T8 vs T5 lights?

[FSM]

OOPs

lol how did I manage to do that.

Okay, so let's say i do get it installed on the tank, are you saying i can't grow plants? Cause that would mean nobody can grow plants in small tanks right? Cause as far as i understand Watt equals length of the tube, and the tank just isn't any longer, so it isn't possible to get a higher watt tube for this particular tank.
I have seen many people do awesome aquascaping with small tanks, even a lot smaller ones than mine, but i guess they somehow have a different lighting sollution?

????

logic fail

Just get a second bulb/fixture, then you have double the light. On small tanks people use compact fluorescents (the spiral type) because they are cheap and easy.

 

[HrHagel]

lol how did I manage to do that.



????

One 15 watt bulb may be inadequate, therefore it is impossible for anyone to grow plants in small tanks.

Alright, i guess i'll have to see for myself, that is if i can even get this thing installed properly now that you mentioned they have different pins (doh!)

Thanks for your help!

 

[FSM]

What kind of fixture do you have?

 

[HrHagel]

What kind of fixture do you have?

http://www.seapets.co.uk/products/a...quariums/tetra-aqua-art-aquarium-kit-60l.html

This is the tank.
You can't really see the actual fixture, but i can't find a pic of it anywhere.

Otherwise i can take a picture of it tomorrow!

 

[12 Volt Man]

here is an old pic of my 20g long (30x12x12) with the coralife aqualight t5 fixture. its a cheap fixture, but effective. it had two 18w bulbs for a total of 36w.

growing plants in small plants is easier than in large tanks often because the shallower the tank, the better the light penetration to the bottom is.

 

[HrHagel]

Here's a picture of one dudes setup in this tank

http://img107.imageshack.us/i/cimg1070bz3.jpg/

 

[HrHagel]

here is an old pic of my 20g long (30x12x12) with the coralife aqualight t5 fixture. its a cheap fixture, but effective. it had two 18w bulbs for a total of 36w.

growing plants in small plants is easier than in large tanks often because the shallower the tank, the better the light penetration to the bottom is.

That looks great, but unfortunatly i can't get around to replace the fixture on this tank, without some serious modding i don't think.

 

[FSM]

T5 bulbs aren't the same watts as an equivalent length T8 or T12, so the fixture that comes with the tank can't be T5.

 

[JakeH]

You're gonna need some kind of retro-fit package if you want a bigger light. The kit will probably cost half as much as the tank, though. You could try some Java Fern or Java Moss, but if you want a serious planted tank, the whole lid/hood of that thing has to go.

 

[12 Volt Man]

yeah, to upgrade the lighting, the lid has to go, a glass top needs to be made to fit and then you can add better lighting over that. but it might be pricey to do it..

some people have planted tanks without glass tops, with the lights either suspended or up on mounting legs, however, you get a lot of water loss via evaporation and you always find fish on the floor, so I have never really thought this was a good method.

plants grow fine with light passed through glass tops, but I guess some people don't believe that or have not been able to grow plants properly with glass tops for some unknown reason..

I have had no trouble either at my home tanks or while I was at the LFS..