Fluval Roma 240 Vs Juwel Rio 240 - Under The Lights

[DBT85]

I'm looking to pick one of these tanks up either at the weekend or at least order for collection next week and any hardware impressions would be welcome here.

However I want to use live plants in my tank and need to know if the 80w of the Roma 240 bulbs will be enough or if I really need the 108w that the Juwel unit will put out. Zoddy Zod suggested that the Juwel lights are geared more for HiTech systems where you would also use CO2 I assume to grow more demanding plants.

I don't really know what I DO want to put in outside of Dwarf Hairgrass (or something similar). I just don't want to be screwed out of a load of easy to grow and look after plants just because of 28w of light! However others also mentioned that the Juwel lights often have faults and need to be fixed.

The tanks hold 240l or 63US gallons. That puts the Fluval Roma at 1.2w per gallon and the Juwel Rio at 1.7w per gallon.

Any help would be most welcome.

 

[stu40]

I'm looking to pick one of these tanks up either at the weekend or at least order for collection next week and any hardware impressions would be welcome here.

However I want to use live plants in my tank and need to know if the 80w of the Roma 240 bulbs will be enough or if I really need the 108w that the Juwel unit will put out. Zoddy Zod suggested that the Juwel lights are geared more for HiTech systems where you would also use CO2 I assume to grow more demanding plants.

I don't really know what I DO want to put in outside of Dwarf Hairgrass (or something similar). I just don't want to be screwed out of a load of easy to grow and look after plants just because of 28w of light! However others also mentioned that the Juwel lights often have faults and need to be fixed.

The tanks hold 240l or 63US gallons. That puts the Fluval Roma at 1.2w per gallon and the Juwel Rio at 1.7w per gallon.

Any help would be most welcome.

Hi
the thing is, that's it's not as simple as 28W difference.The T5 bulbs on the Juwel are more efficient than the equivalent T8.
1.7 Wpg of T5 will mean co2 & ferts are required (unless you're an experienced plant keeper), but grow just about everything.
The T8's mean that you can get away without Co2, though the range of plants may be more limited.There are still lots that you can grow though.
The Co2 & ferts (high tec) requires more maintenance than the more low tec (T8) route.
Depends what direction you want to go.
This tank is 1.5ish WPG T8

stu

 

[DBT85]

Thank you very much Stu. I'm not looking to become Alan Titchmarch of the Aquatic world so I think I'll stick to the Roma with its T8s.

Thanks again!

 

[minnnt]

I had the 125 and it grew plants better than my Vicenza which has T5's... go figure... (in an american voice...)

 

[DBT85]

You stalkin me Minnnt?

Thanks for the tip. Fluval it is. Now the only question is can I take one home tomorrow or not!

 

[minnnt]