[NotThePainter]

I'm getting more involved in my planted tank and I've been reading everything for a few weeks now. Back in the old days, we talked about watts/gallon. Next up was Lumens. Now it is PAR.

I understand the technical differences but I still don't know if my tank is a low light or medium light tank.

It is a standard 75 gallon tank. It has a 6 year old Beamswork that somehow hasn't failed yet, at 3100 lumens and fairly new Aqueon Optibright which has 1100 lumens.

I know you can't convert lumens to PAR without a spectral data sheet, but what's a good ball park? Is this a low light or medium light tank?

 

[Asteroid]

At 75g and 1100 lumens you are going to be low, low light.

 

[NotThePainter]

At 75g and 1100 lumens you are going to be low, low light.

3,100 and 1,100 is 4,200, which still may be low, I just don't know.

 

[jeffkrol]

Sounds like 2 lights w/ a total of 4200 lumens.

 

[Asteroid]

...
It is a standard 75 gallon tank. It has a 6 year old Beamswork that somehow hasn't failed yet, at 3100 lumens and fairly new Aqueon Optibright which has 1100 lumens...

My bad, I read this as you replaced a failed light with a new one at 1100 lumens

 

[Preeths]

It has a 6 year old Beamswork that somehow hasn't failed yet, at 3100 lumens

Its probably lost some of the brightness over 6 years. Your tank is low light. I would suggest buying pressurized CO2 set before upgrading Lights.

 

[NotThePainter]

Its probably lost some of the brightness over 6 years. Your tank is low light. I would suggest buying pressurized CO2 set before upgrading Lights.

I have a $400 to $600 budget. I'm completely re-doing my tank. I'll start a tank journal soon, but I'm 99% sure I want CO2.

 

[jeffkrol]

I have a $400 to $600 budget. I'm completely re-doing my tank. I'll start a tank journal soon, but I'm 99% sure I want CO2.

48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 21 1/8

What are your need wants?
3 AI prime freshwaters are at the top of the budget..
150-ish watts..

From a small experimental formula your initial PAR was "ok"..
Prob around 30 at the bed w/ both lights full on..

In free air your PAR at 20" light to bed is about 10..
The surface area at 20" is about 10ft x 6ft
120 degrees 4100 lumens.



In a tank that number is multiplied due to reflection and refraction..

 

[NotThePainter]

48 1/2 x 18 1/2 x 21 1/8

What are your need wants?
3 AI prime freshwaters are at the top of the budget..
150-ish watts..

That's exactly what I'm going through right now, what are my needs and wants? I'm likely to do Jungle style or Nature. I only learned those terms today though over at https://allaboutplantedaquariums.com/aquascaping-designs-the-artist-within-you/
Dutch looks cool too but I'm fond of a bit of driftwood.

Oh, and the budge is for the whole tank do over. I have the tank, filter, the above lights etc.. The tank is slowly fading away from neglect and I need to turn it around.

 

[jeffkrol]

That's exactly what I'm going through right now, what are my needs and wants? I'm likely to do Jungle style or Nature. I only learned those terms today though over at https://allaboutplantedaquariums.com/aquascaping-designs-the-artist-within-you/
Dutch looks cool too but I'm fond of a bit of driftwood.

Oh, and the budge is for the whole tank do over. I have the tank, filter, the above lights etc.. The tank is slowly fading away from neglect and I need to turn it around.

Well then, best to concentrate capital outlays on CO2.
Helps even "low light" tanks..

 

[NotThePainter]

Well then, best to concentrate capital outlays on CO2.
Helps even "low light" tanks..

That's certainly what I've read. I researching substrates now, they're so hard to change out, especially compared to lights. I was wondering where I was on PAR though.

Fortunately I have 2 killer pieces of driftwood. I used to have it in a 125. When I had to get rid of that tank I carried it around for years. It wouldn't fit anywhere. I eventually sawed it in half, then sawed two more chucks off it. I have a lot of options for it.