Lighting for a 40b planted

[npbarca]

Im new to planted tanks, so what lighting would be good for a 40b planted Amazonian tank?

 

[ddavila06]

can you tell us what the plan is other tank the tank size:

plant choice, substrate, co2-no co2, ferts, fish choice.

the best lighting choice will greatly depend on the path you choose to follow

 

[npbarca]

For plants, swords and grasses and some floating plants. I want the tank to be dim. PFS for the substrate unless I need something else for plants. For fish, tetras, cories, plecos, 1 or 2 wild angels, dwarf cichlids etc.

 

[Thai]

Anything in the 6500-1000k spectrum will grow. I use 6700k t5ho, have a 36" 4x39w fixture on my 40

 

[Becca]

A dual-strip T8 bulb would be enough for that - 1 colormax, 1 floramax type bulb.

A dual strip T5 would work, too, same basic idea. Check out the specs on those bulbs. I like my double strip deep blue pro fixtures that I got from Ken's.

 

[ddavila06]

this is a great light:
http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-su...coralife-fw-double-aqua-t5-strip-36-inch.html

i would change the colormax for a 10k
my whole fishroom has those bulbs and im growing more than just those plants you listed. they are also very cheap..

 

[npbarca]

Do the fixtures come with bulbs. If not, would 1 10k and 1 6.7k be enough?

 

[ddavila06]

that particular one comes w a 65k and something else, i dont like the "something else" one.lol, plus the 10k benefits the plants and the 65k does the same.

 

[npbarca]

Ok so I will get the fixture and the 10k. Do I need any special additives for the substrate. Also, do I need "plant food"?

 

[ddavila06]

sure:
http://www.kensfish.com/aquarium-supplies/plant-supplies/seachem-flourish-plant-tabs.html
and they are on sale from kens fish now, hehe.
plant food, good for your swords, cryptos and vallisnerias, anubias and heavy root feeding plants!! looking forward to your pics.


BTW, what is PFS substrate?

 

[npbarca]

Pool filter sand

 

[ddavila06]

Pool filter sand

ahhhhh, i knew that@ dohh... that is pretty inert stuff so it wont supply any nutrients to any of the plants,...my tanks that have sand usually have anubias attached to rocks/wood, and ferns attached to things....im trying hairgrass---so far so good. enjoy

 

[npbarca]

I will have a lot of driftwood to attach the swords to. The hair grass will be in the sand. Does anyone know the little floating plants that look like clovers with small stems?

 

[Leffler817]

Duckweed


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[Localzoo]

I will have a lot of driftwood to attach the swords to. The hair grass will be in the sand. Does anyone know the little floating plants that look like clovers with small stems?

I've got tons lol I can give you some they grow really fast
They are considered a pest in local waters...but that's another story


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[npbarca]

I'm trying to figure out some surface cover so the tank will be a littl dim.

 

[ddavila06]

Red root floaters or watersprite will do well and help filter the light while the tank starts adjusting