Lighting for 20gal, brands, any other useful info on lights please! D:

**Lord_Spank** · 03-10-2013, 07:55 AM

I've been in the hobby for a year this month, and have always had a liking for plants. After much trial and error, and reading many conflicting articles I figured it's time to ask the right people! I'm from Canada, would like to know what the best brands of lights for the planted aquarium are out there, money can be an object for selecting a bulb, I'm willing to compromise! I have a T8 Floraglo by GLO in right now. what's everyone thinking? :)

**Cliff** · 03-10-2013, 02:03 PM

It really can depend on the type of plants that you want and the type of set-up you are going to have

If you want high demanding plants with pressurized CO2, then I would suggest a 4 bulb T5HO fixture. J&L Aquatics and Pets and Ponds are two on line Canadian companies that carries fixtures like that. I have found lighting with a 6700K color temp works the best

If plants that require mid to lower lighting levels and are less demanding, the I would suggest a 2 bulb T5HO fixture which you can also get from the above venders. From what I have read, the MarineLand 24 inch double bright LED fixture can also support good plant growth with mid to low demanding plants. You get MarineLand fixture on-line from BigAlsOnLine.CA I have found that lower levels of lighting also work the best with a 6700K color temp

The below link does explain light requirements pretty good if you would want some more info

http://www.americanaquariumproducts...._Lighting.html

**MCHRKiller** · 03-10-2013, 02:31 PM

Actually a 2 bulb HOT5 would create pretty high lighting on a 20G tank due to the height of the aquarium. You would need to suspend a 4bulb fixture over the tank to drop the intensity enough to make it really viable even for a high tech setup. Wattage is not important, it really only applies to T12/T8 bulbs for aquarium purposes. So forget that whole X wattage per gallon thing...it doesn't really work with more modern fixtures.

Most people do use 6000-7000K lighting on a planted tank...you can also go up to around 10,000K without really noticing a difference in plant response. I typically mix a 10,000K with another lower K value bulb to get a better visual appeal on the tank because 6500K lighting is very greenish yellow in appearance.

For your first planted tank...keep it simple and go with a mid light tank which you do dose some ferts. That way you can keep a good variety of plants but not be overwhelmed with the demands of high light or CO2. I would go with a 2xT8, 2xNOT5, 1xHOT5 or even an Odyssea/FishNeedIt 2xHOT5. The reason the last 2 fixtures are included is due to the fact they do not use high quality reflectors or bulbs and their ballasts are under driven. This yields a less intense light output but it works well for those looking for moderate lighting while still getting a good spread of light in the tank.

**genocidex** · 03-10-2013, 03:28 PM

might i ask what varient of 20g is this? (theres the 20g high, xtra high, and long) depending on that will depend on my recommendation.

but if you dont mind the looks, or wouldnt mind making a canopy.... CFL bulb (those "energy efficient" screw in things) with a 6500k-6700K rating would work great. 2 would be needed for the long, but the even in the xhigh youd be able to get about medium light in the tank. with the 20l and 2 lights you could get away with high lighting if you wanted.

**Lord_Spank** · 03-10-2013, 08:03 PM

Thank you all very much for the input! For what ever reason it never crossed me that a new fixture would be necessary, you guy's have put me on the right track!

**Lord_Spank** · 03-10-2013, 08:55 PM

Alright so I believe it is the 20gal Long, roughly 24" long, by 12" wide, by 16" tall. I have an amazon sword, an oriental sword, and java fern in right now. They've all been in for about 6 months, the two swords died back within the first month of being in the tank and are now retaining their current sizes. The java fern could not give a bother, and is still producing plantlets. What is the difference between NOt5 and HOt5? I have a few gourami's, debating putting in Red Root Floaters for them, any thoughts on that? :)

**genocidex** · 03-10-2013, 09:00 PM

Rrf need very high light. And high iron content. You might want to start with easy plants (i love my frogbit). Java ferns wont do good with high light, but ur swords need it. Also ur swords need ferts... Root tabs

**Cliff** · 03-10-2013, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Lord_Spank

What is the difference between NOt5 and HOt5?

If I remember correctly, NO = Normal Output, HO = high Output.

The NO puts out less light as compaired to the HO

**Lord_Spank** · 03-10-2013, 09:11 PM

I'm coming to really count on you guys! What ferts would you recommend? Would root tabs work well in sand? And thank you for clarifying NO, HO :)

**genocidex** · 03-10-2013, 09:43 PM

Theres several to choose from. Seachem has a general spectrun thats nice, but api has more iron. Since your plants arent red then they require less iron so id go with seachem. Theres another brand thats really good but im on my phone... Look for a thread started by me something like api vs seachen root tabs.... Its in there some where