Lightning Question

[Super_Snapper]

I recently bought a 125-gallon aquarium off ebay and intend to make a terrarium out of it. The only thing keeping me back is that I'm unsure of which lights to use. My research into the matter indicates that low-light plants need 1-2 watts per gallon, and that the temperature should be 5,000 - 6500 k.

However, I'm not sure if the gallon/watt ratio works with terrariums. Light has to be strong enough to penetrate water with aquatic plants, but the kind I'm planting are of the land variety. Since I have a 125-gallon tank, should I provide 125+ watts of light, or does the "per gallon" method only apply to literal gallons of water?

I've been looking at lights, and noticed that the only ones that produce this many watts are the VHO ones. Right now, I'm considering 48" "AquaSun" lights that put out 110 watts each. However, they also produce 10,000 k each -- I fear that such an excess would burn any plants or amphibians placed into the terrarium.

What sort of lighting should I use in my setup? It would also be fine if you link me to specific products.

[Tindomul1of9]

Yes, they can produce alot of heat. And too much light can lower the quality of some low light plants (aroids, and others), I've seen this happen in my 29 gallon tank. I use 120 watts of 6500K power compacts. These produce a little too much heat and the temps in the tank are often in the mid 80's. A fine temp for lizards, but not the best for my little bumble bee walking toads (though they are tough, and I give them heat breaks). On ther other hand, your tank will be much bigger, and not just more volume, but much taller. Light still looses alot of its power with increasing distance, im not sure what the exact loss is per foot. I would stick to those, or if possible, try to look for T5's who produce the same amount of light. These, will hopefully produce only half or even less the amount of heat.
Some people have been saying that power compacts are T5's, not to sure about that. I will have to see it in writing from a reliable source. At first glance, T5's are much smaller bulbs.
So, how tall is your tank?

[brettlt]

T5's are definitely not power compacts. T5's actually produce more lumens per watt than power compacts. Lighting is a big source of debate and talk on a lot of forums. The use of watts is not exactly like comparing apples to apples. Read the www.ahsupply.com web site to see of the differences in light quality based on spacing and reflectors. There is also the issue of heat which Tindo hit on.

However it is a commonly used term so I will try to address it a little bit. Some people suggest about 1 watt per gallon for terrariums, since you are not having to cut through water. Others say closer to 2 or 3 watts per gallon. It also has a lot to do with what types of plants you are going to have. Bromeliads require more light than pothos, and the list goes on forever. From what I have read many plants, in say a 55 gallon tank, will due quite well with two 4 foot T8s over them producing 5600 lumens with 64 watts. I am not sure how well the broms will color up, but you may not care. (They may color up great, I just do not have any experience with it, but I would like to know, as I will be helping a friend soon with a 55, and I would love to able to use T8s to save money.)

My only personal experience is with my 40 gallon tank. I decided to use a 96 watt 6700K bulb from AHSupply. I have 7 broms, more I will be adding, some Pilea Glauca, Peperomia Japonica, Fittonia argyroneura, and three types of Dischidia and the plants seem to be doing well. The broms have colored up very nicely. My tank is 36 long, so this bulb fit over it perfectly.

That brings me to my questions for you. What are the dimensions of your 125 gallon? And what types of plants do you want to grow? Also, what type of animal do you want to dwell in this enclosure?

[brettlt]

Here is a link dealing with lights that I found very interesting. I keep it in an excel file for reference.

http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/...Comparison/29/

[Tindomul1of9]

Thanks for the info brettlt!