lighting for new tank 48x19x30 high

[toddbe]

I am jumping into the hobby again after a 15 year absence. Will be getting a u shaped 110 gallon aquarium. I want to heavily plant my freshwater aquarium. Is the Current USA 48" enough wattage?


48 inch Current USA SunDial T5 HO 4x54W w/ Timers & LED
Is there something else you might recommend. This unit looks good to me.

Thanks,
Todd

[lauraleellbp]

Welcome to TPT! Glad to have ya back!

Depending on the price on the fixture you found, a Catalina Solar 4x54 T5HO may be a better deal at $149 http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...b85b8082408f73 I have one and LOVE it.

[niko]

Glad to see you are looking at T5HO!

Whatever commercial fixture you decide to buy you will do yourself and your plants a big favour if you add Giesemann Midday T5HO bulbs.

--Nikolay

[epicfish]

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

Welcome to TPT! Glad to have ya back!

Depending on the price on the fixture you found, a Catalina Solar 4x54 T5HO may be a better deal at $149 http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...b85b8082408f73 I have one and LOVE it.

Originally Posted by niko

Glad to see you are looking at T5HO!

Whatever commercial fixture you decide to buy you will do yourself and your plants a big favour if you add Giesemann Midday T5HO bulbs.

--Nikolay

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Jeff5614]

Originally Posted by epicfish

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Totally agree.

[toddbe]

1- My local fish / plant store said for a 30" deep tank might need MH, and over 400w for a 48x20x30 u shaped room divider tank. Check out 4 fishtanks.com ocean vu u shaped 110g.

2- Do I need to stagger the lights with a 36'' light over a 48" tank?

3- Can I use a hood vs a reflector? My canopy seems to have plenty of room and I can add a fan.

4- Any more ideas?

Thanks!!
Todd

[lauraleellbp]

Would you link us to a pic/diagram of your tank? Google pulled a blank...

There's been a lot of debate and PAR studies between the advantages/disadvantages between MH and T5HO.

My own personal choice has been T5HO because of both heat and cost factors. If you get a T5HO setup with good reflectors, the lighting at deep tank levels has been tested to at least meet if not exceed MH lighting, largely due to light point of origin and shadowing issues. (A MH bulb is typically no larger than 8" versus T5HO bulbs spanning the entire tank.)

I definitely would not try and mount MH fixtures inside a canopy- that's asking for serious heat issues and I doubt fans could compensate enough.

Reflectors are the highly polished piece of metal that are mounted behind the bulb to reflect the light into the tank.

T5HO retrofits would work well, and you mount the reflectors inside a canopy.

Yes, you'll want to give the tank as even light distribution as possible, so stagger the bulbs if that's what will give you the best results.

[toddbe]

I sent you a private message with 4fishtank.com . On page 12, ocean vu U shaped 110g. Ok, lets rule out MH.

Can I put a 48" retrofit in my canopy?

Or will only a 36" fit?

What wattage?

Thanks,
Todd

[NyteBlade]

I have 2 power compact fixtures blazing over my 29 and 20 gallon. Power compacts seem to be cheap and generally efficient. I've looked into buying a dream 75 gallon tank at some point, and I think T5HO would be the way to go if it's within your budget.

I'd personally go with the T5HO lights. I've had pretty good luck with the Current lights (the fans tend to be loud). However, based on everything I've read, T5HO's offer more "light" per watt then any other light, and are incredibly power efficient. If I was buying my tank today, that's what I'd go with.

Someone also told me that T5HO's make the tank depth nearly inconsequential. I have no idea whether that's true or not.

110 gallons with 54x4 lighting would be ~1.96 wpg. I've never actually seen a T5HO in person, but I'm guessing you'd be in the medium-high light range.

[lauraleellbp]

I'll post the same here I PM'd ya back... You may need to wait till the canopy arrives and measure the inside to see whether or not 48" fixtures will fit. You may need to go with a mix of 48" and 36", but depends on the measurements.

Wattage is standardized by bulb length. 48" T5HO bulbs are always 54watts.

I run no more than 108 watts of T5HO at a time over my 90gal. But my tank is also a low-light setup with no CO2. I personally wouldn't run more than 4x54 over this tank, though some will encourage 6 bulbs... I personally think you should be able to grow just about anything with 4 once you get the CO2 and ferts regulated well.

[jjp2]

This is from their light sizing guide... http://4fishtank.com/lighting%20choose%20chart.xls


Tank - OV 110 U-shape room divider
Dimensions - 48x18x30 (48x20x180 is the 120)
Fitting length - 36" ~ 45"
Freshwater fish only -fluorescent 60 ~ 150w
Freshwater fish and plansts - fluorescent 120 ~ 260w
Freshwater densely planted - fluorescent 220 ~ 330w
Salt water fish only - fluorescent 60 ~ 150w
salt water fish and live rock - fluorescent 120 ~ 260w
corals moderate lighting - fluorescent 220 ~ 480w
corals intense lighting - metal halide 430 ~ 800w


What this appears to mean, is that the U shape will accept a 36 inch fixture on the edges and a 45 inch fixture in the middle. It is not stated how wide that middle fixture can be, as on side will be the curve.

Best bet is to go with 36 inch fixtures and stagger them to cover the area.

Looks like a very nice tank, stand and canopy.

[toddbe]

Is a hood vs a retrofit OK? Think I'll get a 8x39 + moonlights if i can find that configuration. Any suggestions of what manufacturer to use?

[jjp2]

The hood unit would fit withing the canopy. The retrofit would screw typically do the lid of the canopy. I would go with the catalina. I think this 6 bulb fixture will be more than enough. http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/prod...oducts_id=1418

Also, get the fans for the hood and canopy as they will provide air flow to allow the bulbs to remain cool and perform better.

You likely would do well with a 4 bulb fixture.