Complete overhaul of my 55 gallon

[Fishdude3233]

I have been unhappy with the looks of my 55 ever since I set it up four years ago, and tomorrow is the four year anniversary of the tank, so I want to get it a gift if you will. Here's what I have right now

Aqueon 55
1. Aqueon 48 inch fixture
Standard gravel
Magnum 350 canister
The lighting hardly grows java moss, which IMO is really sad....


Here's what I want
1. A led light that will give me medium lighting. (Suggestions)
2. A dirted tank. With a sand cap

With upgrading the lighting would I need pressurized co2? I already dose dry ferts, and glut.

Plants I want to grow

Dwarf sag.
Italian Val's.
Java fern.
Christmas moss.
Water sprite.
Several crypts

ill list more in a little while (at school)

 

[Fishdude3233]

Lights:
Trying to decide between the current sattalite+
Or the finnex ray 2
Which one do you think is better for my needs. The reason I like the sattalite+ is because of the customization features, but I understand the ray 2 has a higher par. Anyone care to sway me one way or another?

 

[Brookster123]

I'd go finnex planted plus..

 

[Fishdude3233]

Lights:
Trying to decide between the current sattalite+
Or the finnex ray 2
Which one do you think is better for my needs. The reason I like the sattalite+ is because of the customization features, but I understand the ray 2 has a higher par. Anyone care to sway me one way or another?

That's what I meant. I don't know why I said ray 2 :Banghead: the planted plus is set to one setting though correct?

 

[Brookster123]

Yah it has 2 switches, one for whites and reds than one for blues, you can run the blues w the others.. I really like it..

 

[Fishdude3233]

Ok well I'll order the planted+ are you saying that I can run either all reds, and whites, or blues. Or run them all at once?

 

[Fishdude3233]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GH9HURE/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1397838258&sr=8-1&pi=SX200_QL40

This it?

 

[Brookster123]

That's the one, you can run either moonlight or daylight(whites and reds) or both together which I do, gives the fish a little more pop!

 

[Brookster123]

If you want a good DIY project you could gut your aqueon light and pack it with cfl's, I'm going to do it later today...

 

[Fishdude3233]

Sweet! Thanks man. Could you make a thread on it though? I'm not good with re wiring but my dad is, and he would be able to do it better if he saw pictures or something.

 

[Brookster123]

Ya I'll do a build thread later, it's so simple, pitbully gave me the idea so I'll title it "pittbullys awesome DIY retrofit"

 

[Mebbid]

In a 55g tank you definitely want to go with the ray 2 if you want medium light. The planted + only has slightly higher par values than the Current USA light.

 

[Fishdude3233]

Ok ray 2 it is then. I will start the overhaul tomorrow, with before and after pictures.