a DIY top with 4 48" T8 bulbs. I've seen some posts that suggest
that this would be sufficient for a 55g tank. I'm not planning to add CO2
(just flourish excel), so I'm thinking I shouldn't over watt the tank,
correct?
Would what I plan be sufficient for moderate light plants (a few swords,
crypts, anubias, maybe some hygrophilla (sp?)? Dollars are a factor, so a
low budget approach is good, and I think I'd enjoy building a nice hood.

My second choice is the 2x96 CF brightkit from AHSupply. Would I need to add
CO2 with this?

My experience thus far has been limited to a 20g tank with 40watts CF (USA
satellite), plant growth seems ok, certainly not lush but the swords are
doing well.
Thanks,
Tom

I've always found that if the bulb is shorter than the tank, plants on the
edges of the tank grow toward the middle where the light is brighter. I
don't like that effect so I put 48" bulbs over 48" tanks.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

TR wrote:
Thanks for the reply Elaine.
Having spent the afternoon with Google, I have some refinements for what I'd
like to do.
Given that I would like to build a wood top for the tank, I'm now leaning
towards a DIY top with 4 48" T8 bulbs. I've seen some posts that suggest
that this would be sufficient for a 55g tank. I'm not planning to add CO2
(just flourish excel), so I'm thinking I shouldn't over watt the tank,
correct?
Would what I plan be sufficient for moderate light plants (a few swords,
crypts, anubias, maybe some hygrophilla (sp?)? Dollars are a factor, so a
low budget approach is good, and I think I'd enjoy building a nice hood.

My second choice is the 2x96 CF brightkit from AHSupply. Would I need to add
CO2 with this?

My experience thus far has been limited to a 20g tank with 40watts CF (USA
satellite), plant growth seems ok, certainly not lush but the swords are
doing well.
Thanks,
Tom

Hmm...When I had a 55 gallon tank, I put an 80 watt shop light with one
cool white T12 and one warm white T12 over it and put it in a north
window - the ultimate low-budget lighting approach. I added yeast C02
and lots of algae eating critters and the tank did great. ;-)

I like looking at aquascaping contests for ideas and tank setups.
Here's some 55 gallon tanks. The one with your 4x40W lighting idea
looks quite nice, don't you think?

4x40 watts.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/contest20...38_Details.htm

Only 110 watts of PC - a bit under lit, and this guy is out of his
league. ;-)
http://www.aquabotanic.com/contest20...63_Details.htm

160W plus 55W of CF.
http://www.aquabotanic.com/contest20...61_Details.htm

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...tegory=0&vol=2
has some more 55 gallon (listed as 208L tanks) for you to look at what
various lighting setups will grow.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

I think the 55 gallon tanks lend themselves very well to ultra-low
budget lighting. Walmart sells dual-bulb fluorescent shop-lights that
are 48" long, with 40 watts per bulb. If you have 2 of these over your
tank, you'll have 160 watts---nearly 3 watts per gallon. While you're
there, get 4 of the GE Plant and Aquarium bulbs and just use those..
Total cost for 4 bulbs and 2 fixtures should be under $40.

Good luck,
Wes

Thanks for the links Elaine! Lots of ideas... I'm definetely going with a
DIY hood, and putting in a 2 to 4 bulb T8 lighting.
Boy, that Takashi Amano doesn't mince words with his comments does he?

http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...tegory=0&vol=2
has some more 55 gallon (listed as 208L tanks) for you to look at what
various lighting setups will grow.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Hi Wes, I'll be looking further into something like that. A DIY hood with T8
bulbs. Low budget would be a good thing for me right now! ;-)
I saw a narrow 2 lite T8 fixture at home depot for about $25, but I'll shop
around and see what else I can find.
Thanks!
(sorry about the email, I intended to reply to the group)

"wes" wrote in message
ups.com...
I think the 55 gallon tanks lend themselves very well to ultra-low
budget lighting. Walmart sells dual-bulb fluorescent shop-lights that
are 48" long, with 40 watts per bulb. If you have 2 of these over your
tank, you'll have 160 watts---nearly 3 watts per gallon. While you're
there, get 4 of the GE Plant and Aquarium bulbs and just use those..
Total cost for 4 bulbs and 2 fixtures should be under $40.

Good luck,
Wes

TR wrote:
Thanks for the links Elaine! Lots of ideas... I'm definetely going with a
DIY hood, and putting in a 2 to 4 bulb T8 lighting.
Boy, that Takashi Amano doesn't mince words with his comments does he?


http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...tegory=0&vol=2
has some more 55 gallon (listed as 208L tanks) for you to look at what
various lighting setups will grow.


Heh. Takashi Amano set the standard for modern aquascaping. I don't
think he needs to. ;-)

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

On Mon, 08 Aug 2005 14:59:45 GMT, "TR"
wrote:

I have recently acquired a used 55g acrylic aquarium. Based on the info in
the FAQ, I'm thinking a 2x96 or 4x65 watt fixture would be sufficient for
what I need. the tank is approx. 48" x 12" x 20" High. Should I get a 36"
lamp or a 48"? Any special considerations since its an acrylic tank?
I was thinking I'd like to build a simple wood valance for the top just to
hide things, so if a 36" light would work then I could do that easily.
Thanks!
Tom



The others have set you off on the right track. Just so you know.

www.ahsupply.com is a good place as well.

In article et,
says...
I saw a narrow 2 lite T8 fixture at home depot for about $25, but I'll shop
around and see what else I can find.

Just be aware that a lot of low cost shop lights and even strip lights
have a ballast that hums and/or buzzes. If that bothers you, look for
ones with an electronic ballast.

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever

Just for the record, the shoplights I got from walmart are quiet enough
that I never hear them... certainly quieter than my ultra-silent eheim
2215 canister filter. The ones I got were between $7 and $8 each for a
dual-bulb 40 inch fixture... maybe the price was $7.32? If someones
interested in the specific make, I can check next time I'm there.

-Wes

Oh, by the way... I'm no expert, but I think CO2 might be in order if
you had 4 40 watt bulbs... I use DIY CO2 from 3 1 liter bottles...
maybe no CO2 is fine in this case, though---I just thought I'd mention
that I overlooked that part of your post when I made that
recommendation.
-Wes

So, thats one aspect I'm aware of, but not really knowledgeable about. I'm
pretty sure I won't be adding CO2, except via Excel. Am I correct in that if
you add more watts, and don't provide sufficient CO2, then algae becomes a
problem?
So, I should keep the wattage in line with the CO2 I intend to provide.
Since that is not so much, maybe 2 bulbs or at most 3 would be better?
Thanks,
Tom

"wes" wrote in message
oups.com...
Oh, by the way... I'm no expert, but I think CO2 might be in order if
you had 4 40 watt bulbs... I use DIY CO2 from 3 1 liter bottles...
maybe no CO2 is fine in this case, though---I just thought I'd mention
that I overlooked that part of your post when I made that
recommendation.
-Wes

"Elaine T" wrote in message
m...
TR wrote:
Thanks for the links Elaine! Lots of ideas... I'm definetely going with a
DIY hood, and putting in a 2 to 4 bulb T8 lighting.
Boy, that Takashi Amano doesn't mince words with his comments does he?


http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.or...tegory=0&vol=2
has some more 55 gallon (listed as 208L tanks) for you to look at what
various lighting setups will grow.


Heh. Takashi Amano set the standard for modern aquascaping. I don't
think he needs to. ;-)

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

Yes, I know who he is, and I'm not one to disagree with him!
I just got a chuckle reading his sometimes one liner comments juxtaposed
with the more verbose comments from the other judges.

In article . com,
says...
The ones I got were between $7 and $8 each for a
dual-bulb 40 inch fixture.

Forty inch? Or forty watts and forty-eight inch tubes?

I'm looking for a 36" myself :-).

--
BNSF = Build Now, Seep Forever