Lighting for 55 Gallon Freshwater

[mpholloway]

Hello,

I currently have a 55 gallon freshwater tank, it currently is just running a 4ft shop light with 2 aquarium/plant bulbs from Wal-Mart. I was just given a 30 gallon tank that was a saltwater setup. The tank came with two Icecap 430's, one running two Antinic White 24" VHO bulbs and one running two Super Antinic 24" VHO bulbs.

I am looking at mounting the lighting from the 30gal in my 55gal hood but not sure if it will provide to much/not enough light. I have searched around but cannot find much on using Antinic lights on a freshwater tank? Also what are the different bulbs for White vs. Super, the Super is pretty blue seems like it would almost be for moon light but they are pretty bright.

My 55gal is fully stocked with about 6 live plants but will be adding more as I decide what i want.

 

[unwritten law]

I think they will provide enough light but you'll need different bulbs. At the very least replace the actinic bulbs with plant bulbs with a kelvin rating of 6,700. The other bulbs probably burn at a 10,000 rating which should be okay but if they are any higher then I'd replace them as well as then they would not be producing the right type of light for plants.

Any Idea on the length or wattage on the bulbs that you got? I don't know anything about the "Super" stuff but I think its just a name.

 

[mpholloway]

Thanks, all the bulbs are T12 24" VHO's. What I can find is that they are 75watts each. If it is recommend to replace with a different temperature i will change the setup to accept 48" bulbs instead of 24".

Here are a few links if it helps.
Super Antinic
Super Actinic 75W - 24" VHO Bulb
Antinic White
Actinic White 75W - 24" VHO Bulb

 

[mpholloway]

Just found this on UV Lighting Co web site. Looks like the White is 12K and the Supers cannot be calculated. Guess I will be replacing them. Thanks again.

 

[mpholloway]

Good Evening,
So I removed the shoplight and wired up the IceCap ballast and set it up for 2-48" bulbs, they were a little to long to place in my custom hood so i notched out a my hood on each end I am currently just using the GE Ecolux Plant and Aquarium bulbs from Wal-Mart. They are MUCH brighter than they were with the shoplight but they seem really yellow? Unwritten Law you recommended using a 6700K and possibly a 10,000K?
<BR>I think I am going to go back and wire it to hold 3-48" bulbs so any ideas on a good combination? I would like to have it a little whiter but still be good for the fish and plants. Also any suggestions on where to buy bulbs? I stopped by Petco on the way home and they only sell T8 bulbs but the endcaps are made to hold T12's.