Tom; I'm setting up a 150gal tank(72"x18"x29"H) and I'm finding out right quick the watts per gal rule seems to fly out the window(no room at the inn). Since I'm using ODNO flourscents It's hard to get 300 watts or better for the plants. It's also a pretty deep tank. Will the 2 w/gal rule evan come close to what I need? I'm trying to do a Lake Tang biotope tank so the plants are V. spiralis, Najas, Lotus, Hydrilla, Ceratophyllum, Myriophylum and lots of surface(on rocks) alge. (talk about a balancing act). The fish load is rather small for the tank but enough to keep the plants happy(and me). I'm trying to keep this tank low maintinance. Where do you thing I could keep the light level at and still get at least modest growth from the plants. I'd like to keep the internode distance close also...Thanks, Jim...PS, Any info on what plants are in the lake would be gratfully acepted from all of you. Especially on mosses and broad leaved plants(Anubias???)

Hi,
Try to use metal halide lamps which have high light.
The light is also penetrate better then standard fluoresentlight.
They need much small space for installation.
Regards,
Benny

I'd use 96w x 4 from A&H.
More than enough.

Lake Tang has no endemic aquatic plants.
Vals, Hornwort, Hydrilla, Potamogeton, Najas.
That's pretty much it.

Regards,
Tom Barr

On my 72x24x20 150 gal I'm using a 6x55w AH supply kit, which comes out to 330w. It's plenty, plus the 6x55w kit is cheaper than going with the 4x96 route, and you can do cool lighting schedules since you get 3 ballasts to play with

my 0.02

Robert

Thanks all. The distance to the bottom of the aquarium was the one that was bugging me. 4x96w (384watts) over this tank seems a lot and expensive but I found a lighting company here localy that has 6' and 3' flourescent bulbs at 4100k and 6500k. So 4x the 6' and 4x the 3' are 324w. I think thats enough to keep internode distance close on the hydrilla and najas and lots cheaper. I'm figuring about $200 for all. If you use MH or VHO you're looking at $400 plus...Jim :gw

[Edit] Just got some pics from the guy who does Al Konings site. Maybe there is a Moss (kinda like Java) afterall. Also there are apparantly several species of Lotus. I'm excited at least....Jim(on the hunt for the mysterious elusive plant material from The Lake!)

Many of the plants present are weeds people brought in recently.

The moss, the Vals, Najas probably are not.
Lotus perhaps.


Regards,
Tom Barr