Lighting for 4 tanks

reddstagg · 02-03-2004, 06:23 AM

Ive been lurking for a year or so now... and had no real reason to post. After starting a planted tank i now have a reason.

Im getting 2 3ft/2ft/1ft tanks... large foot print but rather shallow.

I also have 2 other tanks one 3ft/18'/18' thats running 2 30w power-glo and another 3ft/16'/18' thats running 1 30w aquaglo. (only low light plants)

In the 2 new tanks im just wondering what sort of lighting i should be looking at... i was thinking about 4 compact fluros (Im in australia... MH are mega expensive...compact fluros or fluros are only real option) over each tank...the tanks will be used to raise java fern plantlets.. java moss ... glosso ... ricca ... chain swords.
They will also be used to breed fish.

However i dont fully understand ballasts... would i need them? if so what size?

Can anyone explain how i would go about doing this... or point me in some direction.

Dean

Wasserpest · 02-03-2004, 04:36 PM

Hi Dean,

All flavors of fluorescent bulbs need ballasts. Some of them, like the little spiral shaped compacts, have them built into their base. Most of them have ballasts separately in some sort of fixture.

It is really up to you if you want to use regular fluorescents or power compacts... both can be used. Regular fluorescents are cheaper, run cooler, and light evenly, while power compacts have higher wattages in a smaller form factor, being able to penetrate even tall tanks with lots of light.

NFish · 02-03-2004, 07:46 PM

You can just get a 96 watt Compact Flourescent light on there (one on each tank). That will give you more than 2 watt per gallon and that is plenty since your tank is only 12 inches tall. Check out ahsupply.com for their lighting kits. I think you can probably get them to ship to Australia.

Alternately you can use regular fluorescents. You need about 2 to 3 + watts per gallon. You have about 45 U.S. gallons in each tank, minus about 5 gallons or so for substrate, rocks, decorations, plants. So atleast 80 watts over each tank.

Hope that helps.

NFish

reddstagg · 02-04-2004, 09:50 PM

After spending all day yesterday reading up on ballasts, compact fluros, color temps and the like i have a better understand. Can you get 96w compact fluros? thats very cool... i sorta need to get the tanks up to 3 or 4 wpg. so i might get 2 96w CF.... plus im going to go to a local hydroponics store and get some reflecters and ferts. I think i should be pretty right.

Ill set up a thread in the photo album of the construction on the rack and setting up lighting and a continuing tank dairy.

02-03-2004, 04:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Wasserpest Born to be mild (View User Tanks) PTrader: (74/100%) Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Monterey, CA Posts: 10,915	Hi Dean, All flavors of fluorescent bulbs need ballasts. Some of them, like the little spiral shaped compacts, have them built into their base. Most of them have ballasts separately in some sort of fixture. It is really up to you if you want to use regular fluorescents or power compacts... both can be used. Regular fluorescents are cheaper, run cooler, and light evenly, while power compacts have higher wattages in a smaller form factor, being able to penetrate even tall tanks with lots of light. __________________ All my tanks Cheap Autodosing Cheap Water Change Cheap Filter Acrylic Filter Pipes The Wasser-Controller

02-03-2004, 07:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
NFish Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Colorado, USA, North America, Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 235	You can just get a 96 watt Compact Flourescent light on there (one on each tank). That will give you more than 2 watt per gallon and that is plenty since your tank is only 12 inches tall. Check out ahsupply.com for their lighting kits. I think you can probably get them to ship to Australia. Alternately you can use regular fluorescents. You need about 2 to 3 + watts per gallon. You have about 45 U.S. gallons in each tank, minus about 5 gallons or so for substrate, rocks, decorations, plants. So atleast 80 watts over each tank. Hope that helps. NFish __________________ LIFE IS GOOD, ETERNAL LIFE IS BETTER John 3:16 Romans 10:9

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02-03-2004, 06:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
reddstagg Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 11	Ive been lurking for a year or so now... and had no real reason to post. After starting a planted tank i now have a reason. Im getting 2 3ft/2ft/1ft tanks... large foot print but rather shallow. I also have 2 other tanks one 3ft/18'/18' thats running 2 30w power-glo and another 3ft/16'/18' thats running 1 30w aquaglo. (only low light plants) In the 2 new tanks im just wondering what sort of lighting i should be looking at... i was thinking about 4 compact fluros (Im in australia... MH are mega expensive...compact fluros or fluros are only real option) over each tank...the tanks will be used to raise java fern plantlets.. java moss ... glosso ... ricca ... chain swords. They will also be used to breed fish. However i dont fully understand ballasts... would i need them? if so what size? Can anyone explain how i would go about doing this... or point me in some direction. Dean

02-04-2004, 09:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
reddstagg Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 11	After spending all day yesterday reading up on ballasts, compact fluros, color temps and the like i have a better understand. Can you get 96w compact fluros? thats very cool... i sorta need to get the tanks up to 3 or 4 wpg. so i might get 2 96w CF.... plus im going to go to a local hydroponics store and get some reflecters and ferts. I think i should be pretty right. Ill set up a thread in the photo album of the construction on the rack and setting up lighting and a continuing tank dairy.

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