The Planted Tank Forum - light choice - please let me know before I purchase it

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- - light choice - please let me know before I purchase it (http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=6098)

Hi

I think I decided to go with Current USA 48" Deluxe Power Compact Fan Cooled Hood with Moon-Lite. It is brand new and in the box!! It is the Brand New Orbitz Model! This company is the company that has taken over the Custom Sea Life Line!
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But a few questions are:

1) My tank is a 55 gallon tank and the lighintg unite I am going to get has 260 Watts of light but 2 are 10,000K Daylight Bulbs and 2 Actinic Bulbs.
Is that to much wattage for a 55 gallon tank? I do want it a bit more than semi planted...

2) Actinic Bulbs are the blue bulbs that can be used for a dusk to dawn effect correct?

3) Will this light allow to be put on timers I would buy from say Lowes to make each pair of lights go on at a certain time?

If you do not recommend this light please recommend me a good one for a 55 gallon planted tank, but I want a light to be able to do a dusk to dawn effect of some sort also

Thanks

Acintic bulbs are very blue and I've heard they don't do much for plants. Also, assuming you get 4 daylights in there, that will be a ton of light. You will definitely have to inject CO2 if you go with that much light.

I personally would go with 2 x 55 watts over your tank, but it's your decision.

Why if I get 4 day lights would I need CO2 for sure?

Also if I go with the 2 Acitic (blue) lights and 2 day lights I can hten set them on timers which will creat the dusk to dawn effect correct?

And I will still have 2 65 W daylight bulbs producing 130 W of lights for plants in a 55 gall

I would buy the 260w incase you want to have a high light, heavily planted tank in the future.

If you really want VERY high light plants then yes get 260 watts. If not I think 2 x 65 for a total of 130 would be plenty. That will give you close to 3 wpg (actual volume of water) of power compact light! I would say even with that you will probably want to add CO2.

I think only VERY high light plants won't be able to grow with that light. If it was me I would spend the extra money saved from not buying 2 additional bulbs and buy something else useful, pressurized co2 maybe?