Lighting???

[mfrish000]

I am going to be building a indoor pond it will be 8'X15'X3'. If I want to have freshwater plants what type of lighting should I use and how much?

 

[mfrish000]

Also how should I do CO2?

 

[frasertheking]

wow at that size it would be better in a greenhouse or in a room with skylights because that will cost a hell of a lot not only to light but replacement bulbs and running the greenhouse would pay for its self .

 

[WyldFya]

That will be easy to light. What types of plants are you wanting? If you just want basic low light plants, and floating plants, then I'd go with 4 HO T5's. If you want higher lighting, then go with 6, 8, etc.

 

[mfrish000]

I was thinking of using 3- 400watt metal halides. Would that work? What about co2?

 

[WyldFya]

That many MH will need co2 in a pressurized format.

 

[Danyal]

3x400w MH, i don't think there'd be enough coverage to plant the entire pond unless you had them several feet above the surface to spread out(they'd have to each cover a 5'x5' area)

 

[mfrish000]

The lights are going to be 4-5 feet above the water. If I do t5's I do not need co2? when you say 4 t5's do you mean 4 fixtures with 2 or four bulbs in each? I would not think that it is only 4 bulbs total.

 

[mfrish000]

I was looking on various websites and can across this. Think this is any good? Probualy not but it would be nice not to have to replace bulbs.
http://cgi.ebay.com/48-Dual-10-000K...hZ020QQcategoryZ46314QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

 

[WyldFya]

4 bulbs total for low lighting. Low light plants need very little in the way of lighting.