Best Lighting for a planted tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
For a 2 bulb fixture I would use one that is 6700k and one 10,000k.

I have heard some people who don't like coralife bulbs,but I have never had a problem with them. I have used Hagen bulbs with no issue as well.
 
And what do you think about that fixture? I know T5 has higher intensity than others, so do you think 41 watts on a 40G would be sufficient for swords, saggitaria, vallisneria, and some type of light loving ground cover (preferably dwarf tears)? Do you think it would cause algal blooms?
 
I think it would work for those plants,expect maybe the dwarf tears. Do you mean HC,Hemianthus callitrichoides?

Algae becomes a issue when your CO2, lighting,ferts,or all of them are out of balance. If it becomes a problem,it would probably not be just because of the lighting.

With those plants,and with a plant substrate,if you leave your lights on for no more than 8 hours a day,the plants should grow,and algae should not be a problem. But there are no guarantees.
 
alright, and yes HC is what i'm referring to. I'm planning on planting as heavily as my budget will allow :/. Anyways I want a ground cover, and the option to have med-somewhat high light plants. What other species would you recommend for a ground cover? Ill probably employ some snails for algae if it gets out of hand, but the last thing I want to do is spend 200 bucks on a c02 system, I'm really trying to avoid that. Thanks for the input I really appreciate it.
 
Thanks for the fixture link clock, convenient they make a freshwater model so I don;t have to switch out the bulbs.
 
I spent $80 on my co2 system... pressurized 5lb tank with Milwaukee regulator. I think for the results I've gotten with co2, it was well worth the money. I'm just happier with healthy plant growth. I get bummed looking at my tank day after day and hardly seeing anything grow (for higher light plants).
 
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