Vote: 29 Gal lighting upgrade....65W or 130W CF? - Aquarium Advice

gfink · 03-13-2006, 12:49 PM

When I upgrade, I am thinking 65W CF, but I might get 2x65W CF. I would use excel or DIY CO2.

I think 130 W would be too much, but I might do an overlap like:

Bulb 1: 12 pm-7 pm
Bulb 2: 4 pm to 11 pm.

(3 hours at 130 W like high noon)

This way I have room to expand my lighting needs without needing to upgrade again.

Do you think glosso would grow or carpet in a 29 gal with 65W CF? I guess what I am asking is can I grow pretty much whatever I want under 2.25W CF? (even if the growth is slow, which is fine by me)

**Purrbox** · 03-13-2006, 01:51 PM

I think you're going to have to spring for the 130Watt fixture to grow a Glosso carpet. Even using Ozz's new lighting calcs 65Watts doesn't get your tank to High light, only Medium to High Light. While Glosso will grow with less light, it will grow up instead of creating a nice carpet effect. Most people have reported the best success with Glosso at the Very High Light level.

ringfinger · 03-13-2006, 01:53 PM

You might have trouble growing Glosso with only 2.25 and DIY Co2.

I would say go with 130W. That is what I am running on my 29 with one 50/50 bulb. That gives me 97.5W of usable light which has grown me anything I want. You bulb schedule looks like a good idea as well and gives you a lot of room to make adjustments. Just go 130W so you have no regrets.

rich311k · 03-13-2006, 01:57 PM

Get the 130w that is what I use. You can always turn one off if things go crazy on you.

malkore · 03-13-2006, 06:05 PM

I know Tom Barr is able to grow glosso with 2wpg of NO lighting (not ODNO) and it grows horizontal.
But he runs 35-40ppm of CO2, and that might be tricky with DIY CO2.

You could also try 1x65w PC and a single T5 HO fixture in tandem. get a little less total wattage.
I tried a 29gal with 130w of PC's and it was rough to keep balanced. It was my first tank, but over 3wpg is just....well, rough to keep up with.

Lonewolfblue · 03-13-2006, 07:02 PM

Also, just out of curiosity, could the use of actinics help in holding it down closer to the ground?

gfink · 03-14-2006, 06:22 PM

Thanks for the input. Right now I am planning on going with 65W CF. I should be able to do quite a bit with that, and not have things get out of hand.

Thanks.

Right now I am planning on getting a satellite 1x65W CF fixture with one white moonlight built in(even though I'll have to change the bulb that it comes with):
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345

It is small enough to sit on the glass cover behind the hinge which is good, because I didn't want to use legs on this tank.

Does anyone else use this light?

Simpte · 03-15-2006, 04:50 PM

The glosso will grow fine with 65 watts of pc over the tank. I did it easily and the stuff ran rampant. Either way you will need some sort of Co2. With 130 watts pressurized co2 is the only way to keep things balanced. You could get the 130 watt fixture and run one bulb. Allows for easy upgrading later.

gfink · 03-16-2006, 05:13 PM

Did it stay fairly short, or reach up for the light?

03-13-2006, 12:49 PM	#1
gfink Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 398 Images: 7	Vote: 29 Gal lighting upgrade....65W or 130W CF? When I upgrade, I am thinking 65W CF, but I might get 2x65W CF. I would use excel or DIY CO2. I think 130 W would be too much, but I might do an overlap like: Bulb 1: 12 pm-7 pm Bulb 2: 4 pm to 11 pm. (3 hours at 130 W like high noon) This way I have room to expand my lighting needs without needing to upgrade again. Do you think glosso would grow or carpet in a 29 gal with 65W CF? I guess what I am asking is can I grow pretty much whatever I want under 2.25W CF? (even if the growth is slow, which is fine by me) __________________ 10 Gal Planted, 3 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Eco-Complete and Tahitian Moon Sand 29 Gal Planted, 1.2 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Estes Gravel

03-13-2006, 01:51 PM	#2
Purrbox Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Iowa USA Posts: 5,444	I think you're going to have to spring for the 130Watt fixture to grow a Glosso carpet. Even using Ozz's new lighting calcs 65Watts doesn't get your tank to High light, only Medium to High Light. While Glosso will grow with less light, it will grow up instead of creating a nice carpet effect. Most people have reported the best success with Glosso at the Very High Light level. __________________ ~Joy 10 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 5.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - 2.5 Gallon Planted Photo Log - Pico Planted Photo Log

03-13-2006, 06:05 PM	#5
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	I know Tom Barr is able to grow glosso with 2wpg of NO lighting (not ODNO) and it grows horizontal. But he runs 35-40ppm of CO2, and that might be tricky with DIY CO2. You could also try 1x65w PC and a single T5 HO fixture in tandem. get a little less total wattage. I tried a 29gal with 130w of PC's and it was rough to keep balanced. It was my first tank, but over 3wpg is just....well, rough to keep up with. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

03-13-2006, 07:02 PM	#6
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	Also, just out of curiosity, could the use of actinics help in holding it down closer to the ground? __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

03-14-2006, 06:22 PM	#7
gfink Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 398 Images: 7	Thanks for the input. Right now I am planning on going with 65W CF. I should be able to do quite a bit with that, and not have things get out of hand. Thanks. Right now I am planning on getting a satellite 1x65W CF fixture with one white moonlight built in(even though I'll have to change the bulb that it comes with): http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113345 It is small enough to sit on the glass cover behind the hinge which is good, because I didn't want to use legs on this tank. Does anyone else use this light? __________________ 10 Gal Planted, 3 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Eco-Complete and Tahitian Moon Sand 29 Gal Planted, 1.2 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Estes Gravel

03-13-2006, 01:53 PM	#3
ringfinger Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 412 Images: 4	You might have trouble growing Glosso with only 2.25 and DIY Co2. I would say go with 130W. That is what I am running on my 29 with one 50/50 bulb. That gives me 97.5W of usable light which has grown me anything I want. You bulb schedule looks like a good idea as well and gives you a lot of room to make adjustments. Just go 130W so you have no regrets.

03-13-2006, 01:57 PM	#4
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	Get the 130w that is what I use. You can always turn one off if things go crazy on you.

03-15-2006, 04:50 PM	#8
Simpte Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Posts: 436	The glosso will grow fine with 65 watts of pc over the tank. I did it easily and the stuff ran rampant. Either way you will need some sort of Co2. With 130 watts pressurized co2 is the only way to keep things balanced. You could get the 130 watt fixture and run one bulb. Allows for easy upgrading later. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...oapebanner.jpg

03-16-2006, 05:13 PM	#9
gfink Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Connecticut Posts: 398 Images: 7	Did it stay fairly short, or reach up for the light? __________________ 10 Gal Planted, 3 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Eco-Complete and Tahitian Moon Sand 29 Gal Planted, 1.2 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]wpg[/acronym], Estes Gravel

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