Lighting for 3x2x2 plant tank

**charlessito** · 21st Jan 2007, 13:31

need advise from bro and sis .
What is the best choice for the 3x2x2 plant tank?
PL/MH/T5?
Spec of my tank:
Running on chiller
Eheim 2226
co2 24/7 3bps
all kinds of moss
ricca
hair glass

**Wackytpt** · 21st Jan 2007, 16:53

Maybe would you to let us know what type of plants you intend to keep. That will help people in giving you advices of using what lghtings

Cheers

**charlessito** · 21st Jan 2007, 20:59

Originally Posted by Wackytpt

Maybe would you to let us know what type of plants you intend to keep. That will help people in giving you advices of using what lghtings

Cheers

different kind of moss,ricca,hair glass
thanks any bro can help

**benny** · 22nd Jan 2007, 18:55

If you have MH lights and cool water, your riccia, moss and hair grass will do well.

Perhaps a 2 X 70W set up or a 2 X 150W set up. Make sure you get the right bulbs.

Cheers,

**charlessito** · 22nd Jan 2007, 22:40

thanks benny. but will MH Lights be too hot for the tank. Will MH Lights increses the kick time for my chiller.

**itssg** · 29th Jan 2007, 12:05

No need to worry about the MH lighting will increase your tank temperature since it is are running with chiller.

Normally I will turn off my chiller at night. Turn it on like 15 minutes before the lighting is turning on.

**charlessito** · 29th Jan 2007, 14:03

Originally Posted by itssg

No need to worry about the MH lighting will increase your tank temperature since it is are running with chiller.

Normally I will turn off my chiller at night. Turn it on like 15 minutes before the lighting is turning on.

thanks you

**StanChung** · 30th Jan 2007, 06:07

I'd try 4X55W pl if MH is a hassle.
I used to run 8X30fl on same sized tank and it was just enough for glosso without changing bulbs too often.

**jellydot72** · 30th Jan 2007, 22:38

Hi,

I use the 3 to 4 watts per gallon (4.5litres) as a guide. Hope this is useful. Depth of the tank is also a factor to consider. Besides this, the types of plants.

I have reduced my light period to 9 hours.

**charlessito** · 31st Jan 2007, 00:08

thank you all for your help.I think I will go diy a twin T5 with spider reflector to see the result. thanks again

**aquarius** · 31st Jan 2007, 01:20

Alternatively you can get a ballast which can commodate 3 x T5 tubes instead of the usual 2 tubes if you're going high tech, otherwise 2 tubes with parabolic reflectors is sufficient. Can get it at NA.

**charlessito** · 31st Jan 2007, 02:52

Originally Posted by aquarius

Alternatively you can get a ballast which can commodate 3 x T5 tubes instead of the usual 2 tubes if you're going high tech, otherwise 2 tubes with parabolic reflectors is sufficient. Can get it at NA.

bro sorry for asking,I am new to lighting,what is parabolic reflector,is it spider reflector?