What kind of bulbs would be best?

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HybridHerp

HybridHerp

Fire Eel
MFK Member
May 18, 2012
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New York
Hey guys, this is my first ever post on any online forum, so please excuse my inexperience :P

I'm currently looking for a new light for my 75 gallon tank, planted with some Java Fern, Crypts, Banana Plants, Red Tiger Lotus, Lace Plant, Crinum Calamistratum and an incredibly small Rose Sword.

I'm probably about to buy a 4x54W HO T5 and was wondering what mixture of bulbs I should use. I'm planning on running only 2 bulbs for most of the day, and running all 4 for a few hours during the middle of the lighting period.

Should I go with 2 plant grow bulbs and 2 10K bulbs or 2 65K, 2 10K, or 2 plant grow and 2 65K?
Thanks for looking :)
 
HybridHerp said:
Hey guys, this is my first ever post on any online forum, so please excuse my inexperience :P

75 gallon tank, planted with some Java Fern, Crypts, Banana Plants, Red Tiger Lotus, Lace Plant, Crinum Calamistratum and an incredibly small Rose Sword.

4x54W HO T5 and was wondering what mixture of bulbs I should use. I'm planning on running only 2 bulbs for most of the day, and running all 4 for a few hours during the middle of the lighting period.

Should I go with 2 plant grow bulbs and 2 10K bulbs or 2 65K, 2 10K, or 2 plant grow and 2 65K?
Thanks for looking :)
Click to expand...

BUDDY you're going to be growing MORE Algae then plants with this setup if Co2 isnt in place.

Look at this chartView attachment 784921


Java Fern = EAST
Crypts = Most are easy
Banana Plants = Require good light
Red Tiger Lotus = east
Crinum Calamistratum = Requires good HIGH light and very good flow-they are such slow growers they develop BBA

Decide if Co2 and a HighTech System with dosing ferts is what you want to do. If you do, HOLD out on the light and drop that money on a co2 system.

What are you planning on using as Substrate?

I hope I am not to late...lol


edit: I like 6500 bulbs, but that's just me
 
you're not yet too late lol
I've looked at that chart before, I already have the tank set up, minus the lighting of course
I've been dosing some ferts but I am planning on going with a better, stricter method
as far as a co2 system, I've seen high light tanks done without co2, but still with good substrate and good fertilizing regimes (I'm using Eco-Complete along with root tabs and whatever else I find, want to be ordering more legit liquid ferts and supplements as well too)
I want to try this without co2 first, and if the time comes when I want to add it I will
and I do want some more advanced plants, I just haven't actually bought them yet or know fully what I want to do
I figure this is going to require some playing around and tweaking, ya know?
if it helps any, I also plan on getting some floating plants, which would help if I end up with a bit too much algae anyways but I've been interested in Amazon Frogbit regardless anyways
 
I think I'll go with the 6500 bulbs for now though, and I'll keep in mind what you've said about algae
funny thing I noticed in a different tank I have though, there was a tone of black beard algae taking over and I was getting kinda worried, but then I got a new light bulb (it was in need of replacing) and the black beard algae disappeared in under a week, which i thought was cool lol
 
Are you planning on raising the light fixture?

Frogbit is a good solution.

I would load this tank up with a BUTT LOAD of plant, fast growers. Actually I would also recommend a water-sprite, it will eat up excess nutrients if they arise.

Out of curiosity what is the filtration?
 
2 ehiem 2217
my water changes vary depending on life but I try for a minimum of once a week, though its more like 2-3 times a week just cause I can (or if I want to move things around without my arm overflowing the tank) I change roughly 20% when I do them frequently and when I have to wait a week (or more:() I will do a nice big water change...less than 50% if I can help it
back when I was running this as a fish only tank I did weekly 50% with no problems at all
I'm not sure if water-sprite would work for me, only because of the fact that the rainbow cichlids I have in there utterly destroyed my Wisteria
the lighting fixture is going to be held up by legs so it would be about 4 inches above the tank

as far as fast growing plants go, I want to add a ton of Jungle Val, maybe mix and match it with some corkscrew val as well or something, I want to see if my fish will let me attempt dwarf hair grass or micro swords or something of that nature, and I'm wanting to throw in some Giant Hygro (not sure what variety yet)
 
Vals aren't fast growing at all..WELL in the beginning they arent. It takes them some time to acclimate to the new setting but once they do ..BAMN. Make sure you give them plenty of Nitrates. I actually prefer Italian over jungle, jungle is so thick, Italians are thin.

The Crinum Calamistratum is a tough plant - 1st they have the Acclimation issue, then if there isnt good flow directly on them, BBA sets up shop. They do require high light.

Hair grass (DHG) is fun, just make sure you buy enough and break it out and spread it out. If you have some shady areas, always throw in some Anubias.

Got any WOOD you're throwing in there
 
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