Hi everyone. I am theofilos from greece. I registered into this site because I believe this site to be the most informed in planted tanks. I am currently constructing my 4th tank. It will be triangle with 350 liters. These are the liters without counting the glass width. The top of the tank will be of glass. I want to achieve around 3 WPG. This tank is somewhere between 90-95 gallons. The problem is that all the products you are using in the u.s. are not available in greece. So I would like to hear some suggestions what to do with lighting. One idea is to hang the lights from the top of the room. Will the glass top decrease light efficiency? If not it is a cheap way for me to reach 3 WPG. As for lamps I can use so far I found one from a brand named radium and model floradym r63 which is 60 w. I do not know how many K it is but I was reassured by the shop owner that it is not more than 7000K. This type of lamp is round with a reflector. Also would a flora type from osram do well or else is there something from osram company appropriate for aquarium use? I am completely confused. Thanks in advance for your help.
P.S. keep in mind that most of the specialized aquarium products that exist in the U.S. are not available here.

Hi everyone. I am theofilos from greece. I registered into this site because I believe this site to be the most informed in planted tanks. I am currently constructing my 4th tank. It will be triangle with 350 liters. These are the liters without counting the glass width. The top of the tank will be of glass. I want to achieve around 3 WPG. This tank is somewhere between 90-95 gallons. The problem is that all the products you are using in the u.s. are not available in greece. So I would like to hear some suggestions what to do with lighting. One idea is to hang the lights from the top of the room. Will the glass top decrease light efficiency? If not it is a cheap way for me to reach 3 WPG. As for lamps I can use so far I found one from a brand named radium and model floradym r63 which is 60 w. I do not know how many K it is but I was reassured by the shop owner that it is not more than 7000K. This type of lamp is round with a reflector. Also would a flora type from osram do well or else is there something from osram company appropriate for aquarium use? I am completely confused. Thanks in advance for your help.
P.S. keep in mind that most of the specialized aquarium products that exist in the U.S. are not available here.

Welcome to the boards... It is good to have you here. I have seen some beautiful tanks come from your region and I'm sure yours rank highly.

Given the type and size of tank, my suggestion would be a single metal halide pendant. I know they are available in europe with 6500k, 250w. This would give you 2.7wpg. It could be suspended above the glass with little difficulty and would penetrate deep water easily.

What are the dimensions of the aquarium? It will affect the choice of bulbs.

James Hoftiezer
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Hi thanks for your nice words http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.c...icon_smile.gif.
The dimensions of my tank are 90cmx90cm with 130cm front. Basically it is a cube of 90 cm and I've cut one corner parallel to the diagon. I do not know if I described it correctly. Can you show me how a single metal halide pentad looks like? So that I can describe it to the store. If you got a link on a brand or a picture it would be even better.

The tank is actually larger than I thought.
You do have room for regular lights. Most triangle tanks that I have seen won't fit normal lights.

If you start on the 130cm side (~60", 5ft) you could but several rows of normal 4ft flourescent lights. Then as the tank narrows 36" and finally 24". In this case you'll have to build the light hood yourself, but its sounds as though you will have no trouble.

Metal halide lights are still an option but not the only option as I though initially. Here is a really goood catalog inlcuding all the different types; Champion Lighting

James Hoftiezer
Hoftiezer.Net - Journals and Libraries
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I checked the web site and what I want is the following part:

250w Black Bell Shaped Pendant 5500k

The problem is that I do not know where to find these items in europe http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.c...icon_frown.gif I prefer bell shaped pendant because of the simplicity. Will the glass top of the aquarium reduce light efficiency?

I have an email into Hamilton Technologies who makes the pendant. I forward the answer as oon as I get it.

James Hoftiezer
Hoftiezer.Net - Journals and Libraries
Tank Journal - Aquascape ( Latest / Archive )
Tank Journal - Parts and Construction ( Latest / Archive )

Thank you SO MUCH !!! You trully help me http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.c...icon_smile.gif

I did a little search in osram's website. Look at the following links:
http://www.osram.com/pdf/service_cor...fo/250WSEe.pdf
http://www.osram.com/pdf/service_cor...fo/400WSEe.pdf
I can find Osram products in greece. So if these products are ok my problems are solved. What do you think?

Before you buy, stop and think about the aquascape you want. Where do you want the light and how much of it?

A) One light is suggest for every 2ft of space.
B) 390l=103g, to get 3wpg you need 309w.

The 250 is a little small, the 400 is a little big. You may want to go with 2 175w for a total of 350w or 3.4wpg.

I know I sueggested a single light but as I get to know your tank, I think two smaller ones will work better than one large one. A single light may leave your front corners dark. You tank is simply wider than I thought at first.

The lights look good. The color is 6000k which is a good daylight color. It is the average of the colors we find in the US (5300k/6700k). I think it should give you really good growth.

James Hoftiezer
Hoftiezer.Net - Journals and Libraries
Tank Journal - Aquascape ( Latest / Archive )
Tank Journal - Parts and Construction ( Latest / Archive )