Steve Smith
Member
Just a quick general question really. I will be setting up a 4ft (approx 200 litre) tank soon and I'm wondering what lighting I should consider. The tank will hopefully be an echo of the fantastic long tank at TGM, but perhaps not identical.
Planting wise, I'll be going glosso and eleocharis, and some ludwigia acruata or similar. Maybe some Dow noi and riccia as experiments. Nothing too heavy or demanding. I'll be dosing EI and using pressurised CO2, with inert gravel substrate (can't afford plant substrate atm, unless I consider akadama maybe). Filtration will hopefully be up to the task, using an EX700 and Fluval 205.
Anyhow. I'm looking at something like a dual 54w T5 balast, or if I can afford it, a dual/tripple 54w T5 luminaire. I guess my question is, will 108w T5 be plenty? Would I get away with 80w of T8 light or is that too little (this is my "budget" option).
Planting wise, I'll be going glosso and eleocharis, and some ludwigia acruata or similar. Maybe some Dow noi and riccia as experiments. Nothing too heavy or demanding. I'll be dosing EI and using pressurised CO2, with inert gravel substrate (can't afford plant substrate atm, unless I consider akadama maybe). Filtration will hopefully be up to the task, using an EX700 and Fluval 205.
Anyhow. I'm looking at something like a dual 54w T5 balast, or if I can afford it, a dual/tripple 54w T5 luminaire. I guess my question is, will 108w T5 be plenty? Would I get away with 80w of T8 light or is that too little (this is my "budget" option).