What light to get?

[PhilipReece]

Hello, I'm redesigning my 55 gallon Planted tank and I need a new light. My old one provided about 1 watt per gallon and plants struggled to grow. I'm looking for support on what type of new light to buy, especially some high output fixtures.
I was thinking one of these...
http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Dou...pr_product_top

Any Ideas? Thanks!

[Hoppy]

I assume your old light is a one bulb T5HO? Or is it a two bulb T5NO, perhaps a Coralife? The number of watts the light fixure uses has nothing to do with how much light you get from it.

The Marineland Double Bright LED light will give you low medium light, around 40-50 micromols of PAR. It may not cover the whole substrate very uniformly, but I think it will be adequate.

[PhilipReece]

Thanks for answering! I've got a coralife 2 bulb fixture, each bulb is I think... about 22 watts? Anyway, thanks for clarifying that for me... The light needs are very complicated
I'll check it out, thanks again!

[Hoppy]

That Coralife light is giving you about 15 micromols of PAR, barely enough for a non-CO2, low tech tank. A one bulb T5HO light, like http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/stor...oducts_id=1837 will give you around 60 micromols of PAR with the light right at the top of the tank, or about 50 if you use the feet for the light. That is enough that using CO2 is almost necessary to avoid algae.

[PhilipReece]

That would work? Fantastic! Does it come with bulbs? And if it doesn't, do you suggest any special kinds?

[Hoppy]

You choose the bulb you want - they come with a bulb.

[PhilipReece]

Thanks very much for your help. I have one more question--- It offers me the 10k 65k or Plant gro. Should I take the plant gro? Seems like the obvious choice, but what would I know, haha. Thanks in advance

[Hoppy]

The color temperature bulb that makes the tank look good to you is the one to pick. Many of us like the 10000K bulbs, many like the 6500K bulbs, but I don't recall anyone wanting to use just the plant gro bulbs.