Quote:
Originally Posted by stonecrabber
I posted about my low-tech tank a while back and I'm finally getting around to the lighting.I have a new question about this project.
My tank is a 150 gal.( 72x18x28 ) and Tom told me that 4 T5HO's would provide enough light for my plans.So here is my new question(s).
Can I use standard T5 bulbs?I found a great deal on some T5 ballasts but unfortunatly they are not HO ballasts.I was thinking of 8 standard T5's that would give me a greater amount of lumens and about the same number of watts,but I am unsure if the standard bulbs will penetrate to my tank depth 28".Any information would be very helpful.
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All light penetrates equally well when we are talking about typical aquarium depths. Clean, clear water doesn't attenuate light much at all over a 28" depth. So, if you have enough light for a typical 18" depth, for example, you have enough for a 28" depth too. But, high output (HO) lights are higher wattage than standard bulbs and ballasts, so if 4 HO bulbs are just enough, then 4 standard bulbs won't be. Just basic reasoning.