Lighting for a 10 Gallon Long...

Newman · 10-24-2009, 08:14 PM

Hello,

I'm looking up to set up my ten gallon long tank for plants. plants to include are Hemianthus callitrichoides cuba, and lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

I'll be using one 2 liter bottle reactor of DIY CO2, diffusing with limewood.

Fert dosing will be the same as the schedule of my 40 Gal thats goin good right now. Includes the line of Flourish ferts: Flourish, excel, iron, potassium, phosphorous, nitrogen.

But the real question is, how do I find a T-5 lighting fixture that can fit this tank. its a regular 10 gal long. the smallest fixtures i can find are 24" which will spill over the sides of the tank. I was looking at the 2 bulb Coralife Aqualight HO T-5 fixture. I know its meant for saltwater, but can't i just replace the two bulbs with two 6700K ones? I like this fixture cuz it has adjustable legs that can be moved inward to rest on the rim of the 10 gal. Coralife Aqualight High Output T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture 2X24W 24 inch Coralife T5 HO

I've also looked at the 24" Hagen Glo fixture. 24" GLO Dual T5 HO 2 x 24W Lighting System by Hagen - AquaCave
This one doesnt seem like it can fit my tank cuz the legs dont move inward at all...

Any suggestions as to what kind of fixture i should get for the ten gallon?
Any suggestions for other fixtures, or why the above two mentioned ones wont work?

I've decided to get two 24W 6700K bulbs for which ever fixture i get.
Is that too much? It'll put me at 4.8 wpg...(hi algae

)

Lotus · 10-24-2009, 08:26 PM

I think the Coralife comes in a freshwater version. Our LFS had them in stock, and they look nice.

One important thing with the Coralife is that they have individual reflectors, which means better light in the tank.

Unfortunately, the smallest bulb for T5 is 24 inches, so you will have overhang.

The other option is a 20" power compact fixture.

Newman · 10-24-2009, 08:30 PM

Is overhang really that bad? I mean the corners of the tank will get more light than normal

Tell me more about this 20" compact fixture...

and thanks for the quick reply

Newman · 10-24-2009, 09:11 PM

Cant find any compact fixtures that are below $100...

Found one thats 20" but has a crazy 96 watt bulb. Coralife Aqualight Freshwater 6700K Daylight Aquarium Lighting Fixture Whats with these crazy wattages?! wheres the wattage on larger fixtures when you need them. lol

Looks like i might go with the coralife fixture and get two 6700K bulbs for it.

Does it matter if i get a fixture with slatwater bulbs installed? (im guessing thats would be the marine fixture) Cuz petco seels this one for $44 and it looks like a good deal to me.
Can i just switch the bulbs for two 6700Ks or will it not work?
If it wont then i guess ill have to dig around for a freshwater version online...those are damn expensive compared to the great deal of $44.

Also i find the freshwater version comes with 65 watt bulbs...i dont need that many watts. (6.5 wpg) should i go with a single bulb or dual bulb fixture? if i go with the insanely expensive dual bulb, can i just buy 2 24 watt 6700K bulbs that should fit in the 24" fixture instead og the two 65watt 6700K bulbs that come with the fixture?

Also it doesnt have any legs. i think that would melt my tank rim, where the light will be overhanging...right?

Lotus · 10-24-2009, 09:56 PM

On the 20" PC fixtures:

I bought this one a few years ago (maybe four years ago), and it still works fine: Power Compact 20" 2 x 36 Watts

One nice thing is that you can choose the bulbs. The one I got is compatible with the Coralife PC legs. The same company does a 1x36 w fixture, too: Power Compact 20" 1x36 Watts

The replacement bulbs aren't common, but I've bought them at HelloLights (I think that's where I bought them).

It's just an option.

Some of the 24" fixtures have legs you can adjust to fit a 20" tank, but you'll still have overhang. It's only 2" on each side, but I guess it depends how particular you are about things like that.

Newman · 10-24-2009, 10:06 PM

I dont care for overhang looks, as long as the tank gets enough light, and the light doesnt melt my plastic rim on the tank

that much wattage would be too much from the dual bulb fix. Conversely, the 1 bulb 36 watt would be lower wattage than i need... im looking to keep around 4-4.8 wpg. I guess i can try to find lower watt 6700K bulb (s) for those 20" fixtures, but im leaning toward buying the cheaper Coralife marine fixture and switching out the 24" marine bulbs for 24" T-5 HO 6700K bulbs...you think that will work?

Plus the $44 price is unreal...really it cant be true. Those must be a scam or something, cuz online these things go for $90. could the ones at petco be NO and not HO T-5s? the boxes say HO T-5s on them...gotta be a scam of some sort

Lotus · 10-24-2009, 10:19 PM

Yes, it would work.

Newman · 10-24-2009, 10:22 PM

Great! ill pick up the fixture tomorrow, and make sure the price is right. also gonna order two of those 6700K bulbs when i get the fixture.

Thanks a bunch for all the great info and suggestions

MoneyMitch · 10-24-2009, 10:55 PM

Just thought id throw this in here, Kelven and the "color spectrum" isnt as important as everyone implys. All plants are able to adapt to any color spectrum that they are presented with. It is true however that all plants are more SENSITIVE to blue and red. This does not mean that they will not grow "as good" under a regular 3000k household color. A plant under a 3000k bulb will grow just as good as a plant under a 6500K bulb. just trying to save you a buck or two on those "designer" bulbs

Newman · 10-24-2009, 11:13 PM

i get what youre saying. youve said before that its the nanometers that matter. but its hard to find out the nms of a 6700K bulb if the packaging doesnt supply such info...i always get lost with the nms. it the light supposed to have anything from 400nm - 600nm? or do lights only have a certain nm rating such as 413nm as a stable output?

The 6700K bulbs i was looking to buy were only $22 for both. im not that stingy as long as i dont go above $20 per bulb

10-24-2009, 08:14 PM	#1
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	Lighting for a 10 Gallon Long... Hello, I'm looking up to set up my ten gallon long tank for plants. plants to include are Hemianthus callitrichoides cuba, and lilaeopsis brasiliensis. I'll be using one 2 liter bottle reactor of DIY CO2, diffusing with limewood. Fert dosing will be the same as the schedule of my 40 Gal thats goin good right now. Includes the line of Flourish ferts: Flourish, excel, iron, potassium, phosphorous, nitrogen. But the real question is, how do I find a T-5 lighting fixture that can fit this tank. its a regular 10 gal long. the smallest fixtures i can find are 24" which will spill over the sides of the tank. I was looking at the 2 bulb Coralife Aqualight HO T-5 fixture. I know its meant for saltwater, but can't i just replace the two bulbs with two 6700K ones? I like this fixture cuz it has adjustable legs that can be moved inward to rest on the rim of the 10 gal. Coralife Aqualight High Output T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture 2X24W 24 inch Coralife T5 HO I've also looked at the 24" Hagen Glo fixture. 24" GLO Dual T5 HO 2 x 24W Lighting System by Hagen - AquaCave This one doesnt seem like it can fit my tank cuz the legs dont move inward at all... Any suggestions as to what kind of fixture i should get for the ten gallon? Any suggestions for other fixtures, or why the above two mentioned ones wont work? I've decided to get two 24W 6700K bulbs for which ever fixture i get. Is that too much? It'll put me at 4.8 wpg...(hi algae ) __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 10-24-2009 at 08:29 PM..

10-24-2009, 08:26 PM	#2
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	I think the Coralife comes in a freshwater version. Our LFS had them in stock, and they look nice. One important thing with the Coralife is that they have individual reflectors, which means better light in the tank. Unfortunately, the smallest bulb for T5 is 24 inches, so you will have overhang. The other option is a 20" power compact fixture. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

10-24-2009, 08:30 PM	#3
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	Is overhang really that bad? I mean the corners of the tank will get more light than normal Tell me more about this 20" compact fixture... and thanks for the quick reply __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-24-2009, 09:11 PM	#4
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	Cant find any compact fixtures that are below $100... Found one thats 20" but has a crazy 96 watt bulb. Coralife Aqualight Freshwater 6700K Daylight Aquarium Lighting Fixture Whats with these crazy wattages?! wheres the wattage on larger fixtures when you need them. lol Looks like i might go with the coralife fixture and get two 6700K bulbs for it. Does it matter if i get a fixture with slatwater bulbs installed? (im guessing thats would be the marine fixture) Cuz petco seels this one for $44 and it looks like a good deal to me. Can i just switch the bulbs for two 6700Ks or will it not work? If it wont then i guess ill have to dig around for a freshwater version online...those are damn expensive compared to the great deal of $44. Also i find the freshwater version comes with 65 watt bulbs...i dont need that many watts. (6.5 wpg) should i go with a single bulb or dual bulb fixture? if i go with the insanely expensive dual bulb, can i just buy 2 24 watt 6700K bulbs that should fit in the 24" fixture instead og the two 65watt 6700K bulbs that come with the fixture? Also it doesnt have any legs. i think that would melt my tank rim, where the light will be overhanging...right? __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 10-24-2009 at 09:26 PM..

10-24-2009, 09:56 PM	#5
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	On the 20" PC fixtures: I bought this one a few years ago (maybe four years ago), and it still works fine: Power Compact 20" 2 x 36 Watts One nice thing is that you can choose the bulbs. The one I got is compatible with the Coralife PC legs. The same company does a 1x36 w fixture, too: Power Compact 20" 1x36 Watts The replacement bulbs aren't common, but I've bought them at HelloLights (I think that's where I bought them). It's just an option. Some of the 24" fixtures have legs you can adjust to fit a 20" tank, but you'll still have overhang. It's only 2" on each side, but I guess it depends how particular you are about things like that. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

10-24-2009, 10:06 PM	#6
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	I dont care for overhang looks, as long as the tank gets enough light, and the light doesnt melt my plastic rim on the tank that much wattage would be too much from the dual bulb fix. Conversely, the 1 bulb 36 watt would be lower wattage than i need... im looking to keep around 4-4.8 wpg. I guess i can try to find lower watt 6700K bulb (s) for those 20" fixtures, but im leaning toward buying the cheaper Coralife marine fixture and switching out the 24" marine bulbs for 24" T-5 HO 6700K bulbs...you think that will work? Plus the $44 price is unreal...really it cant be true. Those must be a scam or something, cuz online these things go for $90. could the ones at petco be NO and not HO T-5s? the boxes say HO T-5s on them...gotta be a scam of some sort __________________ Credit goes to Lludu Last edited by Newman; 10-24-2009 at 10:18 PM..

10-24-2009, 10:19 PM	#7
Lotus Moderator Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,778	Yes, it would work. __________________ Lotus and Ecotank's tanks "So long, and thanks for all the fish."

10-24-2009, 10:22 PM	#8
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	Great! ill pick up the fixture tomorrow, and make sure the price is right. also gonna order two of those 6700K bulbs when i get the fixture. Thanks a bunch for all the great info and suggestions __________________ Credit goes to Lludu

10-24-2009, 10:55 PM	#9
MoneyMitch Teenie Weenie Fish Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Marysville, Ohio Posts: 33	Just thought id throw this in here, Kelven and the "color spectrum" isnt as important as everyone implys. All plants are able to adapt to any color spectrum that they are presented with. It is true however that all plants are more SENSITIVE to blue and red. This does not mean that they will not grow "as good" under a regular 3000k household color. A plant under a 3000k bulb will grow just as good as a plant under a 6500K bulb. just trying to save you a buck or two on those "designer" bulbs __________________ Fish keeping is easy don't over complicate it

10-24-2009, 11:13 PM	#10
Newman Super Fish Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 2,787	i get what youre saying. youve said before that its the nanometers that matter. but its hard to find out the nms of a 6700K bulb if the packaging doesnt supply such info...i always get lost with the nms. it the light supposed to have anything from 400nm - 600nm? or do lights only have a certain nm rating such as 413nm as a stable output? The 6700K bulbs i was looking to buy were only $22 for both. im not that stingy as long as i dont go above $20 per bulb __________________ Credit goes to Lludu