Lighting for a Low Light Plant Tank

[Viperboy]

Hey guys i have another thread going on about my cycle right now .. but this one is to figure out the best bulb for my tank for when i do add the plants to it and just to improve the lighting of my tank in general. I was looking around and decided i dont wanna upgrade to a CF fixture just yet so im looking for a bulb for my flourescent fixture, its 30" long but the bulb is 24" i believe and these are my options so let me know ....

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23787;category_id=2907;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23805;category_id=2907;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23809;category_id=2907;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23819;category_id=2907;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

or should i go with a lower wattage because i def dont wanna have to do CO2 .... id like to know asap so i can order these today so i can get double VIP points .... if these arnt good could someone possibly link to a better one knowing my specs? ..... and my tank is a 29 gal

TIA

Ray

 

[bzbee]

Hi Ray, the bulbs you have listed are all VHOs that will not work in a regular fixture, at least not without a pricey ballast upgrade. You could try something like http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=32847;category_id=1853;pcid1=1843;pcid2= if you really want to stick to low light.

 

[Viperboy]

Doh .... i didnt see that coming i thought that wattage looked high though ... well if im gonna get a new fixture altogether wouldnt it be better to just go ahead and get a CF ... also im going to get a new hood i think too and the glass ones look pretty cool ... are they a good buy ? ... or go with the black plastic and the black plastic light fixture ... any other imput would be much appreciated and thanks bzbee

Ray

 

[czcz]

Could you squeeze another fixture over your 29gal? Another should keep you out of CO2 territory and widen your plant options.

If you think you'll eventually want more light, it would be wise to get a CF fixture. For example,. you could get a 65w CF fixture and limit light by running a 50/50 actinic bulb. Then when you're ready, you could a bulb change for solid medium-high light. Most CF fixtures are narrow, so if you wanted even more light, you could add the current fixture if you wanted.

 

[7Enigma]

czcz makes a good point. I have the corallife 65w CF one for my 20gallon high (24" light). I purchased both a 50/50 bulb (this essentially almost halves the usable light output for the plants), but also have a straight 65w bulb on it.

If you not familiar with CF bulbs they produce more lumens (light) than a NO bulb. The going rate for conversion is that 1 watt of a CF bulb is actually equal to 1.75 watts of a NO bulb. So if you go the 65w CF route for your 29 gallon tank:

While you would think you would be at 65/29=2.24wpg (watts per gallon)

You would actually be at 65 X 1.75 /29=3.92wpg

The 2.24wpg guess would be right at the point at which CO2 injection is not required (but would help a LOT), but since its actually 3.92wpg you would have serious algae problems since that's way more light than the plants could use due to limited carbon.

Now if you use that 50/50 actinic bulb mentioned above, you would have:

65 / 2 (for 1/2 output) X 1.75 /29=1.96wpg In actuality some of that actinic light is probably used by the plants as well so you would be at slightly over 2wpg (just guessing lets say 2.2-2.3wpg).

Again this is an alright light that does not require CO2, but would definately benefit from CO2 and help to keep the algae down. I've mentioned before that you have perfect tap water for CO2 as well (high natural pH and hardness).

With the 50/50 bulb and a replacement normal 6700k or 10000k bulb you'd be covered if you ever decide to inject CO2 and play around with medium-high light (where some of the really amazing plants thrive).

EDIT: Disregard the math in this post, look farther down for the proper conversion from CF to NO.

 

[Viperboy]

Is there a CF fixture i can already buy that will fit my 30" long tank that already has these 50/50 bulbs in it and ready to go like you are speaking of? .... and i know using CO2 would benefit my tank greatly but this is my first tank ever and im still in the fishless cycling so i dont wanna get too far ahead of myself ..... thanks for the input this is all helping me guys

Ray

 

[7Enigma]

http://www.hellolights.com/coaq30silist.html

I don't know the exact dimensions of your tank. On that site I linked it shows the dimensions. I'm pretty sure this is the one you need (my 20gallon uses a 24" light). This one comes with the built-in 50/50 bulb.

If you ever think you might get CO2, I would instead get the single 6700k bulb, but then add in a replacement 50/50 bulb. I think they are still running the 1/2 price second bulb deal.

That would be this one, and then select the 50/50 bulb under the extra bulb drop down box.

http://www.hellolights.com/301xcofraqcf.html

 

[Viperboy]

Isnt this one the same but a little cheaper ...

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=33942;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

also this one says it is for saltwater .... but is that what 50/50 is? im a little confused on the whole lighting subject i guess ... so many diff types and numbers

Or would it be better to just get this right now

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=31566;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

and get this along with it

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23389;category_id=1845;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

which with that option would be cheaper from that site u showed me ... but are they good and usually do good business .... i have only bought from Big Als and Doc Fosters so far ... TIA

Ray

 

[czcz]

Viperboy,

also this one says it is for saltwater .... but is that what 50/50 is?

Yes, but in this case its recommended to use the 50/50 to limit what your plants and algae can use, and therefore limit the need for CO2 and dosing. Better to get that fixture if you want to stick to your low light plans, then buy the daylight bulb (third link) when you're ready to upgrade into medium+ light.

7Enigma,

The going rate for conversion is that 1 watt of a CF bulb is actually equal to 1.75 watts of a NO bulb.

1w CF = 1.35w NO Your formulas are correct though... good post.

 

[7Enigma]

jeez, I must have missed that one somewhere else! Good actually. With the 65w CF in my tank I was under the impression it was over 5wpg, 4wpg is much safer since I'm just getting the hang of this planted thing...

 

[czcz]

Its in Ozz's lighting thread and his article. As you noted its an in-progress conversion, and it changed down that thread. Same with most calcs related to equiv T12 wpg. (And they or lumens/sq in calcs may change again, especially after Ozz tackles reflector quality and his other ideas.)

 

[7Enigma]

Oh, OK, that makes me feel better. I swear I searched for that thread on more than one occasion and thought I had written down 1w CF=1.75w NO, and now I know I wasn't making things up.

 

[7Enigma]

Ray,

If you were to get the extra bulb I would definately go with the link I sent. The company is very reputable and was recommended to me by a member of this forum.

If you were only to get the single light, you could go with either. I'm a big fan of Big Al's, ordered ALL of my tank supplies except for the tank itself from them. Just make sure you look at the overall cost (shipping and handling) before you make the decision.

Frankly those points from Big Al's are all but worthless unless you spend a LOT of money. I was really dissapointed after spending over $200 at the site only to find out the points mean basically nil.

 

[Viperboy]

Ok so im def gonna go with the 50/50 coral life fixture but im gonna hold off for a bit ...... and yea i know those points r pretty worthless but they do add up and maybe will eventually get me something .... thanks guys for the help

Ray

 

[7Enigma]

Ray,

I think your doing the right thing. I started my tank up at the beginning of Jan06, and first got the fish thing down, then recently decided to get into the planted tank. I think its better (doing this the first time) to pay very close attention to your fish and their behavior. It's easy to see with no live plant hiding spots if one is stressed or ill. Even in my moderately planted tank, it takes me 5-10 minutes sometimes to find one of my Oto's or barbs.

 

[Viperboy]

Yea i figured i should get the whole fish thing down first then ill get some plants .... my cycle hopefully will be done in a week or so then i can add some fish and keep them for a while maybe till summer then when i have more time (besides my summer job) i can add some plants and keep an eye on it all ......... thanks for the help guys

Ray