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Which would give me better light?

1K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  shrimpNewbie 
#1 ·
Right now I am using a 24 inch coralife 96 watt compact fluorescent fixture and the growth is disappointing considering im using pressurized co2 and ei dosing.

would this give me better growth? its right where im willing to spend too

http://www.marinedepot.com/AquaticL...xtures-AquaticLife-AK01142-FILTFIT54U-vi.html

i would get the 36 inch one and just have it over hang three inches on each side. i wouldnt mind that
 
#4 ·
I have a single T5HO bulb with a homeade reflector hanging 7 inches above my aquarium. My baby tears are growing so fast, they 6 - 8 inches tall, and have taken over all of my substrate. All the rest of my plants are growing well also, Rotala, Moneywort, and Brazil Pennywort. My drop checker is yellow/green, I am putting 2 or 3 bps co2 in. I have 10 ppm Nitrate, 5 ppm Potassium, and 2 ppm Phosphate, I dose Flourish Comprehensive for my micro's. From what Hoppy said about your light, you are probably high light, at least in the center parts of your tank. If you change to a dual T5HO, you are going to have to hang your fixture at least 4" to bring it out of the "to high light" range. A single T5Ho fixture would probably suit you better. Like these:

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=71_198_200&products_id=1836

http://www.amazon.com/Hagen-Linear-Fluorescent-Lighting-24-Inch/dp/B000VJWGUW
 
#5 ·
I have a single T5HO bulb with a homeade reflector hanging 7 inches above my aquarium. My baby tears are growing so fast, they 6 - 8 inches tall, and have taken over all of my substrate. All the rest of my plants are growing well also, Rotala, Moneywort, and Brazil Pennywort. My drop checker is yellow/green, I am putting 2 or 3 bps co2 in. I have 10 ppm Nitrate, 5 ppm Potassium, and 2 ppm Phosphate, I dose Flourish Comprehensive for my micro's. From what Hoppy said about your light, you are probably high light, at least in the center parts of your tank. If you change to a dual T5HO, you are going to have to hang your fixture at least 4" to bring it out of the "to high light" range. A single T5Ho fixture would probably suit you better. Like these:

http://www.catalinaaquarium.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=71_198_200&products_id=1836

http://www.amazon.com/Hagen-Linear-Fluorescent-Lighting-24-Inch/dp/B000VJWGUW
someone stated that my light would be equal to the 2 bulb t5ho fixture... im confused?
 
#6 · (Edited)
Just look at your light. When you look at the bulbs, do you see a full image of each bulb on each side of it? That is what happens when you have just a fairly good reflector. With a very good reflector you see more than one image of the bulb on each side of the bulb. Each of those images is a source of more light going to the tank. So, a very good reflector can just about triple the amount of light you can get into the tank from a bulb. A fairly good reflector can double the amount of light you can get. The Coralife PC lights I have seen don't have enough room on the sides of the bulb for any light to be reflected back into the tank. That is the same as having no reflector at all. The shiny flat surface hidden behind the bulbs does nothing except help to sell the light.
 
#8 ·
Since your current pc fixture is a quad bulb, if you look at the charts listed in the link below, a 16" tank, with 2 inches of substrate will put you in the medium/high light range, at least directly under the light. A dual T5HO fixture will put you in the "to high" range. A single T5HO fixture will put you at the very top edge of the high light range, it would be better to raise it 2 - 4 inches to make the light level more manageable. If you are still having poor growth, have you tested your nitrates and phosphates yet, and exactly what are you dosing.



http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=105774
 
#9 ·
If you study all three of these charts, there is some room for interpretation, especially because of the quality of the reflectors. If you run the Aquatic life dual T5HO, you are going to have some really high light, they look to me like really good reflectors. The Current Nova Extreme T5 fixture is still going to be very high light, but the reflectors are not as good, so if you have to have a T5ho, that would be a better fit. Better yet, the Fishneedit.com dual fixture would be even lower light. Some of the part tests have put it closer to a quality T5NO than a T5HO, and it would put you at medium/high light. The 30" fixture has 24" bulbs though, I would get the 36" fixture.





 
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