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I am thinking about getting a Coralight Aqualight fixture with 2x65w bulbs. I want to grow more colorful plants..without CO2 though. I can't find a fixture in my price range that would give me around 3wpg or a little more. This fixture comes out to 4.48wpg. Is that too much light for a 29g? The tank is tall, but I won't have CO2 and don't want excess algae. Thoughts?

*Kristin*

GirlieGirl,

Well, for what it is worth, I have a 29G with a single 65W unit and no CO2(but the occasional shot of Excel) and my plants seem to be growing just fine. [link=Here]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Aquascaping/61406.html" style="COLOR: #ff6633[/link] is a link to my log, I began with 2x20w and later switched to the 65w unit.

I personally would not add double the light without raising all other parameters (provision of carbon and ferts) as well; it just sounds too risky for me.

Can you identify what kind of plants you would like to grow? You say more colorful but there is a broad range of colorful plants out there. Crypt Wendtii does nice in my tank, so did Rotala Indica and Ludwigia Repens when I had them.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Little Fish: I already have Crypt Wendtii red and rotala indica in my 55g. I will definitely put Crypts and maybe try Ludwigia in the 29. If you can grow these plants with the single 65w and have such a beautiful tank, then I believe they would do ok for me.
I also believe now that the double fixture would be entirely too much. I really wanted around 3wpg, but I will be ok with the single fixture. I was just afraid that since the tank is tall, the plants would need more light.
I will definitely be saving money by getting the 1x65w fixture.
Thanks...Kristin.:%)

*Kristin*

You are welcome Kristin

I hope it will work out for you as well as it did for me.

And if all fails, you can always buy the 2x65w unit and use the other one as an excuse for a brand new 20G Long .

I would recommend you get the legs for the fixture as well so it is raised above the glass top.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I am already going to order the legs. And some for the fixture on my 55g as well. Seems like it would make cleaning so much easier.

*Kristin*