Beginner to Planted Tank - Lighting Help

[blert]

I like this one...
http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=71_190&products_id=1638
Three bulbs. You can run one on two off, two on one off, or three on. He will add blue moonlight LEDs if you shoot him an email and ask for them.

If you are not wanting to inject CO2 then I suggest trying with what you have first or going with a two bulb Odyssea (which possibly might still be more light than you want).

 

[Coco1019]

To be honest, CO2 scares me. It seems like one more thing I can mess up.

 

[Aaron TB909]

Be cautious with CO2, I like to grow my plant population with my fish population because you can see how things are going to react. I like to start out with fish to build up some nitrates which are good to get plants going along with lighting and fertilizers. After a while you'll notice if your fish are struggling for air or you'll see a stunt in growth on the plants as they don't have enough CO2 in the water to allow them to flourish.

When doing it this way, you don't over crowd your tank. Now I'm not a planted tank specialist but when I've messed around with CO2, the pH swings can be quite a bit. I've been running CO2 on a new 10g and my starting over again 20g getting them both ready to become breeding tanks and I'm having quite a bit of growth. I'm also having to bring the pH up daily also.

 

[blert]

To be honest, CO2 scares me. It seems like one more thing I can mess up.

CO2 is really not that difficult. But, if you want to avoid it for now the three bulb fixture I linked above would work great. You can use timers to keep it lower light (by using the one bulb most of the day and switching on the other two for a couple of hours) and then you have the option later down the road to bump up the intensity (by increasing how long two or three bulbs are on) when you want to go a bit more high tech. Or, as said, use what you have or get the Odyssea unit.

Keep in mind you will need more fertilizer as you increase the light. You will need root tabs for your root feeders (swords, crypts, etc) either way you go. If you stay low light you can probably get by with little to no additional liquid ferts and just rely on what your fish, food and water supply. But once you turn up the light you will need more ferts. The dry bulk stuff is the most cost effective way of doing it especially in a larger tank.

Be cautious with CO2, I like to grow my plant population with my fish population because you can see how things are going to react. I like to start out with fish to build up some nitrates which are good to get plants going along with lighting and fertilizers. After a while you'll notice if your fish are struggling for air or you'll see a stunt in growth on the plants as they don't have enough CO2 in the water to allow them to flourish.

When doing it this way, you don't over crowd your tank. Now I'm not a planted tank specialist but when I've messed around with CO2, the pH swings can be quite a bit. I've been running CO2 on a new 10g and my starting over again 20g getting them both ready to become breeding tanks and I'm having quite a bit of growth. I'm also having to bring the pH up daily also.

pH fluctuations from CO2 injection is different than pH fluctuations from other water quality issues. I hope you are not using chemicals to adjust your pH daily just because CO2 has lowered your pH a bit. That is going to cause you big issues in the near future.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Okay...how about this one then? Or should I just stick with the 2 bulb Odyssea?

http://www.amazon.com/260w-Aquarium-Light-Reef-Marine/dp/B004OOMXFI/ref=reg_hu-rd_add_1_dp

That fixture has four bulbs to replace and comes with saltwater bulbs which isn't what you're after. In the end it'll be more expensive to maintain than a T5 fixture.

The Catalina fixture is a very nice quality unit. Someone once said that when you buy quality you only cry once. lol Very true. The Odyssea fixture will do the job but isn't the same quality as something from Catalina. It's up to you and your budget. Any choice you make would be a big improvement but I'd stay away from that saltwater PC light.

 

[Coco1019]

Okay, thank you all so much! I thought that last one I linked said it was good for freshwater too. I of course didn't think about bulb replacement.

The reviews for the Odyssea ones worries me a bit. Many talked about how extremely hot it got. But, you all have more experience than me. I do like the one blert posted.

I don't mind spending the money up front to get a decent setup for what I want. I'm finding that I'm into this way more than I thought I would be. It all started with my daughter just wanting a 5 gallon tank a mere 23 days ago...3 tanks later here we are...

 

[Coco1019]

I hope Shank got the help he needed.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

Blert definitely posted a great fixture. If you can get that one you certainly won't regret it. Every component is superior to the Odyssea. The extra cost truly pays for something. If you decide to not get co2 for a long time and grow easier plants that fixture would work great. If you ever decide to try going all out with demanding plants (once you get the hang of things) that fixture will still be ideal. The fact that you can use it as a 1, 2 or 3 light fixture isn't a small thing. I think you'll have a great tank whatever you go with. We'll help along the whole way! (^_^)

 

[jetajockey]

I have the three bulb oddysea fixture with digital timer and led moonlights. It's been about a year and I have no complaints other than it needing new bulbs now. It doesn't get any hotter than my other t5ho fixtures. I don't know if this particular fixture is still available. If I had the option I'd buy it again since it's half the price of most other comparable fixtures.

 

[Coco1019]

I have the three bulb oddysea fixture with digital timer and led moonlights. It's been about a year and I have no complaints other than it needing new bulbs now. It doesn't get any hotter than my other t5ho fixtures. I don't know if this particular fixture is still available. If I had the option I'd buy it again since it's half the price of most other comparable fixtures.

I could only find the 2 bulb one, but my google skills kinda stink. Can you share where you got it?

 

[jetajockey]

I got mine on ebay but I saw that aquatraders.com has a similar 4 bulb one for 110 shipped, although out of stock. On a side note I noticed they now carry leds but I know nothing about them.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

I got mine on ebay but I saw that aquatraders.com has a similar 4 bulb one for 110 shipped, although out of stock. On a side note I noticed they now carry leds but I know nothing about them.

My brother has an LED fixture from them. It gets insanely hot. I'd stay away from them. It has all 3watt LEDs that are driven at the full 3watts with no dimmer compatibility. Two hours on and you can fry eggs. lol

 

[blert]

Their LED fixtures leave a lot to be desired. One switch to control both the whites and the blues, it is either all on, or just blues on. Switching between modes must be done manually, no timer. There are no dimmable models, that is a big minus with high power LEDs.

You have to be careful with LEDs as they can make your tank look like crap if the wrong color combos and optics are used. Most of the low end LED fixtures use a wrong color combo and optics.

 

[jetajockey]

That bites, hopefully they improve the design in time.

 

[Coco1019]

If I get the Catalina, which bulbs should I get?

Have I said how awesome you people are, yet?

 

[blert]

If you want to maximize growth then straight 6500k. To me that is way too yellow though. 10000k will be a lot whiter and crisper. You can mix it up anyway you like. Lower "k" rating will look more yellow, higher will look more white and then up into blue.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

If you want to see the difference between the kinds of lights used over planted tanks you could get one 6500K, one Plant Grow (usually pinkish) and one 10000K. They actually look great all together in my opinion and all of them are fine for plants and fish.

 

[Coco1019]

Is it okay to hang the fixture?

 

[blert]

Of course. That will give you much more control over your light level as you can raise or lower your fixture as you see fit.

 

[Coco1019]

Of course. That will give you much more control over your light level as you can raise or lower your fixture as you see fit.

I guess it's probably trial and error to figure out the best distance, eh?

Thanks so much. You have provided a ton of help.