Light Bulbs, Which Ones?

[jcali10]

I plan on ordering a couple of fixtures from Catalina Aquarium. A 2 bulb compact Florescent for a 29 gallon set up and a 4 bulb 48 in. T5 fixture.

I picked the Compact Florescent for the 29 because a 30 inch, 4 bulb T5 fixture uses the same length bulbs as a 24 inch T5 fixture so it seems to me like it would not cover a 30 inch tank as well. And it is an expensive booger too. The CF bulbs in a 30 inch fixture are longer if I am not mistaken.

My concern is which spectrum of bulbs? My current Nova Extreme T5 fixtures have a pinkish hued bulb and a 10K. Which work pretty well. But I would really like get some feedback from you all, as I have not begun to research lighting data again.

54 W - T5 options:
65K
10K
Plant Grow

For the 29 Gallon

65W CF Options:
65K Full Spectrum
67K
10K
Plant Grow/10K

55W CF Options:
65K Full Spectrum
10K
Plant Grow

Thanks,

[krisw]

I tend to lean toward a mixture of 65K and 10K bulbs.

As for the lengths, I believe the 30" fixture is still using the 55W/65W bulbs, which are the same length. I believe they're around 21" long, so you're not really doing any better than with T5s.

[jcali10]

Darn it, your right, they will both cover about the same area. What was I thinking. Too bad their 4 bulb, 96 W T5 fixture is $225, and their 130 W CF fixture is $89. I may be buying my first CF fixture. Their 4 bulb 48 inch Solar model HO-T5 is only $169.99. What a bunch a crepe.

[ingg]

A good option on 30" tanks like that 29g is to use a couple NO T5 fixtures from coralife. They can be had for like $40 each, come in freshwater versions, and actually use 30" bulbs.

Like this:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... riplight30

4 bulbs brings it to 72 watts, 2.5 wpg. Enough for anything but an extremely high light tank, as NO bulbs are even more efficient than HO bulbs.

[jcali10]

I should be able to grow low and medium light plants, like Anubias, vals, crypts, H. Polysperma and probably a few others with 2 Coralife NO fixtures and 2.5 wpg.

I will be using pressurized CO2 on this 29G tank.

Seems like a good option, I can still go all high tech on my 75.

I think Big Al's has a sale going on right now for 10% off for one more day.

[chris_todd]

Joe,
We have one of those fixtures on our 20 long (shorter than a 29), and we have no problem growing crypts, sunset hygro, and h. difformis in it without CO2 or ferts. Though after talking to Paul about how the H. difformis was growing (kind of squatty, bushy, and short, not tall), I suspect it could benefit from more light, so you'll probably do better with two fixtures, given the increased depth of the 29 v the 20 long.

[ingg]

You'll be surprised Joe, I think. They don't have the reflectors of CA or TEK's, but they are using an even more efficient light source.

It won't be a low light tank by any stretch, bet ya, ummm, a plant or something!

[Judi]

Joe,

I've been considering using those NO t5s on a 29 myself. If you go with that option, let me know how it goes.

[DelawareJim]

A good option on 30" tanks like that 29g is to use a couple NO T5 fixtures from coralife. They can be had for like $40 each, come in freshwater versions, and actually use 30" bulbs.

Like this:

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ct ... riplight30

4 bulbs brings it to 72 watts, 2.5 wpg. Enough for anything but an extremely high light tank, as NO bulbs are even more efficient than HO bulbs.

I just got the 36 inch version of this last week and so far I'm quite pleased with it.

Cheers.
Jim

[jcali10]

I'm going to give the NO Aqualights, a try. If it doesn't work out, I can get a
20 long to try them on. Then they would yield 3.6 wpg instead of 2.5.