Best Lighting for a planted tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Phosphates (phosphorus) is an essential nutrient for healthy plants.
 
T5 lighting is not expensive. It's more energy efficient than T8. And IMO is much more attractive than T8 lighting. I would definitely buy a T5 fixture. I like the coralife dual T5 fixtures, I have one on my 20 gallon.
 
but if you overdo phosphates, then you get nuisance algae. If you have fish, much of the phosphates come from the food. So can anybody help me out with my lighting issues? Just a recap, I want to spend less than 100 bucks, have the option of high light plants, though mostly will be med light, and I don't know whether to go T5, T8, or T12. If you know of a good fixture, by all means, help me out
 
clock is this the one you mean?



Coralife Aqualight Dual Linear Strip T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 2X21 Watt, 36 inch
Usually Ships in 1 to 2 Business Days
Our Price: $58.00 In Stock

The Coralife Aqualight T5 aquarium lighting fixtures are recommended for use with fish only tanks.

Features:
One 21 watt 10K and one 21 watt True Actinic T5 fluorescent lamp
34.375" L X 2.25" W X 1" H
One on/off switch and built-in ballast
Sleek black aluminum housing
Highly-polished reflector
Acrylic lens cover
Adjustable width tank mounts (legs to lift the light off the tank)



And also, do they make a freshwater version, or did you just buy the proper bulbs separate?
 
keydiver;4651297;4651297 said:
but if you overdo phosphates, then you get nuisance algae. If you have fish, much of the phosphates come from the food. So can anybody help me out with my lighting issues? Just a recap, I want to spend less than 100 bucks, have the option of high light plants, though mostly will be med light, and I don't know whether to go T5, T8, or T12. If you know of a good fixture, by all means, help me out
Click to expand...
That's a myth. I add a lot of phosphates to my tank. No algae.
 
Sorry, was just trying to help based on the info in posts #6 and #7, because you made it seem like you were gonna use RO water to help with algae caused by to too much light as mentioned in post #6 (he's right by the way). Wanting to add medium to high light without co2 is just asking for problems.
 
Thanks man I appreciate it, but as of now i'm algae free. Of course i'm trying to avoid the problem by introducing excessive light though
 
How much light you need will depend on how high the light is off the substrate. If you are going to invest in a new fixture,get T5's. High light is determined on the height of the fixture,more than the WPG. WPG is kind of like the 1 inch of fish for every gallon of water. It does not really work in most cases.
 
the fixture will be about 22 inches from the substrate. Can anyone recommend a descent T5 fixture? I know the dual coralife, but not sure if they make a freshwater version, or if that was the exact model that clock was talking about
 
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