Planted Lighting

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

I want to plant my 75 gallon freshwater loach/catfish tank. Right now I have two florescent light strips, around 24" each, with AllGlass Aquarium lights which are 15 watts each. I've read up that to grow most aquatic plants I need around 225 watts for my 75 gallon.

I found some "CoraLife" light strips that are for planted aquarium and in the chart, it says that 48" of the light is only 40 watts.

I'm really confused if this "WPG" thing isn't true because 225 would be so many of those light strips, and I only have 2.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+8066+4505&pcatid=4505

There is a link to the lights, and the chart is in the "Overview" section.

All help is appreciated.

 

[sostoudt]

you need to buy a new fixture, t5 ho, power compact/compact flourscent, or metal halide.

but i suppose you could just pack a bunch of fixtures of normal bulbs above the tank like you said.

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

you need to buy a new fixture, t5 ho, power compact/compact flourscent, or metal halide.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+19759&pcatid=19759

This one is 150$. That's a bit much don't you think?

 

[sostoudt]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+19759&pcatid=19759

This one is 150$. That's a bit much don't you think?

i would get one thats atleast a 150 watts.

if you want quality you pay extra for it. light is food for plants, you dont have enough you starve you plants.

you could always get a oddysea brand one that like a 1/3 the price.

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

i would get one thats atleast a 150 watts.

if you want quality you pay extra for it. light is food for plants, you dont have enough you starve you plants.

you could always get a oddysea brand one that like a 1/3 the price.

Is there a link you could post of one of those?

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

you could always get a oddysea brand one that like a 1/3 the price.

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144221

 

[sostoudt]

oddysea is what people would consider cheap chinese crap, but they grow plants.
what ever bulbs you get i would recommend replacing them when you can, as oddysea bulbs arent very good.
here look through these
http://pet-supplies.shop.ebay.com/L...1&_ipg=&_ssn=fishman911&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282

 

[sostoudt]

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144221

mine hasnt caught on fire yet. btw thats about power compact not t5 ho what i have.

but like said if you want quality you will pay for it.

 

[FSM]

The WPG rule isn't very good for large/small tanks, or if you are using anything other than standard fluorescent lighting.

A 2x32W T8 or 2x40W T12 shoplight is adequate to grow low light plants. Something like $20 at Home Depot/Lowes.

If you want something more powerful, 2x54W T5HO would work great. You can get a nova extreme fixture for around $110 shipped on ebay. Even with this amount of light, you may run into algae issues if they are on for too long each day. With more light, the plants need more CO2/nutrients, so it becomes necessary to use pressurized CO2 and to start dosing fertilizer.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13822+19759&pcatid=19759

This one is 150$. That's a bit much don't you think?

overpriced. Also, it doesn't include bulbs.