Lighting to buy.

[Aqua_ikebana]

Hi, being new to this hobby. I need advise from the expert to advise on the type of florescent tube to put in my planted tank.

Appreciate if anyone can provide me the brand and rating.

I am currently using 2 2.5 feet aquarium lights with 4 lighting tube. The tank size is 3 feet by 18 inches.

The aquarium lights come with HG tube, are those suitable for planted tank??

Thanks.

[juggler]

Since you have 3ft tank, why not get 3ft tubes for more even lighting? Or convert to PL lights so you can pack in more wattage if you have light-demanding plants.

If you are not fussy, cheap FL tubes from hardware shop can work as well. Brands include Philips TLD 865, Hitachi EBT, etc. All work well as long as it is rated as daylight 6500K.

There is a recent thread discussing something similar: Read http://www.aquaticquotient.com/phpbb...pic.php?t=7898. There's more info if you can search the Equipment section.

We'll be moving this thread to Equipment section.

[Allen_1971]

For FL tubes, you could go two ways. You can buy expensive tubes like those from dennerle which are considered as specialist tubes, or you could buy standard tubes used for household purposes.

For household tubes, as juggler mentioned, some good choices are Philips FL865 tubes, Hitachi EBT, Osram Lumilux, or even the Osram Biolux.

As a general guide, try and get tubes with a color temp of about 5500K to than 6500K... Most people just stick with daylight tubes which are roughly 6500K.

[Aqua_ikebana]

Thanks for the info.

A little too late to change since the tank came with the FL lightings.

The FL tubes are made in China type (since the lightings indicate "Made In China&quot so it is not any one of those more popular brand used in SG.
But the rating on the tube did indicate BR-HG Biolux, does this mean the FL tube are suitable for plant growing?
Someone did comment the FL tubes look a bit blueish, is this the seawater type?

I am confuse because I am totally clueless about this hobby and I hope the plants don't die because of my ignorance.

[vinz]

Sounds like plant lights...

But, the guideline is by watts/gallon. From your post, they should be 2ft tubes? That will make about 4x18watts? Assuming your tank is 36x18x18... thats roughly 40 US gallons after excluding substrate. Roughly 2W/gal. Not enough for light demanding plants.

Either you add lights, convert the lights or limit yourself to moderate and low light plants.