lighting

Fish Breeder · 02-27-2003, 06:12 AM

I have a 125 gal Fresh Water Tanks and am getting ready to add 2 M/H lights for the plants. My ? is this.
Is 2 400 watt 4000K bulbs
enough for my tank

Rex Grigg · 02-27-2003, 12:49 PM

More than enough light. You might want to get a higher color temp though. Your algae will love you for it. 6.4 watts per gallon is a hell of a lot of light. You would be better off with a couple of 150 or 175 watt bulbs.

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 02-27-2003, 01:15 PM

You'd also get better dispersion with, say, three 175w MH's. And you'd still have 4.3 watts per gallon, which is a excellent amount of light for a tank that size.

Fish Breeder · 02-27-2003, 04:21 PM

My balists are 175s so I am going to have to stick with the 175 M/H what if I just used one light in the middle of the tank would that work or would that make the ends of the tank kinda low on light

will post a picture of my light setup later if anyone wants to see it and have a better idea of what I am using

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 02-27-2003, 05:14 PM

If yours is the conventional 6 foot long 125 gallon all-glass aquarium, then you're definitely not going to be able to get away with a single light, no matter what the size. One MH is generally used to illuminate two feet of tank width. If you already have a 175, simply add two more and that would be perfect.

Fish Breeder · 02-28-2003, 03:44 AM

I have 2 175s on my 125 gal tank sorry for all the ? but I am new to the live plant tank thing so any and all info is welcome
also I think before I siad 2 400 watt M/H
But they are 2 175s right now with 10000 K and am looking at going to two 175 40000K
sorry for the mix up

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 02-28-2003, 04:15 PM

Ok so you've already got the two 175 watt Metal Halides with bulbs that have a color temperature of 10,000K. You want to replace these with bulbs of the same wattage (175w) but a higher color temperature (40,000K)?
If that's what you're asking, I definitely do not think that is a good idea. While plants do rely heavily on blue light for plant growth, they also need strong output in the red are of the spectrum. I'd actually look at bulbs in the 5000K - 6700K region, but if yours are still working, I wouldnt' change a thing. Next bulb change you can try a lower color temperature.

Fish Breeder · 02-28-2003, 11:12 PM

ok thats what I thought I need a lower k and same 175w
is it normal for the blubs to blink like a strob light but super fast
or are they on there way out ?

02-27-2003, 01:15 PM	#3
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	You'd also get better dispersion with, say, three 175w MH's. And you'd still have 4.3 watts per gallon, which is a excellent amount of light for a tank that size. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

02-27-2003, 05:14 PM	#5
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	If yours is the conventional 6 foot long 125 gallon all-glass aquarium, then you're definitely not going to be able to get away with a single light, no matter what the size. One MH is generally used to illuminate two feet of tank width. If you already have a 175, simply add two more and that would be perfect. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

02-28-2003, 04:15 PM	#7
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	Ok so you've already got the two 175 watt Metal Halides with bulbs that have a color temperature of 10,000K. You want to replace these with bulbs of the same wattage (175w) but a higher color temperature (40,000K)? If that's what you're asking, I definitely do not think that is a good idea. While plants do rely heavily on blue light for plant growth, they also need strong output in the red are of the spectrum. I'd actually look at bulbs in the 5000K - 6700K region, but if yours are still working, I wouldnt' change a thing. Next bulb change you can try a lower color temperature. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

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02-27-2003, 06:12 AM	#1
Fish Breeder Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 12	I have a 125 gal Fresh Water Tanks and am getting ready to add 2 M/H lights for the plants. My ? is this. Is 2 400 watt 4000K bulbs enough for my tank

02-27-2003, 12:49 PM	#2
Rex Grigg Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (65/100%) Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Portland Orygun Posts: 9,600	More than enough light. You might want to get a higher color temp though. Your algae will love you for it. 6.4 watts per gallon is a hell of a lot of light. You would be better off with a couple of 150 or 175 watt bulbs.

02-27-2003, 04:21 PM	#4
Fish Breeder Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 12	My balists are 175s so I am going to have to stick with the 175 M/H what if I just used one light in the middle of the tank would that work or would that make the ends of the tank kinda low on light will post a picture of my light setup later if anyone wants to see it and have a better idea of what I am using

02-28-2003, 03:44 AM	#6
Fish Breeder Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 12	I have 2 175s on my 125 gal tank sorry for all the ? but I am new to the live plant tank thing so any and all info is welcome also I think before I siad 2 400 watt M/H But they are 2 175s right now with 10000 K and am looking at going to two 175 40000K sorry for the mix up

02-28-2003, 11:12 PM	#8
Fish Breeder Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Idaho Posts: 12	ok thats what I thought I need a lower k and same 175w is it normal for the blubs to blink like a strob light but super fast or are they on there way out ?