Lighting for a 135 gallon tank

johnnyjiron

Right now I have two t-12 36" 30 watts 6500k tubes. One on each side... Is this enough?

aunt kymmie

Is this a planted tank??

johnnyjiron

yes. low light tank. For example java ferns, Anubias, Amazon Frogbit, Brazilian Pennywort, and Java Moss.

Byron

This is pushing it, but for those plants it may suffice, though the Frogbit is going to have difficulty. However, tubes do wear out fast. T12 is basically useless within a year and should be replaced at least every year though some have suggested every 6 months. However, T12 is being phased out, and the T8 tubes are more efficient and will last some say 2-3 years. You can't wait until they "burn out" as by then they would be useless, having lost so much light intensity as they burn.

T refers to the tube diameter, in eighths of an inch. So a T12 is 12/8 or 1.5 inches in diameter, a T8 is 8/8 or 1 inch. But the same tubes only in |T8. m Most manufacturers are now making tubes in T8 and not T12 anyway, since they are more efficient.

What is the brand of tube? I may have comments on this. And what is your fertilizer?

Byron.

johnnyjiron

General Electric I got them from lowes. I was looking for t8 but they only have t12 with specs I wanted. I'm going to use flourish for fertilizing. The reason why I'm limited to certain plants is because I'm using pool filter sand as substrate. Right now while the tank is cycling I planted some crypts and even tho' I placed some of those nutrafin tablets they are not doing so well. I really wish I could of found some cheap small gravel which it would of been better for the plants. But the only one I found would of been to expensive to cover such a big tank.

Byron

Sand will work, I have a couple tanks with sand. Crypts do not like being moved, they will melt but come back, just don't disturb them. Flourish Comprehensive Supplement will work without substrate ferts. I use it.

Phillips make T8's in 6500K, the T12's are fine, they just wear out faster.

johnnyjiron

What about valls?

Byron

That might be really pushing it. I have Vallisneria spiralis growing in my 90g (and previously in the 70g) which both have two 48-inch tubes over them. You can try it, it may manage. Sometimes it is difficult to say definitively, other factors can make a difference too from tank to tank. Vallisneria are certainly not "low light" plants though.

Is the hood such that you have no option to replace the light fixture?

Byron.

johnnyjiron

well I would have to invest in a 6 feet light fixture. Right now Im using which look likes stock light fixtures.

Byron

If you can add another fixture, similar to the one you have, that is one option. With a glass cover over the tank itself, adding fixtures is easy. But if the tank has a hood proper, that means replacing it. Just a thought should you decide more light is necessary.