Lighting Struggles

[muddyfox]

Hi,

I'm planning my first planted tank (well, fully planted tank - I've
always had some plants in previous tanks) and I'm really struggling to
work out how to supply the lighting I need. I'm going for a 2ft tank
and the only plant I'm absolutely hooked on growing is Riccia, because
I adore that grass like look. I've worked out that I can probably do
that with about 60W (tank water will be about 1 ft deep) although if
anyone thinks this is wildly out for Riccia please let me know. But
how to supply that 60 - I've looked at quite a few options but planted
aquariums seem to be quite specialist in the UK making it more
difficult to find the right parts and, I suspect, my vast inexperience
with this is really showing...

First I looked at getting a Fluval Duo Deep 600 because it has two
light tubes. But then I discovered that they're only 15 watts each. I
wondered if I can replace the tubes in these with something which,
although still at 15 watts will give me more bang for my buck -
brighter more effective plant lighting perhaps? Maybe it's even
possible to retrofit a double T5 kit (although this would bring each
lamp up to 24W - I think!)?

Then I looked at using a basic all-glass tank getting an over-tank
luminaire. But at 24" Arcadia only do 2 T8's at a total of 30W, or 2
(or 4) T5's which only have marine lamps in them. Are marine lamps any
good for plants? Can I buy different lamps and put them in? I don't
think they're the blue (actinic) but they have a much higher colour
temperature than the regular plant lamps I've seen.

Then I looked at trying to make my own hood with, say 3 T8's, but I
don't really have the skills for that. (In fact, when I mentioned it
to my husband, he laughed saying things like "DIY!!!....you!!!....ha ha
ha ha!!!!" Hmmmm. But it can't be that hard can it? Maybe I could
get a normal aquarium hood and do a bit of a redesign? I'm not bad
with electronics, just can't use a jigsaw for love nor money.

If anyone has any ideas I would really value some help. I've been
running round in circles with this for ages now.

Many thanks,

muddy

[Bill Stock]

"muddyfox" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi,
>
> I'm planning my first planted tank (well, fully planted tank - I've
> always had some plants in previous tanks) and I'm really struggling to
> work out how to supply the lighting I need. I'm going for a 2ft tank
> and the only plant I'm absolutely hooked on growing is Riccia, because
> I adore that grass like look. I've worked out that I can probably do
> that with about 60W (tank water will be about 1 ft deep) although if
> anyone thinks this is wildly out for Riccia please let me know. But
> how to supply that 60 - I've looked at quite a few options but planted
> aquariums seem to be quite specialist in the UK making it more
> difficult to find the right parts and, I suspect, my vast inexperience
> with this is really showing...
>
> First I looked at getting a Fluval Duo Deep 600 because it has two
> light tubes. But then I discovered that they're only 15 watts each. I
> wondered if I can replace the tubes in these with something which,
> although still at 15 watts will give me more bang for my buck -
> brighter more effective plant lighting perhaps? Maybe it's even
> possible to retrofit a double T5 kit (although this would bring each
> lamp up to 24W - I think!)?
>
> Then I looked at using a basic all-glass tank getting an over-tank
> luminaire. But at 24" Arcadia only do 2 T8's at a total of 30W, or 2
> (or 4) T5's which only have marine lamps in them. Are marine lamps any
> good for plants? Can I buy different lamps and put them in? I don't
> think they're the blue (actinic) but they have a much higher colour
> temperature than the regular plant lamps I've seen.
>
> Then I looked at trying to make my own hood with, say 3 T8's, but I
> don't really have the skills for that. (In fact, when I mentioned it
> to my husband, he laughed saying things like "DIY!!!....you!!!....ha ha
> ha ha!!!!" Hmmmm. But it can't be that hard can it? Maybe I could
> get a normal aquarium hood and do a bit of a redesign? I'm not bad
> with electronics, just can't use a jigsaw for love nor money.
>
> If anyone has any ideas I would really value some help. I've been
> running round in circles with this for ages now.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> muddy


Something like this might do:

http://www.mops.ca/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/cshop/LICU-01003.html?L+scstore+hxtf1391ff85db85+1141490285

No idea about a UK source though.

I'd rather go with 2*36 though to give better distribution and more options.
I didn't find any when I searched, but I thought Coralife made something
like it. You could always make your own from here:

http://www.ahsupply.com/36-55w.htm

The 2*36 kit is down the page. But they're in the US, so shipping might be
expensive.

Hopefully some of the UK folks can give you better specifics.

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

[Riccia]

Sorry, moss no grass.

Riccia is available as floating (surface) or sinking
(bottom) moss. They need different kind of lightening.

And you also could have fine planted tanks without Riccia..!

> Maybe
> it's even possible to retrofit a double T5 kit (although
> this would bring each
> lamp up to 24W - I think!)?

Maybe, but does it make any sense?

> But at 24" Arcadia only do 2 T8's at a total
> of 30W,

These T8/30W tubes are 89,X cm long and generally used in
100cm hoods.

> or 2 (or 4) T5's which only have marine lamps in them.

T5 should also be available for freshwater.

> Are marine lamps any good for plants?

Not really.

> Then I looked at trying to make my own hood with, say 3
> T8's, but don't really have the skills for that.

Should also be available custom made, too. Start an inquiry.

HTH.
--
cu
Marco

[Koi-Lo]

Moments before spontaneously combusting <muddyfox> at
> was heard opining:

> Hi,
>
> I'm planning my first planted tank (well, fully planted tank - I've
> always had some plants in previous tanks) and I'm really struggling to
> work out how to supply the lighting I need. I'm going for a 2ft tank
> and the only plant I'm absolutely hooked on growing is Riccia, because
> I adore that grass like look.
===========
Riccia isn't grasslike. It's more like a tangled ball of green stuff. :-)
I wish I could find the real thing but no one here carries it. Twice I
ordered it online and twice I received lichen which dies underwater. They
sent it complete with tiny twigs and pine needles still in it. Needless to
say I don't order plants from the net anymore.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Richard Sexton]

In article >,
Koi-Lo > wrote:
>> I'm planning my first planted tank (well, fully planted tank - I've
>> always had some plants in previous tanks) and I'm really struggling to
>> work out how to supply the lighting I need. I'm going for a 2ft tank
>> and the only plant I'm absolutely hooked on growing is Riccia, because
>> I adore that grass like look.
>===========
>Riccia isn't grasslike. It's more like a tangled ball of green stuff. :-)

Well, while not a plant with grass-like leaves it does look very
lawnlike when planted i this way. Aquatic mosses are easier to get
and deal with though.

>I wish I could find the real thing but no one here carries it. Twice I
>ordered it online and twice I received lichen which dies underwater. They
>sent it complete with tiny twigs and pine needles still in it. Needless to
>say I don't order plants from the net anymore.

Most online vendors are reputable. Lichen isn't Riccia by any stretch. Twigs
and pine needles means it was grown outdoors, not uncommon in the US.

--
Need Mercedes parts? http://parts.mbz.org
Richard Sexton | Mercedes stuff: http://mbz.org
1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Home pages: http://rs79.vrx.net
633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | http://aquaria.net http://killi.net

[Koi-Lo]

Moments before spontaneously combusting <Richard Sexton> at
> was heard opining:

> In article >,
> Koi-Lo > wrote:
>>> I'm planning my first planted tank (well, fully planted tank - I've
>>> always had some plants in previous tanks) and I'm really struggling
>>> to work out how to supply the lighting I need. I'm going for a 2ft
>>> tank
>>> and the only plant I'm absolutely hooked on growing is Riccia,
>>> because
>>> I adore that grass like look.
>> ===========
>> Riccia isn't grasslike. It's more like a tangled ball of green
>> stuff. :-)
>
> Well, while not a plant with grass-like leaves it does look very
> lawnlike when planted i this way. Aquatic mosses are easier to get
> and deal with though.
>
>> I wish I could find the real thing but no one here carries it.
>> Twice I ordered it online and twice I received lichen which dies
>> underwater. They sent it complete with tiny twigs and pine needles
>> still in it. Needless to say I don't order plants from the net
>> anymore.
>
> Most online vendors are reputable. Lichen isn't Riccia by any
> stretch. Twigs and pine needles means it was grown outdoors, not
> uncommon in the US.
======================
Trust me, what they sent wasn't riccia. It looked exactly like the Lichen
you buy for train boards to make scenery. It promptly died (both times)
and disintegrated when submerged. I know what riccia is because I grew it
for years. I lost it all when I moved up here back in 1992. The 5g tank of
it was left behind. By the time I remembered it and went back for it,
either the sun or the freezing temperatures had already killed it.

--
Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
Aquariums since 1952
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~ }<((((o> ~~~ }<{{{{o> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[mackbrez]

It looked absolutely like the Lichen you buy for alternation boards to accomplish scenery. It promptly died (both times) and burst if submerged. I apperceive what riccia is because I grew it for years. I absent it all if I confused up actuality aback in 1992.