Is it possible to use a Metal Halide in a freshwater planted tank? I've decided I'm putting off setting up my saltwater tank until I have more time to devote to it. I'm going to be working and going to school full time next year so I fear that the tank will suffer for it so I'm waiting to set it up until I have the right amount of time to devote to the tank. But I already have a lot of the stuff needed for the tank. I'm going to store it but I was wondering if I could use a Metal Halide in a freshwater planted tank or not. Could I use the Actinics or could I get other planted aquarium bulbs and put in my Ballast as long as they don't exceed the specs on the Ballast?
Using Metal Halide and/ orActinics in a Planted tank?
- Thread starter Liz Sagara
- Start date
You can use Metal Halide fixtures for plants but you will need to change the bulb and will most likely need to run c02
Why Co2? Is it because of the increase in light? I"m not exactly sure why the amount of light affects it. Change the bulbs? The Actinics? or the Metal Halide? Or both and why? (I get it if its the Actinics not the right wave length).
Is the access light lightly to cause Algae? Is that why I'd have to run Co2... I've never run Co2 on my 20 gallon planted tank and I don't get Algae and I have about 5.15 watts per gallon of light. How expensive are Co2 anyway... can somone give me a link to an entire system or something so I can figure out what it's going to cost me to do it if I decide to.
Metal halids are fine on any set-up. Plants will require a color spectrum far different from actinic. As for co2, you can always go without and see what happens. I found that with that level of intensity of light, co2 helped reduce algae and allowed me to grow a thick carpet of dwarf hair grass in my 54 corner.
I second this!^^
I wouldnt say you necessarily need co2, but if you do run into algae issues I would look into it to try to combat anything that shows up. Usually too much light and not enough co2 results in a lot of algae, but not always...
Yeah In my other tank there's not enough nutrients to support Algae the Parameters are 0 ammonia, 0 Nitrites, 0Nitrates and I have a Bristlenosed Pleco and three amano shrimps and they nab anything that even tries. Gonna watch it for a month or so but nothing so far.
A metal halide on a 20 gallon is going to be an algae farm. You will NEED co2. The spectrum of a saltwater MH bulb is not right for plants. Neither is the actinic bulb.
It's going to be on a 40 gallon breeder. The 20 long is my other planted tank. Looking to make a bigger one.