HELP!!! 30H Lighting

melonz · 09-20-2008, 11:19 PM

Need help on deciding what kind of light to use on my 30H. The dimensions are 24"x12"x24". I have my eyes on a 250w mh HQI fixture (found a good deal on on) but not sure whether its too much light or not to penetrate through the deepness of the tank. The substrate is about 3"-4" deep. I have pressurized co2 ready for this tank, and if anything will go with ferts if needed. Help needed! Thanks!

**epicfish** · 09-20-2008, 11:21 PM

250W is too much light.

4x24W T5HO w/ individual reflectors is my suggestion.

melonz · 09-20-2008, 11:42 PM

Yeah, figured it was too much, but for the price I had to ask. lol. So what would you recommend that isn't too pricey for T5HO? I've done some searching on this lighting, but they all seem too be wayy too much.

**epicfish** · 09-20-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melonz

Yeah, figured it was too much, but for the price I had to ask. lol. So what would you recommend that isn't too pricey for T5HO? I've done some searching on this lighting, but they all seem too be wayy too much.

Good question.

How much was that 250W MH? Do you have a canopy right now? What's your budget?

melonz · 09-21-2008, 12:54 AM

The 250W MH is $150, and no canopy. I was planning to mount the MH fixture on the ceiling or a conduit pipe. I'm gonna say my budge would be maybe up to $200, but something cheaper would be nice. Thanks for your help epic

melonz · 09-21-2008, 12:56 AM

Oh yeah, forgot to mention the MH fixture has 2x24w T5HO bulbs, on in the front and the other in the back. That's a lot of wattageee xD

**lauraleellbp** · 09-21-2008, 12:59 AM

You only need 1 of those 24watt T5HO bulbs to have a high light 20gal. 2 if you want to run a quick "noon burst." Everything else will just evaporate water and grow an algae farm.

**epicfish** · 09-21-2008, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melonz

Oh yeah, forgot to mention the MH fixture has 2x24w T5HO bulbs, on in the front and the other in the back. That's a lot of wattageee xD

Wow, that's a nice fixture.

So it's 250W MH + 2x24W T5 only? Or 2x24W T5HO in the front and then 2x24W T5HO in the back?

melonz · 09-21-2008, 01:05 AM

Its 250W MH HQI + T5HO 24W one in the front and one in the back back. It is a nice fixture, but like you said its a lot of light or I can say overkill!! do you think 150w MH would be better for the height or T5HO over the MH

**epicfish** · 09-21-2008, 01:08 AM

http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-...t-CU01120.html

Something like that will be nice over your tank. Make sure it has individual reflectors...I'm pretty sure it does.

melonz · 09-21-2008, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

You only need 1 of those 24watt T5HO bulbs to have a high light 20gal. 2 if you want to run a quick "noon burst." Everything else will just evaporate water and grow an algae farm.

Its a 30 gallon high, so 2x24w T5HO would be good for (low, med, high light plants)? I'm leaning towards the med-high lighted plants so what would you think?

melonz · 09-21-2008, 01:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epicfish

http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-...t-CU01120.html

Something like that will be nice over your tank. Make sure it has individual reflectors...I'm pretty sure it does.

Hrmmzz.. I might get that if there's no other input. I read from the other thread that it has individual reflectors. http://ikescurrent.blogspot.com/

**epicfish** · 09-21-2008, 01:20 AM

Oh, well, there it is.

You can check out the Sunlight Supply New Wave fixtures people use for horticulture too. Cheaper, but I'm not sure those have individual reflectors.

A problem with the Nova Extreme fixtures are that the fans are loud. Search for it on this forum. There was a recent post.

melonz · 09-21-2008, 01:26 AM

Well I think I'm going with the Current USA Nova Extreme Fixture, since I've read that T5HO are great because of the individual reflectors. I don't want to get the sunlight fixture and it ends up being something I didn't want lol. And about the fan, I'm gonna go read around about it. Thank you so much for your help epic!

Any other help or input would be greatly appreciated! This is what I like about this forum, lots of help.

**epicfish** · 09-21-2008, 01:30 AM

Depending how heavily your tank is planted, run 2x24W the entire photoperiod and run the other 2x24W accordingly. Heavily planted = 4x24W for the entire period. Lightly planted = 2x24W the entire period + other 2x24W for 5 hours maybe, etc.

09-20-2008, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
melonz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 87	HELP!!! 30H Lighting Need help on deciding what kind of light to use on my 30H. The dimensions are 24"x12"x24". I have my eyes on a 250w mh HQI fixture (found a good deal on on) but not sure whether its too much light or not to penetrate through the deepness of the tank. The substrate is about 3"-4" deep. I have pressurized co2 ready for this tank, and if anything will go with ferts if needed. Help needed! Thanks!

09-21-2008, 12:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 8,786	You only need 1 of those 24watt T5HO bulbs to have a high light 20gal. 2 if you want to run a quick "noon burst." Everything else will just evaporate water and grow an algae farm. __________________ Laura Lee; 29gal, 46gal,and 90gal FW planted in progress- see my journal at http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

09-20-2008, 11:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
epicfish Planted Tank n00b (View User Tanks) PTrader: (89) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 7,359	250W is too much light. 4x24W T5HO w/ individual reflectors is my suggestion.

09-20-2008, 11:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
melonz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 87	Yeah, figured it was too much, but for the price I had to ask. lol. So what would you recommend that isn't too pricey for T5HO? I've done some searching on this lighting, but they all seem too be wayy too much.

09-21-2008, 12:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
melonz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 87	The 250W MH is $150, and no canopy. I was planning to mount the MH fixture on the ceiling or a conduit pipe. I'm gonna say my budge would be maybe up to $200, but something cheaper would be nice. Thanks for your help epic

09-21-2008, 12:56 AM	#6 (permalink)
melonz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 87	Oh yeah, forgot to mention the MH fixture has 2x24w T5HO bulbs, on in the front and the other in the back. That's a lot of wattageee xD

09-21-2008, 01:05 AM	#9 (permalink)
melonz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 87	Its 250W MH HQI + T5HO 24W one in the front and one in the back back. It is a nice fixture, but like you said its a lot of light or I can say overkill!! do you think 150w MH would be better for the height or T5HO over the MH

09-21-2008, 01:08 AM	#10 (permalink)
epicfish Planted Tank n00b (View User Tanks) PTrader: (89) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 7,359	http://www.petstore.com/ps_ViewItem-...t-CU01120.html Something like that will be nice over your tank. Make sure it has individual reflectors...I'm pretty sure it does.

09-21-2008, 01:20 AM	#13 (permalink)
epicfish Planted Tank n00b (View User Tanks) PTrader: (89) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 7,359	Oh, well, there it is. You can check out the Sunlight Supply New Wave fixtures people use for horticulture too. Cheaper, but I'm not sure those have individual reflectors. A problem with the Nova Extreme fixtures are that the fans are loud. Search for it on this forum. There was a recent post.

09-21-2008, 01:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
melonz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 87	Well I think I'm going with the Current USA Nova Extreme Fixture, since I've read that T5HO are great because of the individual reflectors. I don't want to get the sunlight fixture and it ends up being something I didn't want lol. And about the fan, I'm gonna go read around about it. Thank you so much for your help epic! Any other help or input would be greatly appreciated! This is what I like about this forum, lots of help.

09-21-2008, 01:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
epicfish Planted Tank n00b (View User Tanks) PTrader: (89) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 7,359	Depending how heavily your tank is planted, run 2x24W the entire photoperiod and run the other 2x24W accordingly. Heavily planted = 4x24W for the entire period. Lightly planted = 2x24W the entire period + other 2x24W for 5 hours maybe, etc.

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements