Archivarium 2004

Choice Words · Regulars Joined: 29 May 2003 Location: Pennsylvania, USA

I'm planning a 55. It will not be heavily planted, but I would like the option of planting it in the future.

I can either get standard hoods that will have about .67-.75 watts per gallon, or I can get compact fluorescents that will have 2-3 watts per gallon. It will only be about a 40$ price difference now, but later if I have to buy all new hoods, it will be about $130.

Now, since I am not planning on planting the tank now, which means no Co2, no substrate, should I bother getting the compacts? Will all that light just mean algae problems for me? Can you fit a regular bulb into a compact's ballast--that would allow me to have low light now with the option for high light later.

Can you help me figure out what will be the most benefitial for me in the long run? I'm useless when it comes to equipment:( Thank you so much~
CW

anonapersona · Advisors Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Houston, Texas

I think that if you put that light energy into the tank, you will see it used by some life form, plants or algae. You can add floating plants upfront and that will soak up the light as well as nitrates. Or add a single lotus/water lily and let it send leaves to the surface.

Irons · Moderators Joined: 27 Feb 2003 Location: Buffalo, NY

for the $40, I would go PC! You can't use N.O. bulbs in a PC system. The pins are wrong as well as an electrical damaged caused to bulb and/or ballast. Anon had a great idea. You might even want to get duckweed, it grows quick, it will spread and cover the tank.
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Irons.

Choice Words · Regulars Joined: 29 May 2003 Location: Pennsylvania, USA

OK. now here's the question:

Which one of these two ( the 48" 130W or the 48" 260W) should I get? http://www.aquatic-marvels.com/Lighting.html#Anchor-48-35632

The 130W would cost me around $72, and the 260W would cost around $154.

Do I really need that much lighting now, or ever? Is 2.2 wpg enough, or should I go for 4.4? I don't want to blind the fish.

PharCyde · Regulars Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Queensland

You aren't going to blind the fish, humans cannot make light that can imitate the sun and then place that much power in a fluorescent tube.

All you are doing is putting more light over the tank, which without plants to absorb the light most likely will be exploited by algae.

If you want plants in the future, purchase the light that you need. If you want hygrophila polysperma or java fern or something else that requires little light, don't spend all that money on lighting. If you want to go get some Aponogeton madagascarensis for example, then I would suggest the compact fluorescents.

At the moment, with just fish a normal tube would suffice, as fish only need light to see.

Choice Words · Regulars Joined: 29 May 2003 Location: Pennsylvania, USA

"blinding" here was really meant in a liberal, poetic sense:). Ever sat and stared at a fluorescent light? It's pretty blinding.

I realize that only a normal hood would be necessary at the moment, however, I have the chance to buy this equipment at 40% off, which I will not have later, and want to do iti right the first time.

Thanks for all your help! I think I've decided to buy the 260W strip. My plan for now is to only use 2 bulbs in it at a time. In the future, when I want to plant, I can use all 4 bulbs. Thanks a lot!