Trickerie

Hey all,

I have a T5 24in dual fixture on my up and coming 25 gallon set up. This will be my first planted tank, and I was wondering if two of these bulbs:

http://1000bulbs.com/product/4948/FHO-24T5865F.html

Would be sufficient. That would give me 48w/25gallons of light. Is that considered high enough for most plants? The tank will be low tech soil.

The Trigger

Is the fixture t5 normal output or high output t5? That amount of light over that tank should be just fine. And those bulbs are the right spectrum so I see no problem with them. Just make sure your fixture takes 22" bulbs

Trickerie

Hmm. I didn't know there was a difference between t5HO and t5 fixtures. I'm not certain, but the bulb that came in my coralife fixture is only t5.

Its this one:

http://www.thatpetplace.com/aqualigh...hting-fixtures

Do I need normal t5s?

The Trigger

Yeah there's a difference. And that fixture is a normal output t5 not a high output. So yeah you need standard t5 bulbs.

Newt

A T5 ballast most likely will not drive a T5HO bulb w/o rewiring - if that's even possible.

On the 6500K bulb you are looking at, I suspect it has a lot of green light in the spectral output. Impossible to tell w/o a spectral output graph. I have always preferred to mix bulbs of different kelvins. Also, the kelvin color temp (CCT) only matters to you and how it makes your tank look. You need to look at the light the bulb outputs in the visible spectrum and see if it has blue light and red light at the proper nanometer to achieve good photosynthesis.

Trickerie

Thanks for the info Is there a t5HO fixture that would fit a 25 gallon that you could suggest? I really wanted a higher amount of light so that I could grow a wide variety of plants, including something that floats to diffuse light. I dont think 2 14w bulbs would be enough for a 25 gallon, right? That would only give me 28w/25 gallons

Newt

What are the dimensions of your 25 gal tank?

I usually make my own lighting fixtures out of furniture grade plywood and my choice of ballasts and reflectors.

The Trigger

Don't worry about the watts per gallon rule with this one. Toss that method right out the window. T5s and t5 ho's are very efficient. more efficient than t8s or the old t12s I believe that rule of thumb was used for. Two t5ho bulbs over that tank would be enough to grow most high light plants. That's if your tank isnt overly tall. So newts right we need to know dimensions.

Trickerie

The dimensions are:

24"L x 13"W x 19"H

And the fixture only supports t5's, not t5ho.. I think. Its a dual lamp fixture.

The Trigger

Yeah 19" high with two t5 bulbs would probably put you in the high light category