Well today I went out an bought a new hood and lights for my tank. Even with just my 2 15 watts in my 55, the plants were doing ok, but I knew they could do ALOT better. They werent growing very fast, and just didnt see as healthy as they should be. SOOO....... I made a big step today. I spent $250 on a new hood and lights. i went to three different places before I found the one I wanted. First, I went to petco, and bought 2 24' hoods which SAID they held 2 bulbs each, which i thought would be great, bought them and luckily while i was in the car i opened them and they didnt. Was the same hood I already had! So I took them back. Then went to petsmart, they didnt have the hoods I wanted, and they said they MIGHT be able to specially order them, but they usually dont.... but they would order a tank for me if I like...... not what i wanted. Sooo.... a nice guy there told me to go to pet gallery, a little LFS place. Told me they had T-5's and were great lights for plants. So i went there. Well, you had to make your own hood for these lights, and i wanted like 4 of them, but then I saw this awsome light that kinda looks like it floats above the tank. brakets hold it on the sides to the tank. Its a Coralife, and is meant for a saltwater, but has the lights that are AWSOME for plants, and also has 2 blue lights, which I dont know if ill use really, but its there if I want to. Each bulb is atleast 65 Watts, and there are four of them. You think now my plants will be happier?????

How many galls is the tank?

55 g. the box says its 465 watts total.

That is a very strong lighting system hun. Most plants like to be in the 4-5 watts per gal. This would place you in the 8 wats per gal, you wouldnt be able to house the low level light plants. You can do the high level lights but remember you will need to also have substrate for the plants nutrition too......

I would go with the Coralife

"36" Freshwater Aqualight
Dual Linear Strip Light
(192W Total) "

http://www.marineandreef.com/shoppro/power...ight_fresh.html

This would be better for you tank.

The 465 watts is including the two blue lights in there, which I dont use. So the total watts would be 232 right? Alittle more then 192, but not by too much. Hopefully.

This is the one I have, but it holds a set of blue lights too. Or at least it looks exactly like that one. Same brand and all.

http://www.marineandreef.com/products/aqua...fresh48Doub.jpg

are you planning on taking out the blue lights cause that would be the only way to reduse the lighting, plants will still use the blue light too.

I either have one or the other on, but never both. Ive thought about taking them out, but they look kinda nice when I turn them on at night. Usually I turn them on and the white lights off half an hour before I turn all the lights off.


I really like the hood. Im glad I got it, and the fish and plants seem to like it. Especially the plants. ive noticed a big difference since I got it. And ive heard some people say the cooling fans are pretty loud, and I havent noticed mine one bit.