75 gallon with plants and fish... How much light?

Grits · 01-31-2008, 02:36 PM

How much light is normal to have on a 75 gallon tank? And also, Can you have to much light for the fish to be comfortable?

Right now I have one 48in 40 watt fluorescent light strip. I'm thinking of adding at least another single strip, or maybe even a double. Would that be too much light for my tank?

My Fish:

1 Red Tail Shark
1 Rainbow Shark
1 Zebra Botia
2 Clown Loaches
2 Golden Rams
1 Black Swordtail
2 Common Plecs
3 Cories

My Plants:

A little Elodea and cobomba(not much)
1 fairly large Amazon Sword
1 Hygrophlia
2 smaller plants (I"m not sure of the name)

Blue Cray · 01-31-2008, 05:00 PM

1 watt per gallon is perfect.

Damon · 02-03-2008, 08:36 AM

No its not. Your sword will die.....

With regular flourescent, a triple tube strip light will work but 4x55 pc would be ideal.

The Tick · 02-04-2008, 01:25 PM

Grits, I would agree with Damon. You'll want to push your light to higher levels if you want to those plants to grow into strong warriors for justice!

davercomeau · 03-01-2008, 06:05 PM

I would do some research on prices and then buy one with at least 200 W and 6700 K. You're fish will be fine in the high light but your plants will die in the low light that you are providing. Search eBay for some good deals.

MiSo · 03-01-2008, 10:03 PM

i'm using 260 watts pc on my 75 gallon...

before that i was using 2 x 40 watts odno.
that still isn't much light. i couldn't get blyxa japonica to grow in my tank with that setup.

amazon swords grew in my tank just fine with 2 x 40 watts odno.
you can have a low light tank but just be careful with the plants you choose.
here's a pic of that tank with 2 x 40 watts odno. i grew mostly moss and swords.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...m/CIMG1504.jpg

01-31-2008, 02:36 PM	#1
Grits Fishy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Age: 31 Posts: 15	75 gallon with plants and fish... How much light? How much light is normal to have on a 75 gallon tank? And also, Can you have to much light for the fish to be comfortable? Right now I have one 48in 40 watt fluorescent light strip. I'm thinking of adding at least another single strip, or maybe even a double. Would that be too much light for my tank? My Fish: 1 Red Tail Shark 1 Rainbow Shark 1 Zebra Botia 2 Clown Loaches 2 Golden Rams 1 Black Swordtail 2 Common Plecs 3 Cories My Plants: A little Elodea and cobomba(not much) 1 fairly large Amazon Sword 1 Hygrophlia 2 smaller plants (I"m not sure of the name)

01-31-2008, 05:00 PM	#2
Blue Cray Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 17 Posts: 515	1 watt per gallon is perfect. __________________ 55g Planted -golden zebra danios -striped raphael catfish -angelfish -bronze cories -gold gourami -SAE -brochis catfish -Boeseman's Rainbowfish -Flying Foxes -BGK -kribensis 22g Planted -zebra loach -glo lite tetras 5g Semi Planted -endlers

02-03-2008, 08:36 AM	#3
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,976	No its not. Your sword will die..... With regular flourescent, a triple tube strip light will work but 4x55 pc would be ideal. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

02-04-2008, 01:25 PM	#4
The Tick Fishy Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: The City Posts: 16	Grits, I would agree with Damon. You'll want to push your light to higher levels if you want to those plants to grow into strong warriors for justice! __________________ SPOOOOOOOOOOOOON!!!!!!!

03-01-2008, 10:03 PM	#6
MiSo Ballin' Alan Join Date: May 2005 Age: 27 Posts: 146	i'm using 260 watts pc on my 75 gallon... before that i was using 2 x 40 watts odno. that still isn't much light. i couldn't get blyxa japonica to grow in my tank with that setup. amazon swords grew in my tank just fine with 2 x 40 watts odno. you can have a low light tank but just be careful with the plants you choose. here's a pic of that tank with 2 x 40 watts odno. i grew mostly moss and swords. http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n...m/CIMG1504.jpg __________________ click me -> and me -> Last edited by MiSo; 03-01-2008 at 10:09 PM.

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03-01-2008, 06:05 PM	#5
davercomeau Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Age: 24 Posts: 50	I would do some research on prices and then buy one with at least 200 W and 6700 K. You're fish will be fine in the high light but your plants will die in the low light that you are providing. Search eBay for some good deals.

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