Lighting, how do (should) I upgrade?

[jcardona1]

I wouldn't be mixing ballasts & bulbs...I'd be replacing the ballast in my current fixture for a t5ho, only the plastic housing would remain the same.

But thats a moot point if t5ho is too over the top anyways. What is this PC you're talking about? I've only heard of t5-12 & ho, compact flourescents & metal halides (and led)

I think for now I'm going to end up just seeing how things go with my single fluorescent bulb. So far I've had plants for about a week and they're still green....can't tell if there's been any grown but at least they're still green.

edit: what about simply adding a second t8 fluorescent?

This is a PC bulb, or Power Compact, like the Coralife fixtures.

A compact fluorescent, or CFL bulb is one of these:

 

[Rockhoe14er]

in a planted tank the last thing you want to upgrade is your lights. It should be co2 fertz then lights. Your plants can use the light if they don't have the food they need to grow. when ever there is a lack of balance in a planted tank algae will take over.

When you have that much light and no co2 or fertz you are going to get a crazy amount of algae and a whole bunch of other problems. DIY Co2 is pretty easy and works pretty well also ferts are really easy only take about 1 min to add every other day.

 

[Moloch]

Its the cost I'm worried about, I don't mind the upkeep (gives me something to do at home)

Its starting to seem like I'll just end up not worrying about it. If anything I have already lives then thats cool. I'd like to have some nice plants & everything, but I can deal without em for a while.

 

[jcardona1]

Its the cost I'm worried about, I don't mind the upkeep (gives me something to do at home)

Its starting to seem like I'll just end up not worrying about it. If anything I have already lives then thats cool. I'd like to have some nice plants & everything, but I can deal without em for a while.

Honestly, I'd just stick one of those 4-bulb shop fixtures from lowes or home depot. They're dirty cheap, and add some aluminum foil to increase the output. That should keep you away from algae troubles but still give you enough light to meet a plant's basic needs and minimum light threshold.

 

[Moloch]

I'll keep an eye out for something like that.

I have to keep it looking spiffy on the outside, the tank are in the living room and the wife won't tolerate a ghetto-rig:\

(not to mention I'm pretty OCD about my things looking 'pro' as far as the way I set them up)