100g tank lighting

[kidnick]

I was given a 100g reef set up that has an aquaclear pro 150 wet/dry filter w/skimmer, a fluval 404, and only a 40w bulb fixture. I have been looking at the satelite, nova, and orbit 4x55 and 4x65w fixtures and wonder if that is enough light for a hard corral tank or a planted FW tank. If I go FW I would like to be able to grow rotalla wallichi and maybe some other higher light plants. Also If I go FW I dont know exactly how to inject the co2 efficently for these plants. I have read in this forum that I could inject it in the sump but I have no idea of what kind of pump to use or exactly how to do this, some diagrams would be helpful on setting this up. Also I have read that the cf's and T5's put out 3times as much light as std. fl. so does this mean that 4x55w or 4x65w is actually giving me 660w to 780w from a 4ft fixture? Please help! I'm sooooo confused.


Why is it that when ever I post on a lot of these forums I get a few views but hardly any replies at all? Am I doing something wrong, not giving enough info or what?

 

[aquabillpers]

Well, frankly, I haven't responded because there are others here who are much more knowledgeable than I on the questions that you raise.

One suggestion? if you restricted your questions to one or two per posting, directly stated, you would probably get more responses.

Bill

 

[VaughnH]

It always helps to do some searching thru past posts to see if your questions have been answered. Sometimes people just don't want to answer the same questions over and over, not that you asked questions that have been answered over and over.

About the lights: When we say we need 1.5 to 2.0 watts per gallon for a 100 gallon tank, we mean light from CF or T5 or equivalent fixtures, using good reflectors. So a 55 watt CF light fixture, such as from AH Supply, is 55 watts of light. I suggest you get a 4 55 watt bulb fixture or fixtures for the 100 gallon tank, with the ability to turn them on and off independently, or at least to turn them on and off in twos. And, this means 5500K to 10,000K bulbs, not actinic.

The simplest way to do CO2 and filtration in a planted tank is to use a canister filter and an external CO2 reactor. Once you get into sumps it gets more complicated, and wet/dry filters also make it more complicated, because you need good water circulation in the tank. A canister filter acts as a great source of water circulation, where some other filters don't.

 

[kidnick]

OK I stand corrected. #1 question is abuot the lights. Is 4x55w or 4x65w cf or T5 too much for a 48" fixture on a 60" 100g to grow wallichi ? Please give me some replies here. Thanks in advance.

 

[kidnick]

sry vaughn i did not see ur reply befor i started posting again neway i have a 100 gallon tank reef setup aqua clear pro 150 wet/dry filter skimmer and a fluval 404 filter .
i plan on taking my 55 gallon setup (another fluval 404) to add to this tank... in the mean time about the lights i want the proper ficture wether its cf or T5 to power this with enough light able to support rotalla wallichi . i have yet to clean out the hundred gallon as im waiting on replies so ican plan on taking all of the gravel and the water and m filters etc. from my existing 55g and put it in the 100g to keep all the good bacteria etc.. but i need to buy the propper light fixture to do this setup so i dont have to fart and fiddle around the ballasts and wiring that i did the last time with my 4x odno 32 w t8s. looking for the right ficture to serve my needs with cheep $ replacement as (i lost my job... i have been reading all of these threads and others for 3 days or more for the past whole week) wat ive seen to buy the norm is 48 inches to fit my tank
s 60 inches long so im stuck buying a 48 inch ficture $ wise.
Sorry about thi post, grammer, etc. I had started one but something happened and I lost all of it so I had my 13yrson came in to type it for me. I am not computer savvy. Im a hunt and peck person.
Thanks to all who can read this and respond.

 

[Tom Barr]

60" tqanks are tough to light evenly without DIY, eg A&H supply's 4x 55 w kit would do fine if you staggered it.

Or 3-4x 54wT5's.

Staggered as well , the T5's are more likely what I'd chose to do.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[kidnick]

Thanks again for the replies. I guess its back to the drawing board to plan out this set up much better. I just wish I had more patients.