Lights for planted tank

[Brox]

What kind of light do I need for a planted aquarium? I want medium lighting to high. And money is tight so cheap is preferred.

 

[daileene]

what kind of hood do you have?

if where your light goes is a socket, you can just get a daylight compact flourescent light that has 6700k for one pack (2-4 in a pack) from walmart, home depot or any hardware store for less than $10.

If you are not sure what you have, please read this info about lighting:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/a-beginners-guide-to-lighting-53375.html

 

[Brox]

what kind of hood do you have?

if where your light goes is a socket, you can just get a daylight compact flourescent light that has 6700k for one pack (2-4 in a pack) from walmart, home depot or any hardware store for less than $10.

If you are not sure what you have, please read this info about lighting:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f24/a-beginners-guide-to-lighting-53375.html

Here is the link to my hood http://www.aquariumguys.com/glass-canopy-36in-18in-40-breeder.html

 

[daileene]

oh i am only seeing the glass canopy. What I meant was your lighting hood. most of them looks like this:

Aquarium Lighting Systems at That Fish Place

some has sockets, some have pins and others. if yours is a socket, that is the cheapest lighting that you can find since you can just get the CFL bulbs for less than $10.

 

[George9]

oh i am only seeing the glass canopy. What I meant was your lighting hood. most of them looks like this:

Aquarium Lighting Systems at That Fish Place

some has sockets, some have pins and others. if yours is a socket, that is the cheapest lighting that you can find since you can just get the CFL bulbs for less than $10.

The fixture you're talking about, right?

Depending on tank size, +1 on the cfl for small nano-ish tanks. For larger tanks t5 or t5 high output would probably put you at medium lighting depending on tank size. You can also get away with t8, also depending on tank size.

So I guess where Im getting at is, how large is your tank lol?

 

[Brox]

The fixture you're talking about, right?

Depending on tank size, +1 on the cfl for small nano-ish tanks. For larger tanks t5 or t5 high output would probably put you at medium lighting depending on tank size. You can also get away with t8, also depending on tank size.

So I guess where Im getting at is, how large is your tank lol?

40 gal breeder, I think I'll go with low light for now, any plant suggestions anyone?

 

[daileene]

here's a list for some low lighting plants:

Excellent List of Low Light Plants

and to george: yes, I meant the light fixtures. sorry, my bad.

 

[George9]

here's a list for some low lighting plants:

Excellent List of Low Light Plants

and to george: yes, I meant the light fixtures. sorry, my bad.

That's okay, different people call them differently

+1 to the list.That's a great list of plants to get you started

 

[daileene]

here's a good table chart on what lighting you should choose for your size of tank:

 

[Brox]

here's a list for some low lighting plants:

Excellent List of Low Light Plants

and to george: yes, I meant the light fixtures. sorry, my bad.

Thanks for the list, here is what I got after some research

Dwarf hair grass
Java fern
Anubias
Java moss
Moss balls
Christmas moss
Anacharis
Micro sword
Green hygro
Will these plants be ok? What ones can live together in a low light tank?

 

[daileene]

they all can be together in your tank. just make sure that your anubias and your java ferns are attach to a driftwood or rocks coz it will not survive in the substrate. christmas moss is a little expensive and hard to find but they are surely beautiful.

 

[George9]

I have my anubias buried in the sand and ITs doing great. If you do bury it, just make sure not to cover the the stick thing that the leaves are growing out of. Only bury the roots. It has a name (starts with an r-Daileene, do you know lol?) but you'll know it when you see it

 

[smileyface9]

here's a good table chart on what lighting you should choose for your size of tank:

I'm new to planted tanks.. What does raising the light above the tank do??

 

[George9]

I'm new to planted tanks.. What does raising the light above the tank do??

It decreases the intensity and amount of light getting to the bottom of the tank.

 

[Coursair]

I have my anubias buried in the sand and ITs doing great. If you do bury it, just make sure not to cover the the stick thing that the leaves are growing out of. Only bury the roots. It has a name (starts with an r-Daileene, do you know lol?) but you'll know it when you see it

The " rhizome" is the word you want.
Don't bury the Rhizome

 

[George9]

The " rhizome" is the word you want.
Don't bury the Rhizome

Yes! Lol thank you

 

[daileene]

LOL. Tina got it first George... Yes, don't bury the rhizome.