36" light on 48" tank?

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dbcb314

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Jun 4, 2007
2,311
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Tallahassee
I want to order a 36" hagen glo dual HO T5 light fixture. It will give me 78 watts on a 75 gallon tank.

Is that enough light to grow java fern, moss, water sprite, and swords and stuff like that?? just low light stuff... I am not looking to make an underwater jungle or anything.

(no co2)


I initially ordered a 48" 108 watt T5 set up but it is continuously being put on back order and my patience is all but gone.
 
i had the same question earlier this month. I'm sot sure if its sufficient for those plants but. The "ideal" is 2xWPG(watts per gallon) best if 3xWPG. Are you runnuing a co2 system? So im guessing your tank is 50gallons and up. For me i have a 40g 36" long and im picking a 4 bulbs with ballast around 300+wattage. Good luck.
 
I am running an offsize config on my 36 inch tank, with a 30 inch fixture, which means theres a bit of tank with no light at the ends. Now, I have found that what is directly under the light does really well, but the ends struggle. the swords on the ends especially struggle if there is ANY shadow. the answer is, yes it might work, especially using really low light plants but it will require planning in your plant placement and possibly gving up the ends. thats a lot of dead space
 
wolf13;2963226; said:
I am running an offsize config on my 36 inch tank, with a 30 inch fixture, which means theres a bit of tank with no light at the ends. Now, I have found that what is directly under the light does really well, but the ends struggle. the swords on the ends especially struggle if there is ANY shadow. the answer is, yes it might work, especially using really low light plants but it will require planning in your plant placement and possibly gving up the ends. thats a lot of dead space
Click to expand...

That is what I was worried about. ugh, i may just continue to wait on the damn 48in light but this is so annoying.
 
If the whole problem is it is going on back order why not order it from another website or even better you should just go to your lfs and buy it. I ended up getting my t5 48' for my 55gal WWAAAAYYY cheaper in the store especially after paying shipping online.
 
As bad as it sucks to do so, I'd wait. Maybe even call them to express your displeasure and maybe nicely persuade them to bump you up the list. That may be possible. But, I'd wait.
 
the WPG rule goes out the window now adays it is not even close to being right. specially when you talk about T-5HO basically t-5HO penitrates the water alot better then most other forms of light so with one 36in bulbs will give you close the same PAR at the bottom of your tank as one 48" bulb (over the span that it covers) when talkin about low light plants you will be ok. just the plants at the edge of the tank will not get any light at all.

having said that i would recomend going with the best fixture you can get with most watts.... not because you need them but because you will want to upgrade to higher light plants later on. if you get a 4 bulb fixture i highly recomend getting one with two switches so you have the option of running two bulbs or all 4 at a time. thats probable more then you wanted to know but just thought i would toss that out there.
 
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