I need a little help...ok maybe a lot

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
M

Monsterpleco

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 5, 2008
67
0
6
USA
All this planted tank stuff is really confusing me!!! I thought i knew a lot about it but it turns out i know almost nothing. For me light is becoming more and more confusing the more i read about it. All this talk of "K" and different wavelengths is quite baffling to me. In order to help me you guys probly need to know my tank specs. I have a 25 gallon tank with a standard "tube" fluorescent light fixture. I have a 20W bulb with a kelvin (whatever the heck that is) rating of 2800. I have 1 anubias cofeefolia, some water sprite, a few straight vals, and a few bunches of anarchis. I tried keeping an amazon sword along with another high light plant with long broad spiralling leaves but they all eventually withered away.

I have been trying to read up on how light effects aquarium plants and all the different types of lights there are. I have been in the hobby for almost a year. Most of my plants are just barely surviving in my aquarium, and I really want to upgrade some things like my light, and my substrate to help them thrive. My main problem is money, seeing that I'm only 15. What I'm really asking here is for advice on what specifically to get to upgrade my tank. I already know I want to change my gravel out for Eco Complete, and that I need two bags of it. My number one priority is the lights though because as of now I have less than 1 watt per gallon and from what I've read that is HORRIBLE. I have been ordering form Dr Fosters and Smith for a while now and will probly buy my light from them. Could you guys help me pick out a light?

PS Sorry for the really long post :[
 
I would do a retrofit of your existing hood with the 1x55w kit from ahsupply. Here is a link: http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm. This would give you just over 2wpg and would make your range of plants that you could keep much broader. I wouldn't go much higher than 2wpg unless you are planning on dosing co2 and using ferts. Also, go with a bulb in the 6700-10k Kelvin rating.
 
no offense but wouldnt that be taking a step backward? My 25 gallon tank is 30 inches long so why would i get a light that's only 12 inches in length? And it's only 18 watts
 
the retrofit kit would be to save money, plus the reflectors and ballasts you get from ahsupply are really good quality.
 
so i dont understand what the retrofit kit is. Is it so i could take apart my light i have now and put a better light setup in it?
 
oh and Veacane I was looking at another light very similar (i think) to the one you posted (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+9871&pcatid=9871) The only difference i can see is the light bulb that comes with it. The one you sent is dual phosphor SmartPaq (10000°K daylight and 460 nanometer actinic). The one i found comes with a 21" 6700°K
(Straight pin base)

I have no idea what the difference is between those two. All i know is that one has a higher K. Is that good?

I also heard that actinic is good for corals so is this more of a coral light?
 
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