lighting questions

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defool89
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lighting questions

Post by defool89 »

okay, so im really on the edge of buying a 135 gallon aquarium but it only comes with the tank and the stand. im trying to cut costs on the things i need to buy for it. It needs a filtration system, canopy or lid, and the lights. The lights are my main concern for my plants not the fish.

So here goes, I have 2 T5 blue marine bulbs on a 60 gallon fresh water system. That is extremely bright in the tank and looks really cool. I only really have em on at night so the plants can make their food while I brighten up my living room. Im quite curious how the lights would look in a tank a little of over twice the size. Would it be enough light for photosynthesis to occur and also for viewing purposes, or would it be pitch black at a certain point? The bulbs are 24 inches long and the tank is 51 inches long....what do you think?
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Terrance
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Re: lighting questions

Post by Terrance »

a PAR meter would tell you a lot more than what we can tell you. It also depends on the type of plants you want to grow.

My guess is that the light is not strong enough to cover the entire footprint of the tank. If your raise the light fixture in attempt to even out the spread of light, then you decrease the amount of light getting to plants.
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Re: lighting questions

Post by Pufferpunk »

I agree, you'll need lights to cover the top of the tank. Do the bulbs have individual reflectors?
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Re: lighting questions

Post by bertie 83 »

You could plant out the middle and leave the edges bare or just have very low light plants at the edges
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Re: lighting questions

Post by Pufferpunk »

I have 4 T8 plant lights over my 90g with all low-light plants.
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Re: lighting questions

Post by defool89 »

The light is on one Ballast*/power rail i think its what it is called and they both have reflectors on em but i cant separate them as much as i wish I could. I Mostly Have potted Micro Swords and do believe they are low light plants but i have not done too much research on em, i just learn by trial and error mostly. Come to think of it planting them mostly in the middle for now would be my best bet to prevent them from dying untill i rummage enough money to buy a whole new light fixture..i hope they dont die and i will try and relay pictures as progress goes, I couldn't pass up on this craiglist deal i found, 135g tank with an xp3 large filtration system with the stand and heater for 250$. My wife wont let me keep the 60g for too long so I have to do with what i have for now...
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Re: lighting questions

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

BLue is not a color that plants can photosynthesize pretty well... Can you switch out the bulbs more in the 6700k - 10,000k range?
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Re: lighting questions

Post by defool89 »

Lil' Swimz$ wrote:BLue is not a color that plants can photosynthesize pretty well... Can you switch out the bulbs more in the 6700k - 10,000k range?

thanks, noted. I might as well do that whenever i get the new lighting system. i did not know that. The blue lights so far have worked quite well in my 60 gallon thus far. they not only have grown but multiplied in size and numbers under that light.
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Re: lighting questions

Post by Pufferpunk »

I need some blue or everything looks pretty washed out.
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Re: lighting questions

Post by Lil' Swimz$ »

Agreed, a 10,000k and a 6700k works perfect for me. They balance each other perfectly!
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Re: lighting questions

Post by boosted23 »

I would hit up ebay. I got my 48" odyssea 4x54w with led moonlights and built in timer and fans for $120 shipped. Granted its not the best light but it works well and my plants are growing with it. Havent had an issue with it neither. That should work for you for awhile so you can save up for the good good one. Just a suggestion bro.
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