Quick lighting question...

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Fat Homer

Fat Homer

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Mar 16, 2009
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Okay possibly a little silly a question but i just got a new tank 36" x 18" x 18"

And naturally i'll need to pick up some new lights, and i was thinking, with this size tank would 2 39W T5HO bulbs be enough light for even the most demanding plants, or would i need 4 39W T5HO bulbs?

Since i'm debating on what light fixture to buy and not sure if the 2 bulb fixture would be enough, or 4 would be necessary to grow the more demanding ones such as a HC carpet...


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make sure you have good Co2 and fertz or you'll get algae...more so with the 4 bulb.

I'm no scientist so I won't scare you with equations and acronyms but I'd go 4 bulb on two separate timers and throw a burst in there for a short time frame. IE: 2 bulbs on for 10 hours and have the remaining 2 come on for a total of 4 bulbs for 3 or 4 of those hours. Adjust duration as you inspect algae levels and response from plants.

Again, make sure you have pressurized co2 and fertz.
 
Thanks, i'll definitely be doing Co2 and ferts, since i'm thinking of growing HC again...

And literally just picked up the 4 bulb T5HO lighting and on my way home... So will see how it goes once the new tank is setup...


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MyGiants said:
I like to fit as much above the tank as possible. Though you can grow plants under two. I have eight 24W bulbs over my 20. And eight 80W over my 120.
Click to expand...

Thats my thought as well, so my new lights give me 156W over this 50G which should be plenty bright for any plants :)


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Many times, with a tank with those dimensions, it isn't the amount of light over the tank, but the spread of the lights.

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^ i hear ya... I was even tempted to go with a 6 bulb fixture, but every where seemed to be sold out, and the 4 bulb one does seem to have a decent enough spread to cover the whole tank as far as i can tell...

Although until the tank is up and running with plants, its some what guess work :)


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4 will grow your plants just fine. I had 4 on this tank before and grew just fine. But this 20 is an odd size 27" long vs standard 20 at 24". So my lights didn't extend on each end so the light wasn't as bright on each side. I made my own custom hood to stagger the lights so they reach each side completely so that's why I went with 8 to get full coverage over the tank.

[video=youtube;39YbIl0GulM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39YbIl0GulM[/video]

this is how the tank looks right now

IMG_0726.jpg
 
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