Need lighting suggestion-T5 HO

[GrkGumby12]

I want to add plants to my aquarium, i'm looking for a t5 ho fixture that i can use on top of my glass canopy, but it seems like any fixtures i look at, have to be screwed tight and wouldnt just sit on the rim. Are there any suggestions for any t5 ho fixtures that can just sit well with a canopy attached, as opposed to an open air tank?? thanks

 

[GrkGumby12]

P.S. i have a freshwater 36" wide 46g Bowfront, so i'd like to have 3 or 4 t5ho bulbs in the fixture

 

[CorallineAlgae]

T5s produce heat so having them lifted a bit is good for air circulation. A two lamp fixture will be plenty for plants. Are you planning on having a co2 system? Aqua Nova, FishNeedIt or Odyssea make suitable fixtures for growing plants. The Odyssea units produce less light so they may be a better choice for a non co2 planted tank. The other manufacturers make higher quality units, though. Keep in mind than for freshwater more light often means more headaches.

 

[GrkGumby12]

Well no i will not have a co2 system because i have goldfish in there and the combination of food and their wastes and oxygen use should take care of that quite well. U will also be using seachem flourish tabs for my rooted plants and the liquid fundamental 3 pack from seachem as well. Do you think a co2 system would be significantly better?

 

[CorallineAlgae]

It matters for lighting. The kinds of plants that can be kept with goldfish (who like to eat many plants) don't require co2. I'd recommend getting either a single T5 light strip like the Hagen (amazon sells them), or a double T5NO light fixture. The important thing is to have enough light and nothing more. Having very strong lights can make fighting algae a tough proposition unless you are dedicated to having lots of fast growing plants, and goldfish can make that hard. You can definitely have a tank full of beautiful plants with a single T5HO light and no co2.