Lighting OverKill?

[A_K_Kicker]

Quick question about tank lighting. I have a 30 gallon planted tank and am looking for a better lighting fixture. My aquarium water is a darker tea color due to all the tannins released from the driftwood. Which would be better: a 234 watt light with 4-12k bulbs and 2 actinic bulbs (the 12k and actinic would be on separate timers) or a 156 watt 4-6700?

 

[Fat Homer]

The 6700k setup... 12k bulbs are for salt


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[lethalcustoms00]

Agreed. The 67k bulbs are what you want to use for growing plants. The other fixture will look very bright but won't be of much use to you.


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[hillbilly]

Either fixture is way overkill on a 30 gal. IMO. I'm using a 70 watt, 6500K, MH fixture hung 12 inches over a 37 gal. with a dirt substrate. No CO2. It's plenty. Plants do great in there.

 

[A_K_Kicker]

Thanks for all the replies! Really cleared up my dilemma.
Hillbilly- I too am running dirt in my tank. Works wonders imo.
The only reason why I was wondering about the four bulbs was that the water itself is so dark and I know that the light is not able to penetrate the water efficiently. I will soon be upgrading the light fixture and I was lost between the two different systems.

 

[Fat Homer]

I you want, change out the lights to say 10K bulbs if you are worried about light penetration...

But be warned, 10K bulbs can also create access algae with the added light penetration, while giving you a whiter light visually...

Although if you can find 8K bulbs, that may give you the perfect balance


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[mrrobxc]

Overkill.

For a 30 Gallon, get a T5HO fixture that puts out 2-3 watts per gallon.

It'll most likely be a two bulb fixture. I'd get both 6700 or 1 6700 and 1 10K.