Hey guys, I was wondering if you could help me with a problem I am having. I have recently had a 15g planted tank that has really started to take off. I have fallen in love with the planted tank idea. So I have decided that I want to convert my african cichlid 75g into a planted tank :icon_eek:. I know its a huuuge tank and it prolly will be a big project but thats where the fun is.
So here is my dilemma :icon_roll
I have a regular dimension 75g that is 48" x 18" x 21" and this is what I need to purchase a light fixture for . I saw in this thread (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105774) that the T5HO Dual Lamps would be "High Light". Does anyone have opinions on this? Would that be enough light you suppose? Or do you think I would need to purchase a fixture with more lamps?
Also this is what I was looking at (http://aquaticlife.com/products/286) and was thinking of getting 2 or 1 lunar lamp in it with either 2 or 1 lunar bulb. The timer on this one will allow me to set which lights turn on when.
Where do you live that your electric rates are that high? Even if we assume you have 400w total, at 10 hours a day for 30 days = 120 kwh. Your electric company must be charging you near .50 kwh....eeek!
I have that 4x54 fixture that you originally mentioned.
It's a great fixture. The 4 bulbs are arranged in 2 banks of 2 that are individually controlled by the timers. That gives you a couple of advantages. First it gives you more flexibility over amount of light provided. Need higher light, run some overlap of all 4 bulbs mid day.
Second it lets you deliver light from different source locations over a larger spread. That lets you deliver light into more locations than you can from 2 bulbs, reducing shady spots and legginess in stems.
Third it lets you run different sets of bulbs. I used to have different colors...daylight bulbs that I'd run in the morning and pinker bulbs in the evening for a different, more subdued light in the evening.
I have one for sale in fact. Search the swap n shop. Still available.
mitch, that's a good fixture for your size of tank, and has the flexibility. The 6.5K bulbs are good.
Running all 3 bulbs together may be a touch heavy-duty and could invite some algae issues, but running just 2 bulbs for say, an 8 hour lighting period should be just fine, imo.
Ya exactly. I knew I diddnt want to have a 4 light fixture for these principles:
1. Money... The aquaticlife 4 light t5ho was much more expensive. I got this light with the 2 switches on it and 2 timers for $160 less than the 4 lamp. Thats HUGE.
2. Convenience. I knew I diddn't NEED more than 2 bulbs. However I got to thinking and was wondering what would happen if one day I did NEED an extra bulb? With this I will the ability to have the flexibility. Also I can run a Noon-ish burst for an hour or so if I really want to.
So I agree with you entirely tho about running all 3 would invite algae issues. But the price was great and the ability to be flexible really helped me decide on that fixture.
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