Lighting for 36 Gal Bowfront

[BridalWreath]

Yes, I am in need of help for lightening for my planted 36 gal. I really don't know what to get for lightening. -cough- If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I am looking for something for moderate plants. One thing, I don't want to go blinding my halfbeaks with the lights, since they tend to be surface dwellers.


So help?

[rich311k]

A 65 watt PC would do a nice job. I have a 130 watt one on my 36 but I only run one bulb.

[BridalWreath]

A 65 watt PC would do a nice job. I have a 130 watt one on my 36 but I only run one bulb.


Would you be able to give me some links? When it comes to lighting, I am a no go in that area. Also, would it work for my lighting fixture or would I need to get something new.

Sorry about all the questions.

[rich311k]

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Something like that would work well. You would need a new lighting fixture yes.

[BridalWreath]

Are there any other options, especially for those who might be tight on a budget?

[BridalWreath]

Another question, I would go for something around the same length as my other light, right? So if I need a 24 bulb, I would go for a 24?

[rich311k]

A bulb will not do it. If you want llight to grow plants you will need a new fixture. You could see what size shop lights are available and see if you could make a top using those.

[taralm13]

I got this one and it seems to be pretty good (and it wasn't too expensive). I'm no expert though. All I know is that it works fine for my plants (and I did not even buy my plants based on light requirements so I could have some high some medium and some low for all I know).

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[BridalWreath]

Thank you.

And thank you Taralum for showing me that. It is more within my price range. :D From what you know, it works well?

[SkipW]

I have this same fixture (Current USA Nova Extreme T5HO X2 - Freshwater) for my 36G bow front for almost 2 months now and it does a nice job for my plants. Most of them have lower light requirements, but all are thriving. It would probably do better if I switched to a glass top, but right now I just lay it on top of my stock hood which has a little 4 inch wide window across the tank. I don't use the legs that came with it.
Make sure you get the freashwater version and not the saltwater one. They have different bulbs.
Since the T5HO lights are supposed to put out more lighting than regular florescent's and CFL's, I'd have to guess it's around 1.5 - 2WPG on a 36G. What ever it is, it does a better job than the light that came with the hood.

[BridalWreath]

Thabk you, Skip. May i ask what length fixture you have??

[taralm13]

Ok I just checked my plants and I seem to have just low to medium plants growing under this light (I did have dwarf baby tears at one point but I got rid of them during a cyano outbreak - they did live and grow a bit though and they require high light). I have the 24" light on a 20g high tank.

[BridalWreath]

I am thinking I will need a 30 length. I measured the length of the tank and it did come up to 30 so, IDK if I should go more or less.

[taralm13]

I got the 24" cuz that is how long my tank is. The light has some legs that sit on top of the tank. I got my tank for free and it did not have a hood so I just bought a glass lid for about $13 I think and it works perfectly. Not sure how a bowfront would work though.

[BridalWreath]

I've been looking at some glass tops for mine as well. And the bowfront does have flat sides so, it should be fine at setting on the light.

[SkipW]

Thabk you, Skip. May i ask what length fixture you have??
I have the 30" , but the bulbs are only 24". (My tank is 30"wide)
I thought about getting the 36" but I didn't want the fixture hanging over the sides of the tank.

[BridalWreath]

I have the 30" , but the bulbs are only 24". (My tank is 30"wide)
I thought about getting the 36" but I didn't want the fixture hanging over the sides of the tank.

I don't want the light hanging off the sides as well. Thank you though. :D You have been very helpful!