Just setting up a 5' x 15"x 24" planted tank in my fishroom (converted garage) , I'm new to this level of planted tank i.e. CO2 and high end lighting and substrate etc, my local fish shop owner has kindly given me free of charge a pair of Bioplast black pendant mercury vapour lighting plus a CO2 regulator and solenoid valve, presumably from what was once his planted stock section.
I have set up the MV lighting and have noticed it gets as hot as the Metal Halide light over my reef tank and the light is also somewhat yellowish. Few questions, how close to the surface of tank do the pendants drop? would I be better off ditching them for T5 compacts or are these lights worth running with still?, do I have to supplement it with a beauty/gro-lux lighting to enhance colour within the tank, are there alternative replacement bulbs out there?
I have set up the MV lighting and have noticed it gets as hot as the Metal Halide light over my reef tank and the light is also somewhat yellowish. Few questions, how close to the surface of tank do the pendants drop? would I be better off ditching them for T5 compacts or are these lights worth running with still?, do I have to supplement it with a beauty/gro-lux lighting to enhance colour within the tank, are there alternative replacement bulbs out there?