need some lighting help

[Xcric]

i'd like to make my 120 gallon a planted tank, but i'm not quite sure about the lighting, it doesn't have to be able to support plants that need very high amounts of light, but i'd like enough to maintain healthy plants like java fern and amazon sword and whatnot (yeah i know they're low maintenance)
but anyway, i don't know what to do for bulbs or anything, none of the websites i've been to have really helped
i was wondering if someone could tell me exactly what to use as a setup, like how many of what wattage bulb and whatnot

also, maybe if someone could tell me what are some plants that tiger barbs won't eat...if they'll eat any that is...

 

[Silly me]

you might need to look at some metal halide lights, 3 of 175Watts lights

this will get you the right amount of light for your setup..

In a tank over 100Gallons fluorescent light is not easy to get and for the price you can install a great MH setup compared to a fluorescent setup.

if you looking at fluorescent.. 250 watts is more or less what your looking at.

 

[fraservet]

if your tank is more than 2 feet deep, fluorescent tubes won't be any good.

 

[Xcric]

the tank is only 18 inches deep
are these something i could pick up for cheaper if i went to a place like a hardware store or a greenhouse rather than a fish store?

 

[chkltcow]

the tank is only 18 inches deep
are these something i could pick up for cheaper if i went to a place like a hardware store or a greenhouse rather than a fish store?

I haven't seen metal halide bulbs, but you can CERTAINLY pick up flourescent and compact flourescent bulbs cheaper at Lowes/Home Depot than at a fish store. Yesterday, I bought a GE "Daylight" 6500k 24" 20w bulb for $4, and it looks just as good.... perhaps a bit brighter, than the $10 Coralife Nutri-Grow bulb I have in the fixture with it.. Both have the exact same tint to them, but the GE was less than half the price.

Only thing you have to pay attention to when buying flourescent bulbs like that is the color temperature rating on them. Most of the bulbs are around 3500-4100K, and won't do a lot of good for a planted tank. 6500k or 10000k are what most people use for plants.

You could also theoretically wire your own lights if you're a do-it-yourself type of person. That'll save a load of money too, since a tank that size is gonna require lots of lighting.

 

[Silly me]

three metal halide bulbs are going to cost less than half of a fluorescent setup.. and you get metal halide in both 6500K and 10 000K but I would stick to 6500K.

Also you could get metal halide from a greenhouse, but I got mine from a light store in the mall..