110g Extra High Lighting Question

Hello All:

I am a seasoned aquarist and have had a 55 gallon, freshwater planted tank for many years. I have decided to upgrade my hobby and get an extra high 110 gallon tank (it's 29 inches high). With all the lighting options available, I am confused with what type of lighting to set up for this deeper tank. Do I want the more 'traditional' double or triple flourescent strip lighting? Or should I go with compact flourescent lighting? I am concerned with having adequate lighting (2-3 WPG) to reach the bottom and allow for strong plant growth. I will be running a CO2 system.

Figured that would reach out to all of you to help me get this tank set up right from the start.

Thanks in advance,

Don

I think you should probably go for twin compacts like the Interpet twin starter 55W maybe 2 of them?

Or you could get extra long fluorescent T8 or T5, but I doubt theyd be as cheap and also not as efficient.

I guess youre probs talking in the region of £120 for the TC starters and bulbs and then you need to sort reflectors, but thats a seriously big tank for me (29G DEEP 18" lol).

No links cos I'm a little drunk but the twin starters are on Aqua Essentials, and the Daylight plus and Triplus bulbs are on SurreyPetSupplies (both are Websites) Also if you go the T5 T8 route Themulous posted a fabulous link in a thread the other day titles something like Luminaires off ebay??? Worth a look

Sorry if youre not from UK I didnt read location before I replied.

Andy

Welcome to TFF! Are you UK or US or elsewhere? Open top tank or hood? What length is the tank? 4 x HO T5 54w or 2 x 150w MH would work assuming your tank is 48".

George Farmer said:

Welcome to TFF! Are you UK or US or elsewhere? Open top tank or hood? What length is the tank? 4 x HO T5 54w or 2 x 150w MH would work assuming your tank is 48".

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George:

Thanks, I am from the US. The tank will be (in inches) 48"Lx18"Dx29.5"H, made by All-Glass Aquariums (will take several weeks to order and get in). I think I have uploaded the picture (not particularly good at the computer stuff). The tank will have an oak canopy, so I am also ordering an all-glass versa-top to put under the canopy. Most plants in my 55 gallon I have had for over 5 years so hopefully can transfer to the new tank. I have various swords, crypto, hygro, ferns, and couple types of val, nothing demanding, all strong growers under "traditional" flourescent lighting. I am eager to try the low coverage mosses that you (and everyone else) show in pics here to cover the entire tank floor, but I believe these to be far more demanding?

Hi Don. Check out www.ahsupply.com. You'll need 200w total minimum compact fluorescent to be able to carpet.