Anyone having 30-40 watt on 55g planted?

Angel079

I'm adding this tech stuff here because its mainly a discussion for the plants.....

Sooo my 55g appears too bright for me eyes even letting the floating plants grow out. I have 2x30w Daylights T8's on there. While its not bright as sunlight don't get me wrong; but its brighter then my other tanks and I'm just a picky person in general

So I was wondering and reading yesterday what if I changed it to 2x15w = 30 watt total or 1x40w?

Anyone have any experience with this low wattage on 55g?

In comparison to my other tanks I'd say let's do it -BUT- the 55g is also much taller then the other tanks, specially if I look at the 45g so would that stuff be enough for my Sagittaria and Narrowleaf Chain Sword down there?

Just really looking for ideas here / experiences - Anyone?

LisaC144

Excellent question I will await a response from others.

I saw 2x15w (6500k) and 2x20w (6500k) available so I am wondering if I can use either one of them with success for my 55g planted. Just so others know what I am debating as well.

Angel079

Lisa - Worst case gimme 2 weeks test time and i'll play test bunny for the both of us with 1x30w

LisaC144

haha, sounds good. Then I can get the 2x15w if it works for you. I was going to pick up the 2x20w (since it was still 6500k) but wanted to check the forum first. I can still check Home Depot to check for the 2x30w too. We'll see if anyone has suggestions or experience otherwise

Angel079

I keep rattling my brains here, looking at old tank pictures of other 55's I had and for the live of me I do not know what the lowest wattage was I ever set up

LisaC144

Well my thinking is that perhaps the best bet in my case might be 2x20w at 6500k if I can't find the 2x30w at Home Depot. It's the closest I can get to the full 60w and still at 6500k. They had 2x30w available in 36", which of course is of no use to me. Go figure. Before I jump the gun though, I'll await responses and check Home Depot too.

JohnnyD44

i will also be interested in seeing what other have to say about lower watts....my 55G is quite bright now...

WisFish

I'm not sure what the size was, but for years I used the two 2' single bulb fixtures that came with the aquarium. They seemed bright enough to me but all I could grow long-term were crypts. Some hygros would do well for a while but in the end, they would die. That's why I switched to the tripple bulb fixture.

So far I've been able to grow lots of plants I never used to be able to grow. But there are still some that just won't grow. I don't know if that's because of too much light or too little. I think I may try removing a bulb just to see what happens. The current bulbs are 4', 32 watts t-8s.

Byron

For several years in the mid-1980's I had a 55g with one 48-inch 40w tube. It was a "Grolux" which was the rage then, in planted tanks. Very dim light by comparison to the full spectrum same size, and I didn't like the purplish hue it cast. I had thriving swords, and never fertilized. Though I did use magnesium sulfate once a week, on the advice of a planted tank aquarist writing a monthly column in FAMA at the time. It seemed to work fine.

I would suggest a single 48-inch tube to be preferable to two smaller tubes; reason being you have more even light distribution down the tank from end to end. Also, the less expensive full spectrum tubes are available in 48 inches and the other sizes are not, at least here at Home Depot, etc. May be different in the US so then that wouldn't be a consideration.

Byron.

LisaC144

My hood holds 2 24" lights. I don't think I have an option of converting it to one 48" light. In the 24" lights, I saw 15w and 20w available in Daylight.