[rmtsaucedo]

So recently acquired a 20gal tall tank. I am wondering which lights I should use out of the 2 I have.

It came with a T8 fixture with a T8 floramax bulb.
--at one time I had a single T8 fixture with these bulbs for my 55 gal and this did nothing for my plants...so I am reluctant to keep it.

--after those T8 floramax bulbs were ineffective I made some DIY shop lights with 6500K cfl sylvania bulbs with white reflectors until I got my T5. They were a little better.

Anyway, I still have the 2 DIY 6500K shop lights... but I don't want to grow algae in my tank or over work my plants...I just want them to stay alive and not die out.

Should I stick with the T8 floramax or the DIY shop lights? If the shop lights should I use 1 light or both?

This tank is going to be a shrimp tank once it is cycled. It is low tech, no CO2, I have planted spiral val, crypt wendtii green, java moss, christmas moss, sunset hygro, water wysteria, marimo ball, crypt parva, fissidens and one one other plant I am not sure of...looks like a val of some sort...but has a stem... It is sand capped soil...I plan to dose flourish excel.

Thanks so much for your advice. I am still pretty new to this planted tank stuff but working on it. I think planted tanks are beautiful.

 

[rmtsaucedo]

awww...i'm sad no one has advised me. I'm thinking the best thing to do would be to go shopping tomorrow for a new t5. I tried to use the 6500K shop lights but they didn't fit too well on the tank...I would have to get new glass cut and it will be more trouble than its worth. :/

 

[cclaeys]

low light plants typically dont grow too fast either...doesnt mean they aren't healthy. I wouldn't get too crazy with lights or excel if you want a shrimp tank, lots of light and slow growing non nutrient uptaking plants sounds like a mess to me. I would get rid of the floramax and find a 6500k, if the fixture looks like crap that is kinda irritating too though.