Re: [GSAS-Member] Speaking of lights... anyone using T5 HO fixtures?

["Seattle_Aquarist" <Seattle_Aquarist@comcast.net>]

Hey Matt,

In my experience with an unusually deep aquarium, say 22? or more, I need to
pay as much attention to the reflector portion of the lighting system as the
wattage.  (My Physics teacher would be glad to know that I occasionally use
the ?Inverse Square Rule? for light intensity; 2X the distance from the bulb
and get ¼ the light intensity.)  For example, I have a 45 gallon tall (24?
deep) and a 30 gallon long (16? deep); both tanks are 36? long.  To get the
same light intensity to the bottom of my 45 gallon tank that I have in 30
gallon aquarium I need 225% more output!  I don?t run that much light in my
45 gallon, but I can?t grow the same low growing plants in it that I can
grow in my 30 gallon.

In a deeper aquarium the shape of the reflector and material it is made of
has a lot to do how much light intensity actually gets down to the substrate
level of the aquarium.  Some reflectors reflect light more light outwards
and less downwards while other direct more light downwards and less toward
the sides.  In a deeper aquarium, if I get a reflector that directs more of
its? light outwards then I can grow a lot of algae on the side of my tank
but not a lot of low growing plants at the substrate level.    BTW, I run
6700K lights and they give me good color rendition as well as plant growth.

Roy

 

 

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