54W T5*2 for a 300L (80 us G, 65 uk G) low tech aquarium

nirc2 · 11-13-2012, 07:41 AM

hello

i bought the rio 300 of juwel last week, and i noticed it comes with two 54W T5.

WPG makes it only about 1.35, while i saw online that for low tech planted aquariums i need at least 1.5~2 WPG.

some places online say that the WPG rule does not apply to T5, and that 108W would be enough for a 80G tank, and some places say the opposite.

im confused

PaulG · 11-13-2012, 12:11 PM

Ignore WPG completely.

At 50cm depth I'd say it may be slightly too high for a low tech. If I had that amount of light I'd be thinking about raising it 80-90cm above the substrate.

**Hoppy** · 11-14-2012, 02:13 AM

Everything with T5 lights depends on the ballast and reflectors. There are some very low powered ballasts used on T5HO lights, and some very poor reflectors used on them too. But, there are also many very good ballasts, full powered, and very good reflectors. Can you take a photo of the reflector/bulb area of the light and let us see what we think of it? That won't tell us if the ballast is good or not, but it at least removes one of the unknowns.

nirc2 · 11-14-2012, 07:33 AM

well,
i would love to take a photo of it, but im still waiting for it to arrive from germany...

the aquarium is rio 300 by juwel, i guess you've heard about those already

--
i called the store yesterday and asked them about that issue.
they told me that my aquarium has 4*54W and not 2*54W, and that juwel doesnt make 2*54W hoods anymore.
this is kinda weird because both me and my wife can swear that they told us 2*54W when we ordered it last week...
we'll go there on saturday and check it out ourselves.

discusplantedtanklover · 11-21-2012, 05:57 PM

Hey, check out this website to see it can help you out http://www.theaquatools.com/aquasketcher

11-13-2012, 07:41 AM	#1
nirc2 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: earth Posts: 3	54W T5*2 for a 300L (80 us G, 65 uk G) low tech aquarium hello i bought the rio 300 of juwel last week, and i noticed it comes with two 54W T5. WPG makes it only about 1.35, while i saw online that for low tech planted aquariums i need at least 1.5~2 WPG. some places online say that the WPG rule does not apply to T5, and that 108W would be enough for a 80G tank, and some places say the opposite. im confused

11-13-2012, 12:11 PM	#2
PaulG Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: England Posts: 335	Ignore WPG completely. At 50cm depth I'd say it may be slightly too high for a low tech. If I had that amount of light I'd be thinking about raising it 80-90cm above the substrate. __________________ Fraternity of dirt no. 60. 29G NPT Riparium http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lo...-riparium.html 1ft cube. http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=193390 29G No tech redo http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...896&highlight=

11-14-2012, 02:13 AM	#3
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (54/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,215	Everything with T5 lights depends on the ballast and reflectors. There are some very low powered ballasts used on T5HO lights, and some very poor reflectors used on them too. But, there are also many very good ballasts, full powered, and very good reflectors. Can you take a photo of the reflector/bulb area of the light and let us see what we think of it? That won't tell us if the ballast is good or not, but it at least removes one of the unknowns. __________________ Hoppy

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11-14-2012, 07:33 AM	#4
nirc2 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: earth Posts: 3	well, i would love to take a photo of it, but im still waiting for it to arrive from germany... the aquarium is rio 300 by juwel, i guess you've heard about those already -- i called the store yesterday and asked them about that issue. they told me that my aquarium has 454W and not 254W, and that juwel doesnt make 254W hoods anymore. this is kinda weird because both me and my wife can swear that they told us 254W when we ordered it last week... we'll go there on saturday and check it out ourselves.

11-21-2012, 05:57 PM	#5
discusplantedtanklover Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: calgary, alberta Posts: 30	Hey, check out this website to see it can help you out http://www.theaquatools.com/aquasketcher