55 Gal Lighting recommendations

**Tenacious_ND** · 02-24-2008, 04:29 PM

Hi,

I want my 55 gal tank to be lush with green plants. In my research im finding that the one 40 watt bulb (which is what i have now) wont cut it for plants. I would like a hood to replace whats up there now with proper lighting for a planted aquarium within a reasonable price. Also, Where is a proper place to get aquatic plants/ bulbs?

TIA

Aaron

**jbeining75** · 02-24-2008, 04:38 PM

I was going to do a 55 gallon planted until I found out the lighting is around 3-4 hundred dollars. To keep it lush you need at least 220 watts T5...... Look on bigalsonline at the pricings.... You're looking at T5 6700k 220 watts or so... Plus a co2 system if you want a huge tank planted.... ecocomplete and ferts....

Oh welcome to AC!!!!!

**Tenacious_ND** · 02-24-2008, 04:46 PM

thanks for your reply..

what about this fixture for $220

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...7&pcatid=13637

the 48" has 4 65 watt bulbs?

**gm72** · 02-24-2008, 05:01 PM

Outstanding fixture but you'll need CO2 with that much light.

**Algenco** · 02-24-2008, 07:40 PM

I grow anything I want in a 55 with 130 watts

**smaug** · 02-24-2008, 08:06 PM

I am using 230watts with no co2 in 58gal.The fixture you show will work great and injected or DIYco2 is a luxury to a planted tank ,hardly a neccesity.Here is a link to where I get all my stuff.
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod...ategoryKey=245

**Tenacious_ND** · 02-24-2008, 10:19 PM

Hey all thanks for the replies. ill check into this Co2 stuff to see what its all about.

Smaug thanks for the link. OT--> do you think the new lawsuit filed by the tolkien trust will hold up the hobbit movies?

**smaug** · 02-25-2008, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by Tenacious_ND

Hey all thanks for the replies. ill check into this Co2 stuff to see what its all about.

Smaug thanks for the link. OT--> do you think the new lawsuit filed by the tolkien trust will hold up the hobbit movies?

whats a hobbit?

**Tenacious_ND** · 02-25-2008, 01:41 AM

**digital3** · 02-25-2008, 02:35 AM

The higher light you put in your 55 (4+ wpg), the more maintenance your tank will require. If you go CO2 you MUST go pressurized as DIY will not be sufficient for a tank of that size. I think you can have very nice plants in your tank at only 2-3 watts per gallon. A good fert regime would be beneficial as well.

Also, you can find really good lighting setups on eBay for cheap! I picked up my Compact Flourescent fixture which supports up to 260 watts of light (4 bulbs) and has 8 moon lights, brand new, for only 100 bucks! Of course I only run 2 55 watt bulbs on it right now. But if I want to go stronger I can.