Advise needed on Lightings

[boarky]

Hi bros,

I'm reusing an existing equipment for planted tank.
Have yet to decide on the plant but would like to have at least some moss and significant patch of foreground plants.

My tank size is as follow: 3ft L X 1.5ft W X 2 ft H
Its a pretty deep tank for plants... Existing lighting set is
Halgen Glo 2 X 39W.

Question 1:
Is the light sufficient? From my past attempts, I encountered foreground plant growing taller than it should... a sign that lights may not have sufficiently penetrated. If insufficient, how much would be?

Question 2:
Is LED lights recommended?
Have conflicting advise from what the good ppl from LFS says and online materials.
Some US based forums have tried and had good results from LED. Any comments?

Thanks in advance!

[Apistoinka]

If you are going for low tech plant than your lighting will not be a prob... After all still depend on what kind of plants you wanted to have... Average planting is best to have about 3watt per gallon...

[Shadow]

Foreground plant normally will need more light. Standard 3ft tank (3x1.5x1.5ft) will need at least 4x39W. Your tank is taller so you might need more.

LED is a new thing, quality is widely vary. Those cheap LED from china although look bright but very low PAR value (according to those people who have the equipment to measure it). If you really want to use LED, get those with CREE LED bulb. I DIY mine using couples of CREE 3W bulb, total 28W and I can grow much better red plant with it compare to my previous 72W PL

[boarky]

Thanks for all the responses!
My tanks should hold around 67gallon. Considering a ratio of 3 watt per gallon, I'll need 201watt.

Will I also need a 201 watt output if using LED? Any ready made decent LED for planted tank to recommend? Thanks again!

[Shadow]

You can try:

http://maxspectusa.com/
http://www.elos.eu/productlines/lighting/

[boarky]

Heh.... thanks bro. Very "poisonous... "

[AquaObsession]

I have not sed led lighta, but i think Led lights for a 2 feet tall tank is too weak, especially of you want to go hitech. Just get MH lights

[Shadow]

On the contrary, those high power LED have no problem penetrating 2ft deep tank. But you need to get the high power one, say maybe at least 20W per LED. Friend of mine was using 4x30W for his 4x2x2ft tank