Lighting guidence

[Somen]

My first attempt of planted tank.
Read the Lighting guidlines on the Forum.
My tank dimension is 48'(L)15(W)inches.
Plants are amazon sword/Christmas moss & marsilea hirsuta (given by Sushant)

Now the formula is
L*W*Moderate light.
48*15*12=8640 lumen
One 30W T8=i.e 30*92=2760 lumen
One 23 W CFL=i.e 23*62=1426 lumen.
One 40 W CFL=40*62=2480 lumen.
Total-2760+1426+2480 lumens=6666 lumen.
So short by 8640-6666=1974lumen.
(a)So is more lumen required?
(b) Since I have not added laterite, can I mix it with the sustrate(small) on the ungrowing areas, as it may help when the marsilea reaches there!
(c)9 hrs of lighting from 6 AM to 3 P.M.
(d)Will such continuing lighting effect the water temperature at this moment(DELHI).

Please guide and eleraborate the Do & Don't.

[sushant]

My first attempt of planted tank.
Read the Lighting guidlines on the Forum.
My tank dimension is 48'(L)15(W)inches.
.

Here you have one of the most important tank dimension "the hight" which is about 20 inches in your case.

[Somen]

My first attempt of planted tank.
Read the Lighting guidlines on the Forum.
My tank dimension is 48'(L)15(W)inches.
.

Here you have one of the most important tank dimension "the hight" which is about 20 inches in your case.

Ya that is true,but it can't be changed yaar.
Ya I have kept the CFL as closer as possible.
Otherwise pls elaborate the pros and cons.

[Somen]

no response!!!!

[apuda2010]

Go for 4 tubes of 24 inch T5 HO spread alternately on top around 3 inches from the water surface. You should hit around 8000 lumens. Put a switch on the 4th tube. If leaves of stem plants burn out (turn transparent for example), switch off the 4th tube.

Since you are in Faridabad, go visit Bhagirath Place and pick up Osram tubes and Philips 36W drivers.

[apuda2010]

One more thing - throw out those CFLs....they are a piece of useless junk. Light intensity and colour will deteriorate sharply within 3 months of use.

[SCORPIO]

You mentioned tank size 48 X 15 X h (you have not mentioned height of the tank.)

Amazon sword, Christmas moss and Marsilea hirsuta, all of these plants prefer medium light.

You can use normal T5 tubes in this tank. Four tubes will be sufficient to grow most of the popular plants in this tank.

[Somen]

You mentioned tank size 48 X 15 X h (you have not mentioned height of the tank.)

Amazon sword, Christmas moss and Marsilea hirsuta, all of these plants prefer medium light.

You can use normal T5 tubes in this tank. Four tubes will be sufficient to grow most of the popular plants in this tank.

ht 20'
hrs per day?
only fine gravels r there?do I add laterite
and mix them in the gravel?
thanks for the help.

[SCORPIO]

Don't worry about the height.
Add soilrite in the latarite for good result. 9 hours photoperiod will be good.

[Somen]

You mentioned tank size 48 X 15 X h (you have not mentioned height of the tank.)

Amazon sword, Christmas moss and Marsilea hirsuta, all of these plants prefer medium light.

You can use normal T5 tubes in this tank. Four tubes will be sufficient to grow most of the popular plants in this tank.

Just a small enquiry.T5 of havells of 2ft is max of 14 watt,around 6500k.For more watt they have 4 ft,but it cant be installed in my 4 ft tank.So will I go for T5,14 wt,24 inches and around 6k.