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Hi, im setting up a 100g tank, ive been looking into lighting for it and it seems that the best i can get is a 160w quad fluro setup, with out Halides (way too much money) how do you guys get so much light.

Also how much is really needed, my LFS has a Amazon tank that is very well planted its a 4ft 65g with 1 40w light no Co2 or fertz and it looks great, all the guys ive talked to in real life tell me that Co2 is a waste of money and for my 100g tank that 160w is prob too much, as there are almost no fish or plants that have that sort of light in the wild. Its a bit confusing

My 38g is planted with only a 30w light, the plants are healthy but could be better, though i have fish that give them a hard time.

So my questions are; How much light is really needed?

Co2; is it worth it?

fertz or not?

How much does bright light stress fish?



Personally im not sure which advice to take, there does seem to be alot of added hype on the net with lights etc that is prob started by people selling them, such as halides.

There are others FP people that can definitely answer your question in more detail than me, but the biggest variable that you didn't mention is what can of plants do you want to grow. There are low, mid, and high light plants. The light you are talking about is probably good for the lower to maybe some of the mid light plants and that's it. Nothing else will "really" grow.

Another think you should realize is, that when you see plants in many LFS they might be replacing dying plants on a weekly, monthly basis to make the tank look good.

My Scapes

Hi,
You can purchase hoods that house Compact Flourscents, and
they come up to 96 watts/bulb. I don't know the dimensions
of the tank. If it is 24 inches or deeper, I would consider
using 10,000K bulbs instead of the "normal" 6700 or 8,000K
bulbs. Four of those bulbs will put you in the 3+wpg area
and should be great for very nearly any plant.

Yes, bright bulbs can "bother" some fish. Many "fear" the
open areas as they might get caught by a bird flying over
head. It's always a good idea to consider the planting
arrangement AND the fish you plan on housing in the tank
at the same time. Give them some "shaded" areas perhaps
from floating plants, or stem plants that are allowed to
grow to the surface and across a part of the swimming area.
Things like that.

When you start running over 2wpg, it is always a good idea
to use CO2 injection. That large a tank will require a
"pressurized bottle" system, regulator, bubble counter, and
a reactor of some sort.
The use of CO2 injection is sortof like adding Nitro to your
car, suddenly something that ran fine, becomes super
charged. One of the limiting factors in plant growth is
the availability of Carbon for them. CO2 is easy for plants
to break the chemical bonds and take up the Carbon,
releasing the O2.
CO2 is expensive to start (component parts are expensive
but are also a one time purchase). Refiling the tanks cost
pennies and a tank will generally last around 5-6 months
per refil.

If you decide not to use CO2 injection, then stick with
a "medium" or "low" light tank (2 wpg or 1.5wpg) and be
sure to purchase only Medium or Low light plants.

Fertilizers eventually will be necessary in the tank. How
soon depends on how stocked the tank is, how well fed the
fish are, and how many and what type of plants you decide
to keep in the tank. Fertilizing too soon (before the
plants take hold and start to grow) can give algae a head
start, and then you play "catch up" trying to control it.

Check out this thread for some more information:
http://fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Technical%20Tinkering/63547.html?200508270140

Frank


Last edited by FRANK at 27-Aug-2005 12:46

Last edited by FRANK at 27-Aug-2005 15:01

Last edited by FRANK at 29-Aug-2005 01:41

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Thank you for the great reply.

The watt per gallon rule is very dodgy when it comes to very small and very big tanks.

Basically in small tanks you need a lot of wpg conversely in big tanks very little.

This is really to do with the size of the bulbs we hang over such tanks.

Think of it this way. I've got a 5 gal tank with 18watts of pc lighting, technically it's over 3 watts per gallon. But at the end of the day it's produced by 2 9watt bulbs. Whatever way you cut it a 9 watt bulb is not that bright ! Conversly on a big tank you'd have something like 55watt or even 96 watt bulbs. Now they are seriuosly bright bulbs.

So in small tanks you need more wpg to get to high light but in big tanks less.

I agree with the store guys. 1 wpg over a 100gal tank is a good amount of light.

Co2 is not needed. Especially in a big tank. It would be a hell of a lot of trimming to do on the amount of plants in a tank that big. Better to keep growth slow. Use a lot of non stem plants like swords, crypts, grasees etc to further cut down on having to work on the tank.

I've mentioned a on Co2 on few recent threads here. Have a look at them

---

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.

jakieblak

Also how much is really needed, my LFS has a Amazon tank that is very well planted its a 4ft 65g with 1 40w light no Co2 or fertz and it looks great.

Have a real good look at this question and answer.
You have answered your on question perfectly.
Go to the LFS and talk to them all about that tank.

So my questions are; How much light is really needed?
The answer depends on the tank. Have a lok at this link.
[link=Look Here]http://fishprofiles.com/files/forums/General%20Freshwater/63594.html?200508281809" style="COLOR: #00FF00[/link]
fertz or not?
Yes I use ferts regually in both tanks.
Again it is a mater of choice and cost I have never used it one reason I have too much airation in both tanks.

How much does bright light stress fish?
How would you like to live in na very bright room and no escape?

Most good fishermen will tell you fish do not stay out in the open on very bright days they prefer the safety of shady areas.

Keith

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