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Bulb Recomendations for new Light set up

Mark D

Mark D

Member
Joined
2 May 2015
Messages
47
I am looking at upgrading the lighting on my Jewel Rio 400. It a tropical set up and I am increasing the level of planting and I am investigating pressurized CO2.

My currant thinking is that I will be getting one of these http://www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/aqualumi/5ft-6-t5-silver-aqualumi-aquarium-lighting-pendant.html

This takes 6x80 T5 bulbs so my current idea is to have

4x Tropical Bulbs http://www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/bul...1450mm-58/80w-t5-special-aqua-blue-50-50.html

1x White Marine 14000K http://www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/bul...-t5-1450mm-58/80w-t5-white-marine-14000k.html

1x Special Aqua Blue 50:50 http://www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/bul...1450mm-58/80w-t5-special-aqua-blue-50-50.html

The reason for the 2 marine tube is to balance out the pink hue of the tropical ones.

Full range of tube is http://www.iquaticsonline.co.uk/bulbs/t5-fluorescents/80w-t5-1450mm-58.html

Does this sound about right or does anyone have any other recommendations?
 
I assume you mean bulb not blub.

BLUB verb informal
  1. cry noisily and uncontrollably; sob.

Anyway this is a huge huge huge huge (did I mention huge) amount of light perfect for vaporising plants and growing algae (or marine tank), unless you are very very very careful.

The standard 4x54W T5 tubes supplied with the Rio 400 put it firmly in the high light category.

ie single T5HO with reflector and 24inches deep is 40par, for 4 tubes is 160 par, well into high light....with a 6 tube light fixture....well "hello algae"....
PARvsDistVariousBulbs2.jpg
So think very carefully about this light unit. You must find a way of severely reducing the brightness, say by 1/3 at start up or else such high light will kill the plants turning your tank into a giant 400l algae farm.

As for tube choice, plants don't care, just choose what every looks nice to you. Personally I would go for mixture of tropical (x2) and white (x4) tubes as I assume you want your plants to look nice and not corals.
 
Consider the dimensions of your aquarium & choose the light pendant that will give you the most even coverage across the width & length of your tank ... I'd want to control the lamps in pairs rather than in the 4 & 2 configuration offered by the unit you've linked (may be better for marine tanks than planted): no way would I use more than 2 lamps unless I have a pressurized CO2 system with solenoid & diffusers/reactors etc (CO2 Art offers some great systems).

Lamps is very personal choice, most plants will adapt to the light spectrum available .... I'm a fan of the Giessmaan T5's & combine the Tropic (6500K) & Flora - (I actually have their previous series so not positive on the names), try to see the lamps in person when choosing.
 
Ian what does 'other PC' mean on that chart please?
I was hoping it would show a comparison of reflector-T8 with non-reflector T5, does a reflector roughly double PAR?
 
Many thanks. The reflector graph in the first thread leads me to believe that a T5HO with 'fair' reflectors (such as the Arcadia clip-ons I use for my T8's) might not be as overpowered on my 20" deep tank as I first thought.
 
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