Lighting for standard 29 gallon Low tech.

Hi,

I would most likely keep the T8 bulb. I have had good growth with non c02 or ferts using the Verilux brand of T12 and T8.

http://www.verilux.com/fluorescent-tubes/fluorescent-medium-pin

Retail around $15 usd but worth every mine IMO....

Nice CRI rating and a nice color at least to me. Plants and fish look good in them as well.

If the CF fixture can be raised that is a different story. I personally like T8 and would go that route.

Either will work I bet....

 

If I were you, I would follow Gerryd's T8 suggestion to do what you want to accomplish.

I started a 29g grow out tank a couple of weeks ago with that same 65w 6700K Coralife Aqualight PC. I have been using pressurized CO2 and EI dosing. I want the plants to grow, this is why I'm using CO2 and EI.

According to Hoppy's PAR info, this is a low light tank. Will this fixture work without CO2? I don't know. It might if you are dosing Excel or an Excel type product.

 

If you are going with anubias, ferns, crypts, go for the T-8s! You can even get 6700k bulbs at HomeDepot. I think it was two to a package for like 5-6 bucks...can't beat that! Tom was telling me that HomeDepot is now selling T-5 Shoplights with good reflectors in them. I would look into that if I was you, but if you already have the T-8 fixture than that will work fine. If you go with the CF bulbs, do what Gerry said and raise it. Very simple to do. I use a shelving system that Gerry turned me on to and it works great. Can lower and raise to whatever height I want the fixture. You could also use DIY CO2 if you want to try that. It may work for your purpose. Anyone can chime in on that thought pls... Hope this helps.

 

The 65w/55w PC (CF) bulbs are 21" to 22" long which leaves the ends of a 30" aquarium a little dim. I don't like that part.

There used to be some 30" T8/T12 bulbs for planted aquariums, but I do not know about availability now. They used to appear in the clearance section of various vendors. There are plenty of 24" options.

I know that there are just a few 30" T5NO and T5HO bulb selections. Most of the available T5NO and T5HO bulbs that will fit in 30" aquariums are around 22" to 23" long or what I would call 24".

In other words, full tank lighting coverage from end to end is rare for a 30" long aquarium and this is a very popular size of aquarium too. I sure wish that there were more end to end lighting choices for these aquariums. There are very many lighting options for 24", 36" and 48" long aquariums.

 

Grab a 40 breeder (36" x 18") vs a 55g (48" x 13") instead because its wider footprint allows more depth and room when aquascaping. The 40 breeder's footprint covers more square inches than the 55g: 648 vs 624

Also, there are 3 aquariums available with this same 36" x 18" footprint. One, the 40 breeder is 16" tall, the 50g is 18" tall and the 65g is 24" tall.

If you want a 48" aquarium, grab a 75g or 90g instead. Both of these also have the same 18" width. There is also an 110 XHigh with a 48" x 18" footprint, but it is 29" tall. Then there is a 120g that has a 48" x24" footprint and 24" tall. And so forth ...

 

LeftC: didn't know there was a 50g 36x18x18. That would make a very nice tank.

I wish I had made my 48x18x24 a 48x24x24 instead. Would have been much nicer to work with. Even a bit lower like 20" would have been plenty. Fat footprint rox!

jim

 

The 50g and 65g 36x18 have center braces and the 40BR doesn't. http://www.aqueonproducts.com/products/standard-aquariums.htm