Lighting recommendation 40 breeder

[gm72]

Just looking for some recommendations for the upcoming 40 gallon breeder guppy party tank. Will be a planted tank. :22:

[Dave66]

Will you be doing a planted tank substrate and using Co2 injection, gm? Really depends on what your after, plant-wise, for lighting, since balancing light, Co2 and fertilization is the name of the game.

Dave

[gm72]

True, and good points, Dave. I am going for a non-CO2 system, will be using a combination substrate of eco-complete, regular gravel, and maybe a touch of fluorite. I dose with Excel for the carbon source. Just wondering about lighting since the tank dimensions are a little out of the ordinary.

[Wild Turkey]

this is what i was planning for my 40 breeder im currently working on
big link (http://cgi.ebay.com/36-T5-HO-Aquarium-Reef-Light-78W-Odyssea-2x39W-Leg-New_W0QQitemZ300307318989QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item300307318989&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50) with different bulbs of course. The price is certainly right
But im doing co2 inject
I'll be watching this thread as well

[Dave66]

Aren't the tank dimensions 36x18x16? Just a standard three-foot power compact or T5 fixture would do it, and the level depends on if you want to do every kind of plant or just lower light stuff. Some floaters would be good to diffuse the light for the guppies. If you go high light, like four of five watts per gallon, you could grow what you like, but you'd have to fertilize (EI, most likely) the plants to keep up with the rampant photosynthesis and keep algae at bay. Half that light, you'd be a bit limited on plant selection but you wouldn't have to fertilize as much to balance things out preventing algae.

Dave

[gm72]

Looking for a relatively low-light setup with swords, anubias, ferns, etc. So maybe shoot for 80 watts of output you think?

[MCHRKiller]

I would go for just a plain triple bulb T8 fixture myself...granted Im in love with the one I have on my 55G planted does a great job has a good reflector and its a nice wide fixture thus would evenly light your entire tank. PC and T5s are naturally great to. Check out ebay if your looking for some cost effective equipment I got my triple bulb strip off ebay when it was a month old shipped for $40. Really for the plants your mentioning about keeping you wouldnt even need 80watts, 60watts would be perfectly adequate IMO. And if your not going to be dosing CO2 the lower tech you can go the less problems youll have.