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Help- Wanting to increase lighting

Discussion in 'Aquarium Equipment & Decor' started by cliff0114, Jun 24, 2010.

  1. cliff0114

    cliff0114 Thread Starter New Member

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    I have 55 gallon, heavily planted with low-mod light plants. I have .75 watt per gallon, About 40 lumens per watt. I want to increase by diy to 2 watts per gallon and 70 lumens per watt. I would do this by building custom light for 4 t-8 6500k 32watts. for a total of 10,000 lumens 128 watts.
    confused yet, lol
    My question is.... I have read never increase your lighting, due to co2 and algea ect. is this true? What bad effects would happen if I increased the lighting? I just got back from home depot and can do this very cheaply, under 100 bucks. but did not buy anything due to fear of causing more damage than good.
    Help- Thx
     
    cliff0114, Jun 24, 2010
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  2. cliff0114

    cliff0114 Thread Starter New Member

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    I think I figured it out. I can increase my lighting, but would not be able to run the lights for 14 hours a day like I am now. Maybe only 8-10 hours a day. Because i have uv sterilizer set up for sterilizing, 13 gph per watt, It would be to my benifit.
    To control algea. Also called lfs and he told me of new product out, it puts co2 in the tank via power head looking disolving tabs that last for 6 months, cool, can add co2 for 100 bucks. It is actually made for 55 and smaller tanks.
     
    cliff0114, Jun 24, 2010
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  3. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    You can increase your lighting, many people do. On my 30 Long, which I don't currently have set up, I run 196 watts on it and don't use cO2 and didn't have any algae problems. I normally run my lights for 15 hours a day and only dose with Flourish Excel when I want an extra boost in growth.
     
    Anthony, Jun 24, 2010
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  4. cliff0114

    cliff0114 Thread Starter New Member

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    thats good to hear. I really want to add more plants. I want to do more color. I am going tomarrow to get the stuff and upgrade. I might check craids list first to see if any good lighting there for cheap. Been looking but nothing yet.
    I will upgrade to 128 watts, but that watts per gallon is sort of old school thought with all the new bulbs out. Don't you think?!128 watts but a little over 10k in lumens. 90 cri. 5500 or 6500 I cant remember what the bulbs were. They were called natural sunlight. Do you think this will be high light or moderate light? It will be 2.33 watts per gallon.
    t5 actually has more lumens per watt might go with them. bulbs are hard to get though.
    My 55 Gallon Planted Tank
     
    cliff0114, Jun 24, 2010
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  5. cliff0114

    cliff0114 Thread Starter New Member

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    Well, I did it. I went to home depot and bought 2 T8 4' lights 19 dollers each. I got wood to make a box, Man is it bright. 128 watts and 11800 lumens. 2.33 watts per gallon. I did it for 80 bucks. including 4 5000 k light bulbs. I am going to stain it and I will post photos soon. Now I can get MORE plants. I believe this is still moderate light. Am I correct? Isnt the amount of lumens on the high end? With todays lighting we get more lumens per watt, so if anyone knows that answer please let me know.
    --------------------
    I just up graded my lighting. 128 watts, 11800 lumens. it is 2.33 watts per gallon, but with todays lighting do we still go by watts per gallon? the bulbs today put out more lumens per watt. I want to go get some more plants tomarrow and would like to know my limits on what plants to stay away from.
     
    cliff0114, Jun 25, 2010
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  6. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    I, however go by the 1-2wpg being low light...2-3wpg being medium light...and anything above that being classified as high light
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 25, 2010
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  7. cliff0114

    cliff0114 Thread Starter New Member

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    How do you figure lux watt per gallon
     
    cliff0114, Jun 26, 2010
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  8. MOD_Dawn

    MOD_Dawn Active Member

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    I honestly don't know with the lux, I found that online (hence the quote)...I've just gone with the wattage and not the lux.
    Unless you've got actinics (of which I wouldn't/don't count).
     
    MOD_Dawn, Jun 26, 2010
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  9. cooltow1

    cooltow1 Member

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    That is really the problem when comparing lighting, there no good way of compare light output between light sources.
    It a problem as old as aquarium lighting itself.

    Rick
     
    cooltow1, Jun 29, 2010
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  10. Anthony

    Anthony Active Member

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    Lux confuses me so I just go by the WPG.
     
    Anthony, Jun 29, 2010
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  11. FishVixen

    FishVixen Active Member

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    Don't get me wrong but I have a feeling you have upgraded closer to higher lighting due to the lux scales I've seen. Usually plants like 6500K-8000K so with the 4-5000k You're on the edge between moderate and bright. Most plants will do fine. If you use "colored plants be sure you have iron supplement in the water and suggest CO2 even if it's a DIY set up. Talk to Dawn about fert and tabs. Lightings not the only thing you need for healthy growing plants. In my 2.5 WPG tank java fern and moss will not live other than that everything I put in there thrives and grows like weeds. Swords are really doing well. It's a 55 gal NPT (potting soil base)
     
    FishVixen, Jun 29, 2010
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  12. cliff0114

    cliff0114 Thread Starter New Member

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    I am so impressed. I added co2, along with the lighting upgrade, WOW what a differance. All the color is coming back and a growth spurt that can be seen already. All the plants just perked up. To cool. Here is pics. My 55 Gallon Planted Tank
     
    cliff0114, Jun 29, 2010
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  13. FishVixen

    FishVixen Active Member

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    looks really great! congrates.
     
    FishVixen, Jun 29, 2010
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