What Lighting for a 65g Tall (36"Lx18"Wx24"T) Tank for Tom's Non-Co2 Method?

[Mrk442]

Hi everyone,

I was just given a gorgeous 65g Tall (36"Lx18"Wx24"T) tank and stand by a guy I ran into at the welding shop filling my tank.

I want to try the No Co2 method on this tank but am unsure where to start as I have never even attempted to light a 24" deep tank before!

Some options i considered.
96w Kit from AHsupply with reflector from my old 40B needs new bulb
78W (2x39W) T5HO strip
T5NO's unsure how many
T8's dido
T12's dido

Don't want to just use the 96w kit in the hood/pendant i am building just because i have it I would prefer to do it right to begin with and I'm concerned a single CF wont light the full 18" effectively unless i raise it up a good amount but then will it be enough light?

Obviously if i need more light then i will go that route I just want to choose the method of lighting that will give me the best results with a method I am otherwise unfamiliar with?


Thanks,
Matt

P.S. any recommendations for color temp on a deeper tank not sure if it really matters vs my normal shorter tanks.

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

If your goal is non c02 than I would choose perhaps the T8 or T12 at most....

Temp or K rating only matters to US. The plants do not care and it does not matter the depth of the tank at all in regards to temp rating.

Higher light is only going to cause a higher demand for c02....which you will NOT be supplying

The depth of the tank is less an issue than many make out....depending on scaping and plant choices of course, there are many viable species to work with..

What are your goals?? What type of look do you want? What type/species of plants and fish?

I am lighting my 180 somehow with T8 now and used T12 for many years with no issues....

 

[Gerryd]

Congrats on your new tank btw!!!

 

[Mrk442]

Looking to keep this one nice and simple I am pretty confident with the high tech setups I have run in the past but the idea of good growth and no co2/lower light is just forien lol.

Looking for crypts,ferns,moss,Vals,Anubis, and maybe a sword or two since it seems like a nice shape to let one spread out!

Contemplating differant configurations but I will have a reasonably heavy on the wood hardscape as i have easy access to lots of great wood like manazanita and other assorted stuff that I find in the desert and mountaints the stuff from the desert which i have yet to identify sinks when dry and last a very very long time although it gets slightly soft while wet it does not break down just stays soft if that makes sense. Had the same few pieces in my 55g for years now both with and without plants as i got away from them for a while. And much of it was in my dart from tank in 100% humidity for a long before that lol.

Figured I could use the wood to move some plants closer to the light if need be. I've been tinking of a tree stump/s setup with moss and anything else i can get to grow on the stumps to give them that weathered forest look. Seen some HC grown on stumps i really like but here it can be tricky in this type of tank.. Was thinking of trying it towards the top of the tank on the wood just for kicks.

Generally speaking though easy slow growing plants that will look nice but nothing fancy to say the least! Going to try and follow this http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/433-Non-CO2-methods

mineralized top soil substrate and that good stuff.. Just stuck on the light as I used CF in the past primarily till and now as i start back up seems T5HO's all the rage so went that method on my 55g.

Thanks for the input.. How many t12/t8's would you recommended for something like this?