Light For 70l/18gal Tank

[zosiakiwi]

I have a Fluval 70l tank that came with 15W Haggen Power Glo light. After 6 months my plants are not growing at all, getting more alge only. I need more light. I don't want to do too much DIY. I am thinking about replacening existing light and balast with a Arcadia 14-15 W ultra set double controllers. Does it make sense?Will it help my plants. I will also get a basic CO2 unit. What kind of light tubes should I get? Haggen or Arcadia. Will Arcadia freshwater be better then tropical as George Farmer suggest?
Thanks for any thoughts.
zosia

 

[RadaR]

Hey,
dont replace anything. Keep what you have and just try add to it.
you can put 2 bulbs together by attatching 2 arcadia tube holders (the ones that come with the reflectors but you can buy them separate) together and clipping them to 2 tubes.

The hagen double ballast is useful.

Tubes- arcadia freshwater are good. So are Interpet daylight plus

With say 2 more extra bulbs you are good to go with a planted tank. just keep ontop of that CO2 and heavy planting and ferts.

 

[zosiakiwi]

I attached photo of my tank cover because I don't think I can fit any other tube there without removing ballast to make room for extra light tube.

 

[zosiakiwi]

 

[RadaR]

Hhmm tricky.
themissingelf has done a mod on this hood i think. give him a PM

 

[zosiakiwi]

So, I have spent the whole weekend searching the web for the best solution. And I have decided to get rid off the whole hood and get Arcadia Luminaire 24'' Freshwater T8 2*15W. The cost will be slightly more then DIY but I think worth it. I wish I could afford luminaire with T5 tubes.

 

[RadaR]

30 watts is an ok amount but if you are spending money on a luminaire then you might aswell get a really good one.
These are always on and off ebay. You'll win one sooner or later.

 

[zosiakiwi]

Thanks for this link. It looks promising. This luminaire is not the original from Arcadia and comes with regular day light tubes. I think, I would have to replace them with Arcadia T5 plant pro tubes.