lighting

[mar_att1]

hi i still need to buy the lighting for my 60 gal tank. what would you recommend? i was thinking of introducing some not so demanding plants into my tank, hopefully soem which can go without Co2 as i read that it could be done succefully. What wattage should i use for this?

however, i would like to know which type of light colour enhances the fishes' colour the most...

is it white light?
or blueish light?
or should it be yellowish (i am not particularly fond of this)

TIA

 

[jsoong]

Go to the plant forum & read the sticky on beginner planted tank for a guide.

also this sticky on lights: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=55461

For non-CO2, you want something like 1-2 wpg of NO (T12) fluorescent light. Fancier lights (T8, CF, T5 ...) have higher light output per watt so you should reduce the wattage accordingly.

Plants like white (full spectrum) lights. I think my fish looks fine with this. Some like the look of Actinics for the fish (depends on what fish you have & your taste). Plants do not use actinic light so you don't need to add that to your wpg calculations if you use them.