http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc Science of Aquatic Lighting - Aquarium lighting is essential for healthy aquatic plants. Discuss proper aquatic lighting for your plants and fish here. en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:46:05 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/images/apc/misc/rss.jpg http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66774-good-t12-lamp-plants.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:12:50 GMT Any suggestions? T12s seem to be left off of most of the comparison sheets. I know they're not as efficient as T5s, but I would rather not have to replace my existing fixtures. ]]> Lighting Noto http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66774-good-t12-lamp-plants.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66752-special-grow-light-always-pink.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:57:42 GMT Asking because I think my fixture came missing it.
It's a 3xT5HO by Catalina. At the last minute I called asking to replace a 30k w/ the grow light instead.



The light blue is 10k, the grey is 65k (I think) and the middle is either grow light or 30k. I've seen a 30k before so Im not sure if that is it or is it the gorw light. It''s very yellow though. ]]> Lighting Ahura-sama http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66752-special-grow-light-always-pink.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66740-light-co2.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:22:01 GMT hi all! i am new member here looking for your help. I am setting up a plant discus tank and i have some ? about the lighting and the co2 , any help would be great . the ? is do i turn the co2 off at night at the same time as the light turned off , or i should leave it on ? hi all! i am new member here looking for your help. I am setting up a plant discus tank and i have some ? about the lighting and the co2 , any help would be great . the ? is do i turn the co2 off at night at the same time as the light turned off , or i should leave it on ? ]]> Lighting erictien16 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66740-light-co2.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66706-tips-hanging-lights.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:37:01 GMT Does any one have any tips to make hanging lights go smoothly? I'm planning on hanging my t5's over my tank and don't want to end up having to buy new lights due to having them fall in the water.

Clay ]]> Lighting aquatic_clay http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66706-tips-hanging-lights.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66705-lighting-suggestions.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:20:45 GMT I am looking for a cheap lighting solution for my 36"L x 18"W x 21"D tank. I bought some cheap t12 strip light fixtures from Lowes, but I don't think these will do good enough so I haven't opened them yet and will probably take them back. I have an extra 48" shoplight that I will use temporarily until I get a smaller light. Since this aquarium is going in the LR, I can't keep the 48" on it if I want to stay married. ;) I plan on building a canopy to cover the light fixture. Reading up, I am leaning towards getting a T5 HO. I'm doing a NPT. I originally had a $50 budget, but it looks like that is not possible and that I underestimated the cost, but I would like to go as cheap as possible.

Some options I've seen :
1st is what looks like a kit that all I'll need to also get are the bulbs. I'm guessing I can steal a reflector from a leftover 48" shoplight.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...1&pcatid=19811

The other option that I saw fit into my price range, but reading the forums I haven't seen good reviews on the brand
http://shop.aquatraders.com/Odyssea-...re-p/52102.htm

Home Depot had a $29 2 bulb t5 (not HO) light strip. But I didn't know if this would give me any wattage.

I would appreciate any suggestions.

Gary ]]> Lighting Rastan71 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66705-lighting-suggestions.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66666-twin-t5-72g-bow-much-light.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:05:17 GMT So i am finnaly almost ready to get my 72g bowfront running and planted. Last thing is to get the lighting. Well i originally planned on a single 48" t5 Glo fixture but happend to sumble upon a deal for a twin 48" t5 glo fixture for $65 more than half the price of the single t5 i was planning on getting. So im woundering since a 72g bowfront is taller than a regular 75g would it work ok. Im going for a planted tank that WONT need co2 injection. Plan on using fertilizers and seachems flourish excel. So what im asking is will i need co2 with this lighting or can i get away without it and not have to worry about algae blooms. Any info or input would be appreciated.



Thanks ]]> Lighting tsweers89 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66666-twin-t5-72g-bow-much-light.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66639-96w-bulbs.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:40 GMT I'm in the process of switching out my Sunpaq retrofits to aquaticlife power compacts that come w/ 10000k and 460 lamps. What would be the best 96w bulbs for a planted tank. ]]> Lighting mycross3 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66639-96w-bulbs.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66637-t5-ho-bulbs.html Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:06:01 GMT I know there have been a lot of threads on this subject, but just wondering if anyone has new input on a good, solid 6,000K-6,700K choice for T5 HO bulbs? From the research I've done, it seems like most of the bulbs nail the 430-453nm spectrum peak, but most fall below on the red peak where preferred absorption would be in the 640-665nm range (most graphs of bulbs seem to show a 590-620nm peak). Just wondering if anything has changed and what people currently recommend? Looking for 2 bulbs to complete my current experiment. I currently use Aquaticlife bulbs in the 8x39w Aquaticlife fixture. Love the fixture, but not sure of the bulbs and would like to try a different bulb brand for comparison as well. My current setup is 2 - 6000K, 4 - Roseate, and 2 - 10,000K. I plan on putting 2 more 6000/6700K in place of 2 of the Roseate. ]]> Lighting Bryeman http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66637-t5-ho-bulbs.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66419-help-upgrading-lighting-75-gallon.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:50:47 GMT Hi, I have a 75 gallon tank that I am currently doing a "makeover" on. And I need help with my lighting situation. I'm trying do decide whether to go with T5HO or Power compact. And how much WPG to do. Because I don't want to have to run co2. I will be dosing excel.

I've read that T5HO get more light into the tank than compact fluorescent, even if the watts are higher on the compact. And that T5HO run cooler than power compact. Is that true? If so it's the way to go for me.

Also, I don't want to run pressurized CO2 so what should I aim for in WPG?
I want to grow plants like ludwigia, bacopas, blyxa, and maybe some hairgrass.

The current T5HO 2X54 fixture, combined with the 40 watt T12 I have now would give me right at 2WPG. Can I grow those plants with that? I know I can't run the current T5HO 4x54 without CO2.

Thanks for your help! ]]> Lighting mattmathis http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66419-help-upgrading-lighting-75-gallon.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66390-quieter-ballast.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:16:18 GMT I recently built a new fixture for my 5.5 gallon tank. It has two 15w T8's I think. The ballasts that came with them are pretty loud and I'm looking for a replacement that would be quieter. Any suggestions on brands or where to get them? Thanks. ]]> Lighting Teasdale http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66390-quieter-ballast.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66388-anyone-ever-try-put-aluminum-heat.html Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:16:15 GMT I had some leftover heat sinks and put them ontop of a 36 watt CFL fixture. After a 6 hour light cycle the temp was easily around 110-120 degrees F. You couldn't touch the top of the fixture for more then a second. Now with the heat sinks you could put your cheek on the fixture (I tried it). The heat sinks seemed to have brought the temp to around 100-105 degrees F. I have no data to base these approximations on but I can touch the fixture without having to remove my finger where before I feared burning myself. Also I have no data in reference to the water tempterature. However, it is my hypothesis that the water temperature is a degree or 2 cooler. If this is the case, it would prove very usefull if you had very intense lights. You could get a bunch of heat sinks and alleviate the heat coming off the fixture. Maybe it could prove beneficial to the overall room temperature. I feel like my room is less hot from the fixture now. Anybody? ]]> Lighting 954baby http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66388-anyone-ever-try-put-aluminum-heat.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66378-shoplights-over-55g.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:09:40 GMT I'm trying to set up a medium-planted 55g.
(Low light) Plants - amazon swords, needle leaf java fern, anubias.

Lights - 48" shoplights from home depot, with 2 Philips T8 32W bulbs.
No CO2 supplementation.
Daily excel dosing ( ~ 5.5 ml) (might go to once every two days)
Regular feeding, and once a week 1/2 tsp Grumpy's GH booster.

Do you think this would work? I'm not after fast plant growth, just a sustainable, low-algae setup.
BTW, the tank houses a large asian upside down catfish (Mystus leucophasis). But most of the ferns and anubias would be on driftwood, with only the amazon being planted. ]]> Lighting triazole http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66378-shoplights-over-55g.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66375-three-150w-250w-metal-halides.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 09:38:03 GMT Hi all, this is my first post: I am in the process of planning my tank set up. It is a 6 by 2 by 2 ft tank, approximately 670L. It will be a planted aquarium. I have decided on metal halides. Just not sure whether to purchase a unit with three 150W or three 250W bulbs. I know even the 150W would be more than adequate for a planted tank, however the price is deterring me. Is 250 W absolute overkill ? The 250 W unit is another $30. Not sure if it would be cheaper in the long run to operate three 250 W bulbs for a shorter period of time than have the 150W bulbs running even longer. The 250 W bulbs are more expensive to replace though. With the 250 W unit, I would be able to make the transition into a marine set up without needing to modify my lighting set up. Which way do you think I should go? Any suggestions would be apprciated Thanks, Regards, Fraser. Hi all, this is my first post:

I am in the process of planning my tank set up. It is a 6 by 2 by 2 ft tank, approximately 670L. It will be a planted aquarium.

I have decided on metal halides. Just not sure whether to purchase a unit with three 150W or three 250W bulbs. I know even the 150W would be more than adequate for a planted tank, however the price is deterring me. Is 250 W absolute overkill ?

The 250 W unit is another $30. Not sure if it would be cheaper in the long run to operate three 250 W bulbs for a shorter period of time than have the 150W bulbs running even longer. The 250 W bulbs are more expensive to replace though.

With the 250 W unit, I would be able to make the transition into a marine set up without needing to modify my lighting set up.

Which way do you think I should go? Any suggestions would be apprciated

Thanks, Regards, Fraser. ]]> Lighting FJP http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66375-three-150w-250w-metal-halides.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66373-light-10-gal-tank.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:50:14 GMT Is this light good for a low-med light 10 gal planted tank? It won't be heavily planted, I'm using it as a breeder tank for some gouramis.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/StoreCat...its=12&offset= ]]> Lighting Qwertus http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66373-light-10-gal-tank.html http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66371-ripariums-shade.html Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:16:15 GMT My 100 gallon has been sitting empty for the year since my move, and now I'm thinking of setting it up as a paludarium/riparium. I'm a little worried about the lighting in this case, though, especially since I don't feel like I ever got it quite right on my previous pure-aquatic tank.

My main concern is shade. It seems like all the surface plants and floaters are going to be blocking most of the light from reaching those underwater, which I still want to grow a lot of. How do people work around this? Should I consider adding in an underwater light to supplement?

I should also mention that I tend more towards a low-tech, Walstad-style tank. There will be no CO2 injection, so perhaps I want lower light anyway. ]]> Lighting tj9582 http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/lighting/66371-ripariums-shade.html