Lighting Suggestion

[Serpio]

I am planning on a 48" X 24" X 20" tank. I want to make it a planted tank. Need some ideas for the lighting.
Thanks!

 

[tlfphoto]

tlfphoto

The cheapest way you can make that happen is to go to Lowes and get 2 48" shop light kits. They have everything you need.You just need to build a canopy to house them. I have a 45gal and a 55gal and both have this lighting setup. The shoplights should be less than $10 each = $40 and the buls are between $5-$10. I use two 48" 40watt Gro Lux & two 48" 40watt 6,500K. You can get both bulbs at Lowes also. Just look for the plant and aquarium bulbs and then read descriptions to find Ultradaylight 6,500k bulbs. Here is a link to my rate my tank http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=7104
That should help you decide. My plants grow nicely.
I leave them on 12 hours a day and use all Seachem ferts.
Seachem ferts include: Flourish, Potassium, Iron, Trace, & Excel.
Good luck hope I helped

 

[Serpio]

So I guess I should have 4 strips of 48" FL. Is that enough light for a 20" deep tank?

 

[Somonas]

a 100 gallon ideally would need 300 watts of light... 4 tubes would only supply 160 watts.

I would seriously consider researching power compact, and since 20" is quite deep, metal halide.

 

[aquatic-store]

If you are going to make a hood get a reftrofit kit from ahsupply . They are probably the chaepest on those

 

[Serpio]

Metal Halide would boil the water. Even power filter makes the water way too warm. Power compacts then. Anyone else with some other idea?

 

[Gomer]

www.ahsupply.com as suggested by Marcus. I have 2x55watt kit over my 29g. Good stuff

 

[RedTurquoise]

MH doesnt boil the water! Just be sure not to use an enclosed canopy and suspend them from the ceiling or something. Fluorescents or PC in an enclosed canopy will heat up the water also (ok, will not get as hot as MH but same effect).