Which Light?

PlecoCollector

PlecoCollector

Superstar Fish
#1
Aug 21, 2005
1,430
0
0
34
Clinton, NY
#1
I'm hoping to go to Big Al's tomorrow and I want to get a better bulb for the light on my 90 gallon. It's planted... or kind of planted... but either way, are there any specific ones you all suggest getting?

I really don't know much about lighting, so all I can tell you is that I have a 48" strip light with a 32W bulb in it. :eek: Thanks *crazysmil
 

jasnfeller

jasnfeller

Small Fish
#2
Mar 14, 2006
34
0
0
#2
for a 90 gallong your goingto want atleast 180 watts to grow low to mid level plants...something that might grow quicker low light plants typically grow slower...they have the "current usa orbit 48" 4x65" which should be sufficient...for $270...the only reasonI suggest the 4 bulb is b/c PC bulbs are expensive and it will be cheaper to replace one at a time if the blow or go dim.
 

Pure

Pure

Elite Fish
#5
Nov 1, 2005
3,216
7
0
Jacksonville, FL
#5
PC here is an opportunity for you to try summin for us. I've read before that in a deep tank like a 90 going with a higher K level for plants than what is normally recommended helps the light penetrate through the water to the bottom of the tank, thus cutting down on the amount of WPG needed.

See if you can get one bulb at a 6500K rating, and another at say a 10000K rating. Try the first one for a month or 2, then swap it out for the second one. Report back to us our findings and results. :D muchoapriciato!!!
 

N

noncentric

Large Fish
#11
Feb 18, 2006
196
0
16
WA state
#11
PlecoCollector said:
Gah, I don't know if I want to spend that much for lighting.. :p But thank for you for the suggestion!

What about something like this: http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23673;category_id=2543
Click to expand...
It looks like this bulb is only 40 watts. Does your current light strip just have room for 1 bulb? If so, then it's unlikely you'll be able to get even 1 watt-per-gallon without adding another light fixture.

Without even 1 wpg, then your live plant choices are going to be very, very limited - no matter what K-rated bulb you use.

Power compact will allow you more wattage than fluorescent strips, so maybe you could spring for this (110 watts):
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24083;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=
You could get different K bulbs and do 1/2 tank with one K-rating and the other 1/2 tank with another K-rating - although this fixture already comes with two bulbs (9325 K).

Or something like this, buy you'd have to replace one of the bulbs since FW plants aren't benefited by actinic bulbs (130 watts, plus lunar lights):
http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=29605;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=
Or: http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24063;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=
 

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