More Lighting reccommendtions (split)

[PrincessFish]

Hi all,

       I am struggling with the same question of lighting at the moment.  I have a standard single fixture T8 set-up but want to move to 2wpg.  So I have 2 questions:
1.  What is the simplest and most cost effective method to move to 2wpg?  (I am planning to upgrade my whole setup in the next year but also need this to 'look' nice because it is a livingroom tank)
2.  In the meantime, am I better off with a LifeGlo2 at 6700K or with an AquaGlo at 18000K?

       I have been all over the web and here and still can't figure it out!  Thanks for the advice of experience.

[dan2x38]

The aqua-glo makes the fish colours really come out adds kind of a pinkish hue. The 6700 are better for growing plants that is more natural sunlight. On tank tannk I have one of each they look great and the plants respond fine.

[Toss]

Princessfish, I will go with lifeglo2. I don't know your tank size, 25gal? or how much do you want to spend. You can go cheap with DIY or expensive with store bought light system. The more light you have the more stuffs you need to buy, i.e. fertilizer, CO2, plants, substrate, etc.

[PrincessFish]

I have a 25 gal planted tank with flourite substrate and fertilize regularly.  I have had CO2 working but have come to believe from comments made in this forum, that the sugar/water method (which I was using) would cause the CO2 to fluctuate significantly and this provoked algae and the black stuff (diatoms?) -- which I was, and still am to a certain extent, struggling with . . . so I removed the CO2.
In moving up to the 2wpg I definitely don't want to DIY but am not sure whether to go with compact, T5HO, etc.  As I understand it I won't 'have' to go back to CO2 unless I go over the 2wpg. 

[Toss]

Light is one thing, what growing in the tank is another. To make it simple, imagine you don't have any plant in the tank, just driftwood and gravel. You fertilize the tank regularly and keeping no more than 2wpg light. What do you think will happen? Algae garden :)Then you start adding plants bit by bit. Algae growth will decrease because now they have to compete with the real plant. At certain point your plant will start suffering because the more plant you put in the more CO2 they need to breath, then the algae start making the "come back" because they don't need as much CO2 as the real plant. Usually you can "see" when the plants start to suffer from lack of CO2, by that time the leaves are usually already covered with algae. Then you have to cut them, then your plant is dying, then more algae. Finally you end up with algae and no plant in the tank. Since your tank is quite small, there is no room for error, especially if you go without CO2. Even 20% water change will throw off the balance. It is doable, but it is hard to do. I have been there and done that

[PrincessFish]

Hi again,
Toss,  thanks for giving me encouragement -- because I have had plants since day 1 (even before fish) and have been constantly struggling with algae balance.  I'm not sure that will ever change but I am in fact planning to move up to a 90 gal (just not quite yet, likely in about 10-12 mos).  I wasn't being sarcastic when I said thanks - I'm glad to know that it's just not me. 
I want to move to 2wpg so I can grow a larger variety of plants - some of the ones I want require 2wpg . . . and as I said previously I am prepared to go back to CO2 if I have to.  I was just looking for some comparison advice:
Do you think I would be better off with a double T5HO fixture or with a compact one?  I think the bulbs are a bit more expensive on the compact (and with less flexibility since you buy 1 not 2 bulbs - with 2 bulbs you can stagger their age to maintain more stable lighting, etc.) so am leaning towards the T5 - also because it appears to be newer technology??  Any thoughts anyone?

[Toss]

T5 for sure
If you go DIY and want to save some money, use anything white as reflector instead polished aluminium. I have been using white (vinyl I think) eavethroughing from Home Depot as reflector.

[PrincessFish]

With T5HO do you still consider 1wpg low level lighting?  Even though the intensity is greater.
I was at SuperPet Barrhaven this weekend and they have a T5HO fixture but it's only single.  I'm thinking I'll need a double but Mike can't order one for me.  Any idea of where I should go for this?  I'm looking for a 30" double fixture (I like the GLO brand) and bulbs.

[charlie]

With T5HO do you still consider 1wpg low level lighting?  Even though the intensity is greater.
I was at SuperPet Barrhaven this weekend and they have a T5HO fixture but it's only single.  I'm thinking I'll need a double but Mike can't order one for me.  Any idea of where I should go for this?  I'm looking for a 30" double fixture (I like the GLO brand) and bulbs.

The Hagen glo , only comes in 24 , 36, & 48 inch  single& double, they dont make them in 30 inches
Regards

[PrincessFish]

Ok thanks, do you know where I can order a double 24"?  Apparently SuperPet can't order anything.

[dan2x38]

Big Al's...

[irene]

Personally, I would not order a 24" if your tank is 30".   The shaded areas on the sides will drive you nuts every time you look at it. Plus, not really being able to grow anything on the edges will be a pain.  Coralife makes a double T5 fixture with 2x18w bulbs:

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl3664/cp17943/si1316051/cl0/coralifefwt5aqualightdoublestriplight30

or a 1x65w 30" pc fixture that is nice too:

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/BigAlsCA/ctl3664/cp17952/si1319998/cl0/coralifefreshwateraqualightdeluxesingle30strip

I have their 36" double T5 fixture on one of my tanks and I'm really happy with it.

Irene

[BigDaddy]

irene the 30 inch PC fixture only uses a 24 inch bulb as well....

That being said... a standard double 24" fixture will light your 25 just fine and will allow you a lot of light without "needing" CO2

[fischkopp]

Ok thanks, do you know where I can order a double 24"?  Apparently SuperPet can't order anything.

I was at both SuperPetSmart @Merrivale and they had the double 24" T5 Glo on sale for about $100 without the bulbs (extra $20-30 each)

[PrincessFish]

Thanks so much everyone!!  You are such a wonderful group!     I'm still not completely decided but you have all given me great advice and I hope to make up my mind     in the next couple of days after it all 'percolates' a bit more.  I don't think I can really go wrong with either decision.
Thanks.

PS:  my apologies for thread jacking!!     I will try to pay closer attention in future.

[presto]

For $30 and very basic building skills I made a canopy for my 25 gallon providing 2.5 wpg, and can easily bring it to 5wpg if I wanted. I used a bathroom light fixture, some "corkscrew" bulbs (Philips daylight) , some spare wood, and black paint. It doesn't have a rounded plastic top, but a well put together square box looks just as good IMO and at half the price on a canopy that isn't good enough wpg-wise anyways.

[jackura]

I would recommand u to use LifeGlo2 at 6700K.  It is the same as the sunlight at noon time and good for plant.  also it save ur money.

For best result or more professional, I recommand to use T5HO.

[PrincessFish]

Hi everyone,

       Thanks again for all your advice!!  Last weekend I installed a double T5HO fixture and have a LifeGlo2 and another more pink/purple bulb (maybe PowerGlo?)  I also powered up my CO2 (just sugar and yeast version) at the same time and added a few more plants.  The plants are doing great and all sprouting new green shoots but unfortunately the algae is taking off too.  Bought some amano shrimps and Flourish Excel today so I hope to get the balance back soon    I love the fact that I can see the tank and inhabitants (both plant and fishy) so much better!!

[jackura]

GOOD JOB GOOD JOB!!! 

Post some pictures   

[fischkopp]

Hi everyone,

       Thanks again for all your advice!!  Last weekend I installed a double T5HO fixture and have a LifeGlo2 and another more pink/purple bulb (maybe PowerGlo?)  I also powered up my CO2 (just sugar and yeast version) at the same time and added a few more plants.  The plants are doing great and all sprouting new green shoots but unfortunately the algae is taking off too.  Bought some amano shrimps and Flourish Excel today so I hope to get the balance back soon    I love the fact that I can see the tank and inhabitants (both plant and fishy) so much better!!

Don't worry about that, it is quite normal if you change so much at once (add CO2 and more light). Algae has no chance when your plants are kiching in. But make sure that you also add fertilzer so that the plants dont starve in their new environment.