120g lighting help

[Bobtastic6]

i have a 120 gal (4x2x2) freshwater tank i'm setting up and i need some help picking out the lighting. i've been told 67k T5 HO is required but i'm not sure about some particulars:

- whats the difference between salt and fresh water lighting FIXTURES?
- can i use a salt water fixture for fresh water tank?
- will 2 bulbs get the job done or with a tank this size are 4 bulbs necessary?

any other suggestions are more than welcome, i'm new to planted tanks and i don't want to get the lighting wrong.

also any thoughts on this light?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300472365923&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

 

[chonhzilla]

I personally prefer 10,000k over 6700k; 6700k is too yellow for my liking.

The lighting fixture depends on what you want to do with the tank.

Plans for CO2?

What type of plants you think you maybe interested in?

Consider these two questions and it'll save you a ton of money on plants and equipment you do not need.

 

[jcardona1]

You're not limited only to 6700K. Any spectrum of light will grow plants to a certain extent. You could even run actinics if you wanted to, though it would look terrible. Many find that a 6500/10,000k combo gives the nicest color for plants and fish.

As for the fixture itself, this will be determined by your intended setup. As Chonh said, we need to know a few things about what you want to do before deciding on the light you need.

 

[Bobtastic6]

I personally prefer 10,000k over 6700k; 6700k is too yellow for my liking.

The lighting fixture depends on what you want to do with the tank.

Plans for CO2?

What type of plants you think you maybe interested in?

Consider these two questions and it'll save you a ton of money on plants and equipment you do not need.

i am not going to have a CO2 setup (tank, hoses, regulator, etc.) but i will actificially at it. it is going to be a red bellied piranha tank and i'm going for a somewhat natual look. i'm not sure the names of the plants i want but if you can invision what i'm saying maybe that will help. some amazon swords maybe?

 

[jcardona1]

i am not going to have a CO2 setup (tank, hoses, regulator, etc.) but i will actificially at it. it is going to be a red bellied piranha tank and i'm going for a somewhat natual look. i'm not sure the names of the plants i want but if you can invision what i'm saying maybe that will help. some amazon swords maybe?

Well in that case, T5HO lighting is too much. You simply don't need it for easy plants like swords, anubias, ferns, etc. You could get away by running 2-4 bulbs of T8/T12 lighting. You could pick up a shop fixture from lowes or home depot. This would be the cheapest option. You can also run T5NO, which aren't as intense as T5HO. But from a cost effective option, it's hard to beat a shop fixture

 

[ccebr]

I recently replaced my light unit from 2x 54W T5HO, very bright, down to a simple 20W T8 Aqua Glo tube, and I love it. It seems much more natural, the fishes colours look amazing, and there are light/dark areas to the tank which has a nice effect. Fish aren't bothered in the slightest with the reduction in light, but it looks good now IMO.

Down to your preference and light intensity required for plants your keeping.

 

[Bobtastic6]

Well in that case, T5HO lighting is too much. You simply don't need it for easy plants like swords, anubias, ferns, etc. You could get away by running 2-4 bulbs of T8/T12 lighting. You could pick up a shop fixture from lowes or home depot. This would be the cheapest option. You can also run T5NO, which aren't as intense as T5HO. But from a cost effective option, it's hard to beat a shop fixture

will the item in the link work for me?

 

[jcardona1]

will the item in the link work for me?

No, it's too much light for a non-co2 tank with slow growing plants.

 

[jcardona1]

Take a look at the information here, starting at post #3. You'll want to be in the low light category for your tank

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73446

 

[Bobtastic6]

Take a look at the information here, starting at post #3. You'll want to be in the low light category for your tank

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73446

ok thank you very much. i'm not sure tho what kind of plants i will have though and i will be adding co2 just not constantly by mechanized means. if i were to just go out and get a simple shop light and put quality aquarium bulbs in it would that work?