Staallion
16th July 2010, 08:51 PM
Hi guys,
I'm new to the forum, and in the process of setting up a new aquarium after being out of the hobby for 3 years.
it is going to be a room dividing aquarium, with dimentions of 200 x 95 x 75cm, with overflow and sump, but no trickle filter (as I aim to use CO2).
I want to go for a well planted aquarium, not ADA at this stage (I don't want to sell one of the cars to fund it http://www.fishforum.com.au/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif ), but a densly planted Amazon community is what I have in mind.
In regards to the lighting, I was tossing up between 3 x 250W metal halide lights, or 6 x 150W metal halides. I plan to combine the MH with either a double or quad 6' T8 fitting, with plant growth tubes. ( I have had success with Hagen PowerGlo in the past, but am open to change) These give me 0.57 and 0.69 w/L with the halides respectively, and a further 120 or 240W with the flouros. This is low in terms of smaller aquariums, but in larger ones, from what I can gather, is a relatively high medium light level...
What are people's opinions in regards to this?.. 6 x 150W lights are going to be considerably cheaper to set up than the 250W, and allow me to spread the light more effectively, but will have a slightly higher running cost.
Also, in regards to the "Split shift" style of lighting, what is the benefit of having the lightin period over two cycles... I have been told it is to do with the interruption of algae's reproductive cycle, but I was wondering how it affects the plants, and if the aquarium has a good light/nutrient balance, is this even neccesary?..
I have worked at a LFS for about 6 years before I gave up the hobby, so I have a reasonable idea, but still like the "real life" opinions of people who have the experience, rather than writing on the side of a box, so please, feel free to correct me and help me make a decision...
Thanks in advance! And sorry for the mini-novel...
Luke.
I'm new to the forum, and in the process of setting up a new aquarium after being out of the hobby for 3 years.
it is going to be a room dividing aquarium, with dimentions of 200 x 95 x 75cm, with overflow and sump, but no trickle filter (as I aim to use CO2).
I want to go for a well planted aquarium, not ADA at this stage (I don't want to sell one of the cars to fund it http://www.fishforum.com.au/images/smilies/icon_eek.gif ), but a densly planted Amazon community is what I have in mind.
In regards to the lighting, I was tossing up between 3 x 250W metal halide lights, or 6 x 150W metal halides. I plan to combine the MH with either a double or quad 6' T8 fitting, with plant growth tubes. ( I have had success with Hagen PowerGlo in the past, but am open to change) These give me 0.57 and 0.69 w/L with the halides respectively, and a further 120 or 240W with the flouros. This is low in terms of smaller aquariums, but in larger ones, from what I can gather, is a relatively high medium light level...
What are people's opinions in regards to this?.. 6 x 150W lights are going to be considerably cheaper to set up than the 250W, and allow me to spread the light more effectively, but will have a slightly higher running cost.
Also, in regards to the "Split shift" style of lighting, what is the benefit of having the lightin period over two cycles... I have been told it is to do with the interruption of algae's reproductive cycle, but I was wondering how it affects the plants, and if the aquarium has a good light/nutrient balance, is this even neccesary?..
I have worked at a LFS for about 6 years before I gave up the hobby, so I have a reasonable idea, but still like the "real life" opinions of people who have the experience, rather than writing on the side of a box, so please, feel free to correct me and help me make a decision...
Thanks in advance! And sorry for the mini-novel...
Luke.