Lighting a 55 gallon no CO2

Coyle · 08-09-2010, 05:50 AM

I've been reading through pages and pages of other threads, slowly piecing things together, but I figured I'd post and get some advice specific to me.

Background Info: I'm starting up a 55 gallon planted tank, I'm planning on having some fish (small schooling fish, either 1 or several angels, BN plecos). I'd like to do medium-low plants (swords, dwarf sag, wisteria, java fern, a few others), but with good solid growth and some flexibility in adding species. I will be dosing RootMedic ferts, but I'm not planning on any CO2, at least in the near future (cost prohibitive). Substrate will be Turface or PFS (hopefully Turface).

My question is what should I do about lighting. I just have the stock 2x15w T8s right now, I'm planning on going to T5s. My budget is pretty low, I just can't go much over $60 at all. I'm leaning heavily towards the Odyssea 2x54w, as I should always have the option of plenty of light, and it falls within my price range. However, I'm concerned about this being too much light without CO2. I may be able to just run one bulb in it? I also ran across this 2x28w, which seems like more what my tank might need, but I don't like paying more for less light... Also, it isn't a brand I've heard of (vs. Odyssea which has a checkered reputation, but vouched for by some). My third option is to put together something from Home Depot, but I'm not a huge DIY person, and I want my solution to look nice (it's a display tank in a church). So, what should I do?

Thanks for any input!

P.S. I know the bulbs that come with these aren't ideal, I'm hoping I could somehow manage to get them to give me a 6,700K instead of the actinic blue...

sewingalot · 08-09-2010, 08:14 AM

The Odyssea 2 x 54 watt is T5HO. That is way too much light for no co2.

VadimShevchuk · 08-09-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sewingalot

The Odyssea 2 x 54 watt is T5HO. That is way too much light for no co2.

maybe it will be okay, their bulbs and reflectors are crap

Coyle · 08-09-2010, 01:57 PM

Quote:

maybe it will be okay, their bulbs and reflectors are crap

Lol, yeah I thought of that, thought it might work in my favor.

I understand that 108w of T5HO would be way too much for not having CO2, but is running one bulb in that fixture a possibility?
On the one hand, I just don't want to back myself into a corner, as I may want to add CO2 a year down the road or so. On the other hand, I need to get something that will work well for me now, so I still have a healthy tank (and interest) in a year.

Coyle · 08-09-2010, 02:49 PM

After looking around more in the low-tech forum, it looks like this 2x T5NO Coralife might be the way to go. Thoughts?

VadimShevchuk · 08-09-2010, 03:14 PM

should be good. Alot of people use those fixtures on low tech tanks.

08-09-2010, 05:50 AM	#1
Coyle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Greenville, IL Posts: 9	Lighting a 55 gallon no CO2 I've been reading through pages and pages of other threads, slowly piecing things together, but I figured I'd post and get some advice specific to me. Background Info: I'm starting up a 55 gallon planted tank, I'm planning on having some fish (small schooling fish, either 1 or several angels, BN plecos). I'd like to do medium-low plants (swords, dwarf sag, wisteria, java fern, a few others), but with good solid growth and some flexibility in adding species. I will be dosing RootMedic ferts, but I'm not planning on any CO2, at least in the near future (cost prohibitive). Substrate will be Turface or PFS (hopefully Turface). My question is what should I do about lighting. I just have the stock 2x15w T8s right now, I'm planning on going to T5s. My budget is pretty low, I just can't go much over $60 at all. I'm leaning heavily towards the Odyssea 2x54w, as I should always have the option of plenty of light, and it falls within my price range. However, I'm concerned about this being too much light without CO2. I may be able to just run one bulb in it? I also ran across this 2x28w, which seems like more what my tank might need, but I don't like paying more for less light... Also, it isn't a brand I've heard of (vs. Odyssea which has a checkered reputation, but vouched for by some). My third option is to put together something from Home Depot, but I'm not a huge DIY person, and I want my solution to look nice (it's a display tank in a church). So, what should I do? Thanks for any input! P.S. I know the bulbs that come with these aren't ideal, I'm hoping I could somehow manage to get them to give me a 6,700K instead of the actinic blue...

08-09-2010, 08:14 AM	#2
sewingalot I ♥ BBA! (View User Tanks) PTrader: (112/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: WV Posts: 12,769	The Odyssea 2 x 54 watt is T5HO. That is way too much light for no co2. __________________ Without Algae, death of mankind would be inevitable. 55 gallon journal

08-09-2010, 03:14 PM	#6
VadimShevchuk Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Cortland NY Posts: 1,465	should be good. Alot of people use those fixtures on low tech tanks. __________________ 37 Gallon 90 Gallon Mbuna Eheim Pimp #416

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08-09-2010, 02:49 PM	#5
Coyle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Greenville, IL Posts: 9	After looking around more in the low-tech forum, it looks like this 2x T5NO Coralife might be the way to go. Thoughts?