lighting ?

[Orly]

Hey everyone. New to the site lots of info here. I have a question, I putting a current usa nova extreme T5 2x54 watt 48", is this considered low light or low-med light for a 55gal ? I'm hopeing this is enough lighting to get some of the nicer red plants.

 

[Purrbox]

I'd say that would give you medium light actually. Should be able to grow a nice variety of plants.

 

[SpeedEuphoria]

Hey everyone. New to the site lots of info here. I have a question, I putting a current usa nova extreme T5 2x54 watt 48", is this considered low light or low-med light for a 55gal ? I'm hopeing this is enough lighting to get some of the nicer red plants.

With good bulbs you can grow any plant you want and I would say its high light if you have the "individual reflector" model.

I know a couple people that have a single Giesemann 54w T5HO with a TEK II reflector on a 55G w/ pressurized CO2 and they can "high light" plants no prob.

Then other people with the Catalina fixture, using 2x 54w bulbs on a 90G with no CO2 and any more than 8hrs its algae issues.

So start with 1 bulb then work into 2 bulbs if its a new tank.

And as far as needing high light to have red plants it is a myth

 

[Orly]

Cool I was hopeing to here that. The tank has beed running for about five years with some malaysian driftwood, about six large size river rock, clown loach, 2 small plecos, 4angelfish and some guppies. I want to make it a planted tank now. thats why I upgraded the light, and also adding laterite to the gravel.