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I've seen several articles on how to determine if you've got enough light...with standard lighting. I've got two 55w compact fluorescents kits from AHSupply.com. They say with their reflector the lights are 62% brighter than with the normal flat reflector. My tank is 135 gal (72"x18"x18". Is this enough light in the tank for low, mid or high light level plants? It's going to be an angel tank and I'll several pieces of wood which will darken the water. With clear water in the tank the lights are exremely bright in my opinion.

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
James

Most people use the wpg "guidelines". These usually apply to NO flourescent bulbs, PC bulbs are a good bit brighter. Also the guideline is not really applicable to very small or very large tanks.

I'd say with that light , the type of bulbs, use of reflectors and the size and depth of the tank you may just push into the medium light bracket. I would say you could grow far more then the usuasl low light plants.


Last edited by bensaf at 04-Sep-2005 21:17

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

I agree with bensaf, on big tanks wpg guidelines tend to break down a bit so I think you'll be ok. What I am worried about is that the 55W bright kit is only 22" (I was thinking about buying a kit) so that leaves a lot of room without any light. I would personally buy another kit just so the whole tank is lit. As it stands now you have an extra 28" or so on the tank by my calcs without any light on it, that will make it hard to plant things in certain dark spots and you will have visible dark spots when the tank is set up. At $50 or so for the kit I would just get another 55W, you'll have more light and better coverage.

jsparkman,

I agree with both previous posters.

I have to say though that you might have mistakenly misled Bensaf regarding your tank depth. You listed in your dimensions 72 x 18 x 18, but this is only 100G and you say your tank is 135G. Which value is off? The larger the height the more light you need to "feed" plants at the bottom.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Tank size is actually 72" wide, 21" high and 18" deep. Not sure why I thought it was 72x18x18. I've actually got two 35w CF's I guess I could add one of those inside the hood.