lmsmith Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 ATM I'm using reptile bulbs for my 3ft tank, and my plants are growing awesome (doubled in size in a week). Are they ok lights for growing plants, or what would be better? I'm not really keen for the expense of MH lights. Also, I know you're supposed to have 1w of lighting for every 1l or whatever it is of water - no idea how to work this out thought :oops: . Help much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 If it is working then run with it, that sort of growth is great. The 1w per ltr is just a guide, what if you had a tank 300 x 300 x 1000 tall, would 90watts of fluro be ok? Maybe not. How big was the tank, height is the main one needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 It's a 3ft tank, approx 50cm high. The light I'm using is only 30W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 So to work it out 915 x 500h x 500w (mm .915 x .5 x .5 = .228 .228 * 1000 = 228ltr or 228w of lighting. But does depend on what plants you keep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmsmith Posted November 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 I've got all sorts in there, but I think the natural light during the day is really helping, because I've got some red leafed plants that are still red after a month or so, so hopefully they manage to stay that way. In terms of increasing the wattage of lighting, can you buy 200W tubes or do you just add more tubes? Thanks so much for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vindy500 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 So to work it out 915 x 500h x 500w (mm .915 x .5 x .5 = .228 .228 * 1000 = 228ltr or 228w of lighting. But does depend on what plants you keep :-?im not sure what power a 3 foot bulb is, but lets assume 24W, thats 9.5 bulbs... seems a wee bit excessive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 I have a tank which grows most plants pretty well and it is a similar size to yours. It has 2 x 3ft flouros going 17hours/day. One growlux and one cool white. It will grow any of the Echinodorus species other than E. tenellus var. tenellus and most other stem plants other than the ones needing intense light like Ludwigia arcuata and glandulosa etc. You will be best to buy a reptile to go with your reptile bulbs in another tank (I should have some red ears after xmas) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insect Direct Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 the person who got me into turtles a few moons ago always had house plants around there indoor turtle pond thing and they grew like mad, turtle water may off had something to do with tht aswell though. i just use cheap 6500k fluro from hardware stores like bunnings etc for fish tanks and plants and have reasonably good results.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 I notice that the tank with baby turtles in (yet to happen this year) goes green realy quickly under reptile lights but it is probably also the amount of nutrient about. Emersed plants get a lot more light than submersed as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew_W Posted November 21, 2008 Report Share Posted November 21, 2008 get two of these http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =188707423 the auction is closed so I assume I can post the link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM Posted November 22, 2008 Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 :-?im not sure what power a 3 foot bulb is, but lets assume 24W, thats 9.5 bulbs... seems a wee bit excessive I agree. If you look back at the start of the post 1w per 1ltr of water was mentioned, went on to say that this is a guide only and really depends on what plants are kept vrs height of tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted November 22, 2008 Report Share Posted November 22, 2008 If you use intense light you need to use CO2 and added fertilizers as well or you will just be growing algae. Put better bulbs on what you have and see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted November 23, 2008 Report Share Posted November 23, 2008 ive got two 100W MH fitting tht im going to try on my 3 ft its not so much for the plants as they already grow well under 4 20w t8s but more to get the glitter lines happening on the bottom sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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