Help/Suggestions, NEW to planted tanks!?!!?!

[jaM00]

Tank: 100gal, 60x16x17 (w/o substrate)

I'd like to keep low/medium lighted plants in the tank. As of right now, their is 2-24'' 10,000K 18watt, T8 bulbs lighting my tank. My question is if I purchased a dual 48" T8 fixture and put in 6000K bulbs, (seems like the most recommended choice 4 planted tanks) would this be a sufficient setup? OR, should I just say *~#@ it, and buy a T5 fixture, even though I'm on a budget? Also, the reason why I have the 10,000K bulbs is because a guy from Petco told me that the 6000K bulbs wouldn't have enough power to penetrate the deepness of my tank. THANK YOU in advance!

 

[mgamer20o0]

typical the guy at petco has no clue what he is talking about. k rating has to do with the color of the bulb. such as the the lower under 6500k tend to be more yellow with 10000k white and higher more blueish........ k rating has nothing to do with power penetration.

with out substrate there isnt many plants i know that are medium light. with out substrate you will prob be stuck with anubias java ferns moss. these all low light which a 32wx2 t8 48 inch fixture might work. if you really want to do medium light plants you prob want to get substrate. also you would want to get t5 lighting.
http://www.fishneedit.com/t5ho-ligh.html

 

[jaM00]

Yea...silly of me to write that in parentheses, because the tank does have substrate right now, the smaller black grain gravel. But, yeah #### it, I'm gonna get me a T5 light fixture, even though a LFS owner recommended me to start with a nano tank. I am DETERMINED to have plants thrive in my 100gal setup!

 

[jaM00]

o and thanks for the heads up, mgamer2000

 

[jcardona1]

yeah that guy is a total tool. the lower the kelvin rating the higher the lumen output, which means more light.

check out this website, www.rexgrigg.com great reads for a newbie

 

[jaM00]

cool, thanks.