[green_valley]

I was curious what's your low-tech lighting. What's the type? What's the wattage? How many bulbs? how big is your tank. I am considering to upgrade my light as it's only 38W (1 bulb) for my 140G. I don't even know if it's T5 or T8, I got it used and it's actually pinkish color.

 

[Hilde]

I am considering to upgrade my light as it's only 38W (1 bulb) for my 140G. I don't even know if it's T5 or T8, I got it used and it's actually pinkish color.

Google for 38w with length and you should find out what you have.

What are the dimensions? The height is what determines what type of bulb you need in order to get light to the bottom. The strengths go from T8 to T5NO (normal output) to T5HO (high output). Also 10,000 k bulbs reach a higher depth. The reflector too makes a difference. Then there are also PCs(power compacts). PC bulbs last approx 9 months and are expensive to replace. Hoppy has a graph on light output.

 

[kamikazi]

29 gallon with t5 no

40 gallon breeder with 3 screw in cfls two 23 watts and one 13 watt mounted in bayco work lights

 

[firefiend]

I have two 23 W CFL's hanging ~11 inches from the water surface for my 10 gallon. I'm also using the metal shop reflectors.

 

[firefiend]

40 gallon breeder with 3 screw in cfls two 23 watts and one 13 watt mounted in bayco work lights

Do you have a thread for this tank? I'm thinking about getting a 40B and am most interested in how you lit this.

EDIT... DUH! how about I just look at your sig, eh? *slaps forehead*

How far above the water surface are the lights?

 

[Algae Beater]

i typically use 13w cfl usually one over a 10 gallon with a decent dome reflector does the trick.

 

[lauraleellbp]

29gal- 2x18 watt T5NO

46gal- 2x23 watt T5NO

90gal 2x54 watt T5HO (limited photoperiod)

I don't have my 10gal set up right now, but when I do it's with a 15 watt T8.

 

[dundee]

55G w/ 3x32w T8s (Aqueon Triple Tube w/ single mirror reflector)

29G w/ 2x17w T8s (Aqueon Twin Tube)

5.5G w/ 1x10w CFL (Perfecto incandescent strip. Will add a DIY reflector later)

 

[beastoise]

On my 40B I use 1 36" T5HO. It's an Odyssea fixture though, has a terrible reflector and I'm using the splash guard. Works great.

 

[CrazyCatPeekin]

10G & 29G each with the Marineland Double Bright LEDs - only had these lights on them for about 6 weeks but the plants are responding well to them so far. I don't have anything very demanding though.

5G - 14W daylight spiral CF

 

[green_valley]

Thank you for your reply everyone. I appreciate that.

90gal 2x54 watt T5HO (limited photoperiod)

Hi Laura, I have seen your 90G journal. OMG. Amazing. I was curiuos, you're using T5HO dual bubls, how long is it? 48"? 36"? isn't it too much for low-tech with T5HO? I am thinking about T5HO.

Btw, what is photoperiod? sorry, newbie question.

On my 40B I use 1 36" T5HO. It's an Odyssea fixture though, has a terrible reflector and I'm using the splash guard. Works great.

How long have you had this? do you get algae?

 

[kamikazi]

Do you have a thread for this tank? I'm thinking about getting a 40B and am most interested in how you lit this.

EDIT... DUH! how about I just look at your sig, eh? *slaps forehead*

How far above the water surface are the lights?

about 6-8 inches right now. but I can adjust it to where they are right on top of the tank or about a foot off the top of the tank.

 

[lauraleellbp]

Hi Laura, I have seen your 90G journal. OMG. Amazing. I was curiuos, you're using T5HO dual bubls, how long is it? 48"? 36"? isn't it too much for low-tech with T5HO? I am thinking about T5HO.

Btw, what is photoperiod? sorry, newbie question.

Thanks. My tank is 48L x 18D x 24H. 2x54 watts of T5HO is definitely pushing the edge of low tech, I do have to occasionally dose Excel when the plants get up close to the lights and run about a 6-7 hour photoperiod. I may someday switch down to T5NOs so I can have a longer viewing period. After 4 years running this fixture I've gotten pretty good at managing the light, though.

 

[monkeyfish]

When I was setting up my 90, I decided to go with 2 x 48" dual bulb t5no coralife fixtures. I considered Laura's setup but didn't want to limit my photo period and I wanted very slow growth. I have one fixture come on at 11, the second on at 12, moonlights on at 7, first fixture off at 8, second fixture off at 9, moonlight off at 2 am. I love the different looks of the tank I get this way. When the fixture in the rear of the tank goes off and the one in the front is highlighting the water lettuce and dwarf sag and the background is dark with the shimmer from the moonlights....drool

 

[beastoise]

How long have you had this? do you get algae?

Going on 2 months now I think? Nope, don't have any algae troubles. I ran a a single 24" T5HO Odyssea on my old 29 for about a year and had no problems with that either. The Odyssea's just don't have a good enough reflector.