Lighting

[jpjagged]

i just bought a used 125 gal tank that is 24 inches tall and i need lighting for good plant growth...
how many watts per gallon should i look for? do i need hps or mh lights? only growing plants in a freshwater tank with discus... should i get a t-5 set up?etc i need help... and trying to stay on the cheaper side would be awesome thanks...

 

[SuperColey1]

To have medium lighting on a 125 USG will require:

190-250W of T8

or

150-200W of CF

or

125-175W of T5HO

No idea on MH etc. They may cost more to run or less. no idea really

IMO I would just go for a hood and fix T5HO into it. Reason being your temp will be higher due to discus and therefore will be evaporation. also means less chance of contaminants in the water from an open top tank with MH above it. another advantage of this is much easier to unscrew lights and move them slightly to add more / space them out than if you suspend MH from ceiling (unless you like plenty of holes in the ceiling that is)

AC

 

[jpjagged]

i just ordered a coralife one with a built in moonlight only a 48" light but that should be putting me up around 260 wpg from what the site says...
annd if i need to bump it up a bit i can throw my 30" cf up there along side it

appreciate the help thanks