Lighting for an aquaponics set up

**fraggle** · 08-04-2009, 11:30 AM

I want to set up an herb garden over my 2 55G tanks, but I need to get better lights for them, (at the moment they are just standard single tube shop lights)

What do you think of these? Do you think they would be suitable to grow the herbs?

http://www.aquathrive.com.au/product...?products_id=9

**plantedlab** · 08-08-2009, 06:08 PM

Hard to say, the pic diddn't load for me, and I diddn't see the color temp listed anywhere.

It wasn't clear to me, but if it's a plant light it should be fine for a small setup with some leafy greens.

An HID light or the sun would still be better for production.

**fraggle** · 08-25-2009, 12:08 AM

Thanks planted.

The tanks are built into the wall either side of a fireplace, so sun is out of the question, I didn't actually look at the colour temp either, better do that!

They reckon that they are fantastic for growing plants, so I might get them and give em a go.

Thanks again planted

**plantedlab** · 09-11-2009, 03:13 AM

Hope it works out!

**Red** · 09-11-2009, 03:17 AM

pics of these 55gals!

**fraggle** · 10-15-2009, 12:28 AM

Well I still haven't got around to getting the lights for my tanks, they have been out of stock. Their next lot arrive in 2 weeks.

Now I can get a 3' double that comes standard with 28W white 10000K tubes in it. I can also get blue 20000K tubes and red 6500K tubes for it.

Now in February their next shipment of 3' triple lights arrive. Would I be better off waiting for the triples or would the double lights do the job?

Also what tubes should I get for them? The guy at the lighting shop said to get a red tube as "plants like different wavelengths"

**plantedlab** · 10-24-2009, 02:07 PM

It sounds reasonable, most plants like a range between 7,000k and 10,000k, but there are many exceptions. Underlighting can be an issue, it depends on the type of plants your going for.

I would go for it, it will be a learning experience, and it will take months before your bacteria is fully established and you can grow your max potential anyhow.

**fraggle** · 10-27-2009, 09:48 AM

I'll be using two fully established tanks. So the bacteria is already there. The herbs won't be the only filtration on the tanks,I don't think that there would be enough surface area since they will ony be 4 or 5 inch PVC that's 3 foot long. I'll still have the canisters attached. I'm hoping that the herbs will reduce the nitrates. Oscar is very messy