Need lighting advice please

[nanofish]

I have a standard 55 gallon tank (48"X12"x21") that I would like to set up with frogbit. This will be my first attempt at keeping live plants. I know floating plants need low current so now I'm curious about lighting. I was looking into both T8 and T5 HO systems. I was told floating plants don't require CO2 but I can use fert if needed. The light would be right above the tank and if it's a T5 I most likely won't have a canopy. If I'm trying to get moderate lighting is something like this ( Odyssea T5 Aquarium Lighting )too much lighting?

[BBradbury]

Hello c...

Lighting is pretty simple if you're not trying to grow demanding plants. I have 6500 K, T8, 32 watt bulbs in my 55 G tanks and have Java fern, Anubias, Singapore moss, Cryptocoryne, a couple of varieties of Amazon sword, Peace lily, Onion plants, Water wisteria, Indian fern (floating) and some others.

I have several different kinds of liquid ferts I dose two or three times a week after the tank lights go out and the ferts seem to work better than dosing when the tank lights are on.

Anyway, that's how I grow my plants in a low light, low tech environment.

B

[jetajockey]

those oddysea fixtures are hard to beat, price-wise. That 2x54w on a 55 might put you in the medium/high area. It's hard to say, with a higher end fixture you'd be in the high light range but with these cheaper quality ones there's no telling. It's definitely good enough to grow most plants though.

[nanofish]

Thank you both very much for the advice. I have a bunch to learn yet when it comes to plants and was getting confused reading all the different sites and books. I feel better about giving it a try now.