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lighting questions
Hi everyone,
Not being an expert this subject, I'd like some opinions from some of our
members who know about lighting.
I have three heavily planted tanks:
1. A 125 gallon 72" x 18" x 24" lit by two 6 foot VHO daylight bulbs (URI
Aqua-Sun 10K) totalling 320 watts or 2.56 watts/gallon.
2. A 65 gallon 36" x 18" x 24" lit by two 3 ft VHO daylight bulbs (URI
Aqua-Sun 10K) totalling 190 watts or 2.92 watts/gallon.
3. A 90 gallon 48" x 18" x 24" lit by a Custom SeaLife Brite Lite 2 x 55 watt
PC Ultra Daylight bulbs (8800K) totalling 110 watts or 1.2 watts/gallon.
The 90 is the newest, being about a month old. The plants in all three tanks
have roughly equal light requirements. The most light loving plant I have is
probably glossostigma or pygmy chain sword. My question are regarding the 90
gallon. The plant growth is great. The glosso is growing as a ground cover
and not reaching for the light. Pygmy chain sword is sending out runners all
over the place. The swords are all sending stalks out. The greens in this
tank are the most pleasing to the eye of all 3 aquariums. Yet this tank has
less watts/gallon than any of the three . All receive the same additives and
are CO2 injected. I originally thought I'd need another Britelite to get the
same watts/gallon as in the other tanks, but it looks like I may not need it.
None of the plants in the 90 look under illuminated to me. All three tanks
have a misture of swords, apons, crypts and a few oddball plants. Few stems.
Pretty standard fare.
If this tank continues to do well I am thinking I might get rid of the VHO
hoods I have on the 65 sand 125 and just go with a lower wattage BriteLite
like I have on the 90. Less heat and less electricity consumption. I'll
observe for a few more weeks since the 90 is so new.
Any thoughts. Anyone with similar experiences?
Regards,
Dave