Aquarium Dude Posted December 29, 2006 Report Share Posted December 29, 2006 How many lights would you use for a 450l 65'' long tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 Fairly heavily planted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 With or without CO2? And you mean 65 inches, as in 5.5ft/1950mm? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 aim for around 1 wpl, but anything from .5wpl will work. so just add up the wattages of whater lights you use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 I reckon though, if you're doing pressurised CO2, I'd go for 2 150W metal halides. deepblue has them for $200ea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 Its more like 1651 Can you get tubes longer than 4 foot? So f not I will need 11 tubes to get 1 watt per litre or 6 tubes to get .53 watts per litre? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 Id rather not go to co2... yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 AFAIK 4 foot 1220mm is the longest tubes you can get. T5 would be best but T8 is the easiest to get parts for and cheaper. I'd go with two double 4fts to start with, then add another double if you need the extra light. 4ft tubes are 36Wea I think. 6500K Daylight tubes are around $8-10ea at an electrical wholesaler or bunnings etc dont give off much heat at all and no drama if it gets wet. btw T8 is your normal thickness fluoro, T5 is thinner and gives off much more light, but harder to get bits for and the bits are more costly. I wouldn't go MH unless you're prepared to go hardcore with planting, as there are a lot of downsides, but it certainly is the best for plants by far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 What are the downs (out of interest)? Do you call this hardcore http://www.fnzas.org.nz/fishroom/scalar ... t4866.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 Nah thats just some light planting mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 Thats along the lines of what I want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 oh and how high is the tank? lighting will depend alot on that factor. For example, if your tank was 3 foot high, you would need some crazy lighting to reach the bottom plants, but if its only 1 foot high, then you hardly need anything.... Start with 2-4 tubes, and see how it goes, but you will want pressurised co2 later on, and you will want more light. Just give in and go MH 8) :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 I reckon though, if you're doing pressurised CO2, I'd go for 2 150W metal halides. deepblue has them for $200ea ask steve (jetskisteve) he will sell you a 150W mh cheaper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 I think that could be done without going crazy, but by hardcore I mean injecting CO2 heavily and ferts etc and making the plants pearl. Anyway downsides: - they use a lot of power, smallest is 150W - they concentrate in one area, unlike T8/T5 which spreads the light evenly - they get very very hot - due to the heat sometimes when splashed the glass can shatter on the light (although its supposed to be heat treated so it doesnt) - they can't be seated on the top of the tank due to heat and light concentration, need to be held above, most people hang them from the ceiling. Upsides: - much more intense light - deeper penetration so your grass plants will grow hardcore, something T8/T5 isn't good at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evilknieval69 Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 ask steve (jetskisteve) he will sell you a 150W mh cheaper Yea definately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 Yea definately Noted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quack Posted January 9, 2007 Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 yeah thats were i got my MH good price 2! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquarium Dude Posted January 9, 2007 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2007 its 500 mm deep. Valinseria(sp) isnt a grass is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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