How much lighting?

I'm interested in getting a Zoo Med AquaSun T5-HO Double Light Linear Fluorescent Hood that runs 2 22" bulbs. A 24 watt 5,000k, and a 24 watt 6,000k bulb. My tank is 36 gallons, with 18" of water depth.

Would this be considered very high lighting? Would I need to use a c02 system with this? What else would I have to do to prevent algae?

 

I think its problem considered a medium light level.. there is a good graph that you can use to judge but can't seem to find it.
How high is the light from the tank ? like does it sit straight on top or 4'' above etc

 

Hi, Stone73
If you are rumming a tank with a BN and cardinals, I'd say you probably shouldn't worry too much about wheather or not you have enough light on the tank - both species are best for low-light tanks...

In your case you'll be well supplied with light.
The graph Jay-radd mentions, I think is this one:
(the second graph on the page). This page has a reference to another containing a series of graphs from measurements of light intensity and a reference to the uselessness of Watts per Gallon. There might be some truth to this now that the same amount of light can be achieved with much less wattage (e.g. HighOutput bulbs and ledlights...)

Regarding your question about algae - if you don't light your tank too intensely, the problem should solve itself, especially with an algae eater, the bristlenose. Add some shrimp, as your other fish don't bother them.
If you still have algae growing, you might have some un-balance in your system and then you'll need to find out which kind of algae you are having problems with; take a picture and post in the approrpiate section of our forum - you'll get good response as many have had algae-problems.
Read this post:

 

How high is the light from the tank ? like does it sit straight on top or 4'' above etc

The light will sit a few inches above the tank most likely


From the research I've done co2 sounds like a pain so I really don't want to deal with that. My fish do prefer lower lighting, but I want slightly higher lighting than I currently have (in the medium range) to grow a wider range plants.

I currently have vallisneria spiralis, and they have not been doing well due to my lack of lighting.

 

A fixture with 2 T5 High Output bulbs should be enough to grow almost anything, exept perhaps the most light demanding species, such as some high-light carpeting plants (e.g. Riccia, Eleocharis, Lilaeopsis).

CO2 is no pain, even DIY...
Get a 2liter (0,5 Gal) bottle, open a little hole in the lid, stick a hose through the hole, glue it tight and put the other end in the aquarium. In the bottle you put a pound of sugar, a teaspoon of bakers yeast, fill with water and add a few flakes of fish food. Shake well, skrew the lid tight and wait. The next day you'll have bubbles of CO2 in your tank.
This way it sounds almost too simple But it is, really! Half an hour of handywork, an hour the first time, pehaps, no more...
OK... to get more details, to clear the questions and to add some s, see the elaborate version of the process. Its in a very detailed thread by catsma97504 / Dena on our forum. Here you can fill in the gaps in my description - but it really is quite simple, and you have the guarantee that your plants are growing at their max...

As I've made some adaptations for using DIY CO2 in a larger tank, I'll be posting about that soon.

Good luck.

 

The only reason that I'm thinking it would be a pain is because a DIY CO2 would run constantly, right?
I run 2 air stones, and a air powered sponge filter, that would have to go right? Or would I just run them at night? I guess I could get a powerhead for the sponge filter, and get rid of the air stones.

 

My canister filter makes enough surface aeration, as my sprinklers are a little above the surface; but my aquarium is still setting up. I am considering getting an airstone, once I fill the tank, though.
If you think you don't have sufficient aeration in the water, you can use the airstone/pump a few hours late night. IMO it is always better than a powerhead, as an airpump injects air from the outside into the water, while a powerhead only stirs the water and, for this purpose, is of little use.

At least during the winter, the bottles can be allowed to cool down during the night, thus retarding the yeast's CO2 production - though I do admit this 'trick' is unpracticable in summer (hence an airstone...)

 

That will put you in medium/highlight.

The question is will you be able to raise the fixture up if needed?

Sign of too much light is Green Spot Algae forming on the glass and then plants.

You'll want to put the light on a timer for 6-8 hours a day.

Help combat algae is fast growing stem plants like Wisteria, Water Sprite and Bacopa and not leaving the light on 12 hours.

Water Sprite can be floated and is great for blocking some light as well as Wisteria.

 

Help combat algae is fast growing stem plants like Wisteria, Water Sprite and Bacopa and not leaving the light on 12 hours.

Water Sprite can be floated and is great for blocking some light as well as Wisteria.

I'm sure my fish would love some refuge from the light as well.