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All the lighting choices confuse me!!! I need to know what kind of lighting to put on a 55gal tank, I want something that will work with low light plants/med. light plants right but maybe one that could handle a higher wattage bulb in the future if I wanted to try bright light plants and Co2 and all of that. But right now I want simple, hardy, no CO2, not too fast growing plants but not too slow either. Could someone maybe go on the DrsFosters website (or any other website thats has good lighting examples) and tell me specifically on there what I should pick... not saying that I will get the lighting from the site but just to give me an idea of specifically what I need. I will say that I like the hoods that are raised above the top of the tank, beacuse I would like some type of floating plants and I don't want those plants to get too much light.

Also I want something that doesn't cost awhole lot of money, just something thats good enough to have some simple plants right now but yet good enough to have a nice heavily planted tank later. So something thats kind of in the middle in terms of quality and price.

Hi,
For the low to medium light plants, I would use this:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13612&N=2004+113349

However, if you are going to go to higher light demand
plants, I would use this:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=13628&N=2004+113345

Keep in mind that you do NOT need to use CO2 with the
low light plants. Most slow growing and have evolved to
take up carbon from other sources. Medium light plants
(Generally the Stem plants) as well as others will grow
faster and lusher with the addition of CO2, but then
it still is not necessary. Instead of CO2, you can add
liquid fertilizers such as the Flourish brand, or other
fertilizers instead.
When you hit the "magic" number of 3+ watts/gallon
you have to suplement the tank with Carbon, and those
high light plants, while they too can extract the
Carbon from other sources, they will readily use the
CO2 and really start growing into a lush green jungle.

Light is the engine and Carbon is the "fuel" that drives
the engine of plant growth.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

So the plants that need 3+ watts/gal. would need the CO2?

The hoods on those links are ones that will fit right onto the glass hood that came with my standard flourescent hood right? I was thinking more of the ones that have the little feet that allow the hood to be raised higher above the water and allow the water to have no cover...a canopy hood I guess its called?

What are some low light and medium light plants that I could use?

I think alot of the plants I like happen to be the ones that need bright light, but like I said I'll start with the low/medium ones first. But if I got say the hood on the second link could I put a lower wattage bulb in them until I wanted to have plants that required the brighter lights or would the extra light help the low/med. light plants?..I'm guessing that would just make them absorb too much nutrients too fast?

Also right now I have 2 24" hoods on my 55, should I get 2 24"s again or one 48"?

For the money try and find Odyssea Light on ebay - they are made JEBO which is cheaper product but I been using one for 3 years now and have no problem with the light itself, except for nose when the fans first come on. I did however have a problem with tank temp but that is a location problem that i worked out with Frank and a couple other members. I think I pay 69.00 plus shipping for a 2x's 65 with Luna lights. I did just buy a 2007 model it made out of metal not heavy plastic. How big is the tank will tell you what CO2 system you need. If it 30gal or less you can buy a yeast system for under 20.00 that works will if its larger they get expensive. If you want to use regulator system that can get very expensive but if you do you home work you can get a complete system tank regulator and CO2 reactor for 300.00.

DjRichie
"Don't Panic"

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams