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#1
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Lights for a planted tank
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 |
#2
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Lights for a planted tank
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 |
#3
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Lights for a planted tank
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!) |
#4
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Lights for a planted tank
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!) |
#5
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Lights for a planted tank
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 |
#6
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Lights for a planted tank
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#7
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Lights for a planted tank
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/ |
#8
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Lights for a planted tank
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, tose (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/ |
#9
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Lights for a planted tank
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#10
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Lights for a planted tank
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