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help with upgrading light fixture

1716 Views 2 Replies 2 Participants Last post by  pinking91, 
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im planning to go med-high tech on my 30 gallon. the tank will have pressurized co2 injection. the dimensions are close to a 20 gal long but taller. so basically your average 30 gal tank. right now i have a 30in. 2x24 t5ho nova extreme light fixture over it. thats about 1.6 wpg. i was thinking about upgrading to 2 2x18 watts coralife fixtures, giving me a total of 72 watts, that 2.4 wpg. or should i go with the 65 watts compact bulb fixture also by coralife? i read that bulb intensity should also be counted as a factor when selecting a light fixture. the 2x18 fixture gives me only 18 watts of "intensity," in my opinion is not as bright as 65 watts compact bulb which gives me 65 watts of "intensity". i was also thinking about the 2x65 watts compact bulb fixture, a total of 130watts, that coralife offers but im thinking thats too much light. plus its going to be hard for me to find the right ballance. any sugestions will help
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I would just keep the lighting you have and add pressurized CO2. Unless the reflectors in your fixture are non-existent or garbage you have plenty of light intensity for a "med-tech" tank. Moderate levels of light make it way easier to have a successful planted tank. At the very least add pressurized CO2, get your fert dosing in order and give it a couple of months.

The WPG rule is not applicable to anything other than T8 or T12 lighting applying the same rule to T5HO lighting just gets people into trouble. For best results focus on CO2 not light.
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captain_bu said:
I would just keep the lighting you have and add pressurized CO2. Unless the reflectors in your fixture are non-existent or garbage you have plenty of light intensity for a "med-tech" tank. Moderate levels of light make it way easier to have a successful planted tank. At the very least add pressurized CO2, get your fert dosing in order and give it a couple of months.

The WPG rule is not applicable to anything other than T8 or T12 lighting applying the same rule to T5HO lighting just gets people into trouble. For best results focus on CO2 not light.
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good point. ok i guess ill try it out for awhile to c how it goes.
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