Is There a Lighting/CO2 Rule-Of-Thumb?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I looked for a 30" twin incandescent fixture so I could use the screw-in CFL bulbs, but I couldn't find one anywhere. I think I'm gonna bite the bullet & get option 2...
 
option 2 is probably your best bet since both 1 and 3 is really strong and will probably require co2 or you could consider a floating plant to blockout light and reduce algae and co2 needs.
 
RianS;3567148; said:
option 2 is probably your best bet since both 1 and 3 is really strong and will probably require co2 or you could consider a floating plant to blockout light and reduce algae and co2 needs.
Click to expand...

I like your floating plant idea... What live plants would qualify as "floating" plants? Any recommendations for my particular setup?
 
Update: Just plugged up my new Coralife 30" fixture with the twin 18w T5 tubes & it looks great! Its not a high light tank by any stretch, but the twin lamps put out a really nice fat beam that covers the whole tank much better than the cheapo single 17w PowerGlo I was running. It really does exactly what I wanted in my original post! It came with a 10,000K & a 6,700K for the plants, so the color temp is much lower, but it brings out the greens much better.

That said, I can now answer a few of the questions that were haunting me... Yes, it will fit in the same place as the stock fixture in a black hood & still look good. Yes, the dang tubes DO go all the way across! They are easily 29" long (haven't measured, but tank is 30"), which was a major concern coming from a 24"tube. Yes, the beam is much fatter, even without the legs.

Thanks for all the help! I'll keep you updated on plant growth...
 
atleast 3wpg is recommended for co2. ferts in general are used during over 2wpg.
 
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