lighting for planted tank

by **Mike0372983** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:00 pm

I need a hood or something that has more than one bulb socket, I need about 90 watts. my tank is 30 gallons, with one 20 watt bulb at the moment... I need to know some ideas for a new light thing, I was looking at this

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/StoreCatalog ... =0&offset=

by **gumbii** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:16 pm

you could get a 100w metal halide bulb...

or a 175...
http://www.petmeister.com/item2227.htm

look around... i know fosters has 75w MH bulbs too...

by **Mike0372983** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 12:55 am

metall halide, are really expensive. I was looking at one with two bulbs, it would either be 4 watts per gallon or 2 watts per gallon. I probably get mostly swrads and plants with larger leaves...

by **Peterkarig3210** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 3:02 am

I have that Nova Extream light and it's not very powerfull. I have it in combo with a duel 95 watt for my 35 gallon planted.

by **Zambize4899** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 5:06 am

I'm having a problem in this area too. I'm naive about lights, but here goes. I've got a 20 gallon and a 37 gallon that will be converted to planted. I'd like about 4 watts per gallon, I think, but the available fluorescents for these size tanks don't come anywhere near this wattage. The current lights are 18" (15 watts) and 24" (17 watts). How do I get these tanks properly lit?

Zambize

by **Peterkarig3210** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 6:58 am

Either go expensive or get 4 shoplight flourescents and install the 40 watt plant bulbs. Most fixtures have 2 bulbs but either gang individuals together or find one with 4 bulbs. That should be great for a 37 gallon.

I grew anubias, amazon sword, and java fern/moss in a 60 gallon with 4 3 foot bulbs.

by **Zambize4899** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:18 am

My fixture only holds one bulb, and there isn't room to add another fixture! Maybe I will need to get a new hood/light setup? Mine is a kit that came with the plastic hood with flip-top at the front and single-bulb light fixture in the back.

Z

by **gumbii** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 8:12 am

i heard about ecolux or flourex bulbs that work well for planted tanks... they sell those at home depot and are pretty cheap...

by **Mike0372983** » Tue Aug 19, 2008 2:32 pm

well is 65 watts good for swords, thats what I was looking at getting. or if I rig my hood so I can keep my 20 watt bulb with the new 65 watt bulb... thats about 3 watts per gallon. Probably will look stupid with all that lighting but if everything grows it will be alright...

lighting for planted tank

9 posts