I was just curious. What's the best type of lighting to use for a 120 gallon tank, for live plants? My live plants don't do too well in that tank. In my 50 gallon, they thrive thoiugh, and I care for them just the same. They seem to die quickly in the 120 gallon, so I usually take the dying ones, put them in the 50 and then they start to grow again.
The 120 gallon tank has a homemade stand and top, so the lights are higher than normal. About 8 - 10 inches above the water level. I don't know if the lighting is specifically the problem, I just wanted to make sure they were sufficient. As of right now, I have 2 40 watt, 4500K. Thanks for your help.
Edit: I am currently reading Lupin's sticky, "Chart for Lighting", so sorry for the thread. But still, any input would be helpful. Thanks.
I will let you go ahead and read through and get advice from the sticky, just wanted to mention that your issue sounds like the depth of the 120. Always remember that depth makes such a huge difference, but also distance of light from water's surface.
One other little addition for you... the amount of light needed for live plants is greatly dependent on the species of plants. For better success in the 120 without having to replace lighting, try seeking out plants that have lower lighting requirements, such as java fern, anubias, crypts, etc.
I will let you go ahead and read through and get advice from the sticky, just wanted to mention that your issue sounds like the depth of the 120. Always remember that depth makes such a huge difference, but also distance of light from water's surface.
One other little addition for you... the amount of light needed for live plants is greatly dependent on the species of plants. For better success in the 120 without having to replace lighting, try seeking out plants that have lower lighting requirements, such as java fern, anubias, crypts, etc.
Thank you. After reading so much that my head hurts, and looking around on the site at pics I noticed something I'm guessing is significant. I have 80watts, in a 120 gallon tank lol. Problem?:-?
Everyone on here who has a planted tank which looks incredible, seems to have ATLEAST 2watts per gallon. Any suggestions on what I should have?
If you can tell me what types of plants you are attempting to keep in the 120, then I can better advise on what wattage and type of lighting you should be seeking.
I actually had amazon sword, Vallisneria and this one type that I could never find the name of. It was an off green, with some white spots. Tall stem with a few leaves at the top if that helps. As of right now, since nothing has really survived in the tank, im not really looking for any specific types of plants yet. I just want to make sure I have a tank where they would be able to live first.
If you made the tank stand/ hood I'm assuming you wired the current lights in? To grow plants your tank needs more light. Due too the size of your tank I would aim for 1-1.5 WPG. To increase your light I would go to a home improvement store and look for a cheap fluorescent lighting fixture for a garage or something similar. Preferably it should take T8 tubes, but T12 tubes would be fine. (this refers to the diameter of the bulb) Buy something that is easy to gut out and install it in your tanks current hood. You may need to do some modifications to the hood to deal w/ the increased heat. Also I only suggest doing this if you have something protecting the hood/bulbs from the water(glass tops or something).
I suggest that the new bulbs have a high kelvin rating. Your current ones are OK, but I wouldn't go much lower than that.
It does depend upon the type of planted aquarium you want in the end, whether or not you need more light. You can grow a lot of plants with what you now have, but you need better tubes (type).
I have a 115g aquarium, five feet in length, and only two regular 40w tubes of full spectrum and cool white mixed. And I have phenominal plant growth. Check out the photos of my 115g to see what I mean. And I have no CO2 and no enriched substrate. The Echinodorus macrophyllus on the left side is more than 10 years old. So 80 watts of light over your 120g is not insufficient for the majority of plants, but you will need to improve the tubes. Full spectrum at 6500K works best, combined with cool white (a higher K rating for the additional blue). But if your aim is for a tank of high-light requirement plants, you will need more light and then CO2 will be an issue.
Without knowing what type of fixture you're working with, this is difficult for any of us to offer you a solution to your problem. We can suggest many different bulbs and wattages for you, and all of them may be capable of what you need... but that doesn't mean they will all work with your custom hood and whatever fixtures you're working with currently. There is also the issue of heat, as was already mentioned.
I think the key here is going to be in making sure you are working with full spectrum bulbs. If you increase wattage, chances are you will also increase the heat output, so additional ventilation may be needed. Distance from light to water's surface is also important, as is reflectability.
Is it possible for you to share with us some photos & details of your current lighting set up other than just the bulbs you are using?
The only pic which is of the whole tank is the first one and it's pretty dark.:-?
I think Im going to go ahead and try the full spectrum, higher W and higher K bulbs!
Also, it couldn't hurt to get something for fert right? Or is that necessary?
The only pic which is of the whole tank is the first one and it's pretty dark.:-?
I think Im going to go ahead and try the full spectrum, higher W and higher K bulbs!
Also, it couldn't hurt to get something for fert right? Or is that necessary?
With that nice dark substrate, plants will look super in your aquarium. My only suggestion would be to change the background from the bright blue to either black or dark gray. Plants (and fish) stand out marvellously with dark backgrounds and substrates. With that one change, I think you would see a world of difference.
If there are two tubes, go with the combo I mentioned preivously.
As for ferts, they are needed because the nutrients that occur naturally from the water (minerals) and fish food and biological processes are normally not sufficient to support good plant growth. There has to be a balance. There are 17 nutrients required by aquatic plants, and in specific porportion to each other; excess or deficiencies can cause real problems and lead to plant degeneration and death. In my experience the best solution is a comprehensive liquid fertilizer, once that contains all of the required nutrients in the correct balance. I have had excellent results with Seachem's Flourish Comprehensive Supplement for the Planted Aquarium (which I use now) and also Kent's Freshwater Plant Supplement which I used for many years. Once a week, following the partial water change, is the best time to add liquid fertilizer. Observe the plant's response, and if needed a second dose can be added weekly. But it takes a couple of weeks for things to change after fertilization is started/stopped, so be patient and observe. Existing leaves, especially on swords, sometimes die off. As long as new growth emerges from the centre of the crown, the plant is healthy and probably responding to the fertilizer.
Substrate fertilization is useful with plants like swords which are heavy feeders, and in their natural habitat they are mostly bog plants so root absorption of nutrients is strong, and putting the nutrient supplement in the substrate next to the roots is beneficial. A good substrate fertilizer is Nutrafin's Plant-Gro sticks; Seachem also have a root tab in the Flourish line which is good, but more expensive. I use the sticks and have been amazed at the improved growth just from these after about 3 months.
You are most welcome, and thank you. I would go with the 6500K which is full spectrum and therefore balanced light. Of course, the specific tube is important, not all full spectrum are the same. Is this by any chance the Zoo Med brand, maybe the UltraSun? I believe it is 32w and would be fine. Or the Hagen 40w Life-Glo 2 at 6700K, much the same. The Zoo Med increase the intensity and thus the lower wattage is comparable to the 40w.
I see that you're from Canada as well, so maybe you are familiar with Home Hardware. I saw these two products on their website, and Im wondering if you feel that they may be sufficient. Home Hardware Product Details
or Home Hardware Product Details
Im about to make the change, so I promise Ill stop bothering you after this
Thank you so much for your help, it's been appreciated!
I see that you're from Canada as well, so maybe you are familiar with Home Hardware. I saw these two products on their website, and Im wondering if you feel that they may be sufficient. Home Hardware Product Details
or Home Hardware Product Details
Im about to make the change, so I promise Ill stop bothering you after this
Thank you so much for your help, it's been appreciated!
You are most welcome. And questions are not a bother, that's why we're all here, to learn and help.
The first link is not a recommended tube. Grolux [I used these back in the 1980's when they were all the rage for planted aquaria and there was nothing else basically] are similar to tubes with names like "Aqua Glo" or Flora Glo, etc. They are high in the blue and red but little or no green light, which means the tank takes on a purplish, almost spectral hue. Colours of plants and fish do not appear natural. And these tubes are usually less intense light so not the best for plants even though they provide the necessary colour (blue and red).
The second link is fine. In fact, I have one of these on each of my 70g and 90g aquaria, along with a Life-Glo 2 full spectrum; you can see the effect in my aquaria photos. The Phillips Daylight Deluxe appears just a tad cooler, it is sort of a cool white colour, proven to be excellent for plant growth especially when combined with a full spectrum. I got mine from Home Depot, they were around $7 for a pair. I like to mix them over tanks that have two tubes for my personal preference, but I believe they would be fine on their own. If they have the regular full spectrum Daylight by Phillips, one of those and one of the Daylight Deluxe would be a good match assuming you have two tubes over the tank. I suspect Home Hardware will do the same, but when I got mine at HD I was able to take back the ones I didn't like. That way you can try both and decide which you prefer. Both provide the good colour for plant growth so it is then a matter of your preference in the appearance of the aquarium.
Thanks Byron you have been a great help! I haven't seen anything about the Philips Deluxe on the website, just 44W, High Output Cool White...Im assuming those are either them, or are also good? I'm on my way to go get some lights now thanks to your advice.
Does it matter when I start adding plants after I put the new lights in, or can I start adding right away?
Thanks Byron you have been a great help! I haven't seen anything about the Philips Deluxe on the website, just 44W, High Output Cool White...Im assuming those are either them, or are also good? I'm on my way to go get some lights now thanks to your advice.
Does it matter when I start adding plants after I put the new lights in, or can I start adding right away?
Plant as soon as the lights are on. And if you can, plant heavy at once, by which I mean add as many plants together. It is easier to fertilize, and the water stabilizes quicker.
Thank you. Keep us posted. It is fun planting tanks.
Ok so I just got home from going to every hardware store in the city. Home hardware was all out of the Philips T8, as was Home Depot. I found T8 Daylights, made my Sylvania, and I bought them. Are these a good brand, or did I make a mistake? I stopped off at Canadian Tire on the way home, and they had T8 Daylight by GE. I didnt get those since I already bought some, but now im wondering if I made a mistake. Thanks again!
Ok so I just got home from going to every hardware store in the city. Home hardware was all out of the Philips T8, as was Home Depot. I found T8 Daylights, made my Sylvania, and I bought them. Are these a good brand, or did I make a mistake? I stopped off at Canadian Tire on the way home, and they had T8 Daylight by GE. I didnt get those since I already bought some, but now im wondering if I made a mistake. Thanks again!
You're OK. Home Depot used to carry Sylvannia, and I used them for 12 years, one full spectrum and one Daylight Deluxe or whatever it was called, forgotten now. They now carry the Phillips. The GE I've never used so couldn't say. But your Sylvannia are fine.
Tubes have to be replaced every 12 months, over time they lose their output intensity (all fluorescent tubes do this). They still light, but the light is considerably less intense and the plants don't get enough. Some aquarists say they should be replaced every six months, but most agree that 12 is OK. I have read one or two who say 2-3 years, but few agree with them. Since these Phillips are very inexpensive (by comparison to those manufactured specifically for aquaria) once a year is not bad. Staggering them (replace one at a time, six months apart, so each is lasting 12 months but not being replaced at the same time) is often suggested, and I now do this; it creates a more consistent intensity.
Just an update. I installd the Sylvannia T8 Daytime Deluxe bulbs yetserday.
As soon as they turned on, I went out and bought 2 Wisteria plants, one sword (The tag said regular sword, now Im not sure what type it is), and 2 Variegated Japanese Dwarf Rush. The plant already looks 10x better. I took out the greek decor, and replaced them with the new drift wood that I bought. With the new bulbs, plants, driftwood, and 2 new fancy guppies, I came out only having spent 50 bucks!
I noticed the difference in the lighting right away. Everything seems brighter and more vibrant!.
I ended up getting a box of 12, of the Sylvania T8 Daylight bulbs. Seriously, every store in the city is out of any other types of T8 that you mentioned lol. I wanted to mix them, but unfortunately I can't right now.
Anyways, I went ahead and changed the backround from blue to black. Black was on the backside, so I just had to flip it around.
I took the "greek" decor out, added about 3-4 pieces of driftwood.
I bought 2 Ozelot Swords, 2 Wisteria plants, 1 red ludwiga, 4 Variegated Japanese Dwarf Rush, and one more plant (I forget the name now, but it was potted).
I have to admit, the black backround, coupled with the vibrant green in the new plants looks fantastic. As soon as I find my digital camera, I will show some pics. My rope fish used to just stay in his cave all day, and come out for maybe half an hour. Now he just swims around non-stop.
The only thing I kind of regret, is getting the 2 potted plants. (I forgot the name of the one, and the other was one of the Ozelot Swords). The pots were larger than the height of my gravel, so I had to add more and now they look like they are on a hill.
Are potted plants any better or worse than non?
I ended up getting a box of 12, of the Sylvania T8 Daylight bulbs. Seriously, every store in the city is out of any other types of T8 that you mentioned lol. I wanted to mix them, but unfortunately I can't right now.
Anyways, I went ahead and changed the backround from blue to black. Black was on the backside, so I just had to flip it around.
I took the "greek" decor out, added about 3-4 pieces of driftwood.
I bought 2 Ozelot Swords, 2 Wisteria plants, 1 red ludwiga, 4 Variegated Japanese Dwarf Rush, and one more plant (I forget the name now, but it was potted).
I have to admit, the black backround, coupled with the vibrant green in the new plants looks fantastic. As soon as I find my digital camera, I will show some pics. My rope fish used to just stay in his cave all day, and come out for maybe half an hour. Now he just swims around non-stop.
The only thing I kind of regret, is getting the 2 potted plants. (I forgot the name of the one, and the other was one of the Ozelot Swords). The pots were larger than the height of my gravel, so I had to add more and now they look like they are on a hill.
Are potted plants any better or worse than non?
Sounds wonderful, any photos coming? Would like to see it now.
Is there a reason you don't take the plants out of the pots? Some aquarist prefer plants potted in the aquarium, but unless there is a reason they will grow as well, perhaps better, out of the pots and in the gravel. You just carefully pull the pot off, then remove as much of the "rock wool" that they are rooted in--very carefully so as not to break off roots; I find if you sort of slowly tear it off in strips it comes apart and the roots pull through or are freed naturally. Make a depression in the gravel and push the root mass in (some of the rock wool can stay on it, it won't hurt) and spread the gravel over. Then carefully pull the plant straight up slowly just to the point where the crown is not buried. That's it.
Rooted plants (swords, crypts) usually come in pots; sometimes you can get them non-potted, same plants; makes no difference.
Byron.
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