I am setting up a 46 gallon bow front planted tank and I am looking for some suggestions on a quality lighting fixture for it. The fixture would need to be 36" long and produce a reasonable amount of light. However, I am not looking for some type of super fixture that would blind my fish. I have neon tetras and angel fish. Any suggestions on a fixture that wont break my wallet? Thanks!

You might take a look at spiral pig tail compact flourescent type lights. In a round spot reflector. And with an 1/4" plastic grid egg crate to cover the tank with the spot reflectors on the egg crate.

I think you will find 6500k lights from wall mart and with the "spot" designs you can just place the lights wherever needed to give a pleasing effect.

An hopefully they can be hide under some kind of hood.

my .02

ps 2 15w bulbs are ~$6-8. The reflectors are $10 or so.

4 15w would give you 60w which should be enough.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Does anyone have any experience with Coralife Freshwater Aqualight- 36" Power Compact Light-1 x 96W - Lighting - Power Compact Strip Lights at BigalsOnline

I've always been a fan of the Aqualights from a plant and easy coral perspective. I'd spend the extra money though and get the 2x96 fixture. That'll give you all the light you need, plus if a bulb blows you still have a backup so your plants don't die.

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Well it will depend on if you are going low tech as in no CO2 and low light plants then I would look at this light

Coralife F/W T-5 Aqualight Double Strip Light-36" - Lighting - T-5 Fixtures at BigalsOnline

If you are going high tech as in pressurized CO2 and high light plants then I would go with 1 of these

Current USA Nova Extreme 36" 2X39W T-5 10,000K - Freshwater - Lighting - T-5 Fixtures at BigalsOnline

High-light plants should really have 3-4 watts per gallon of light, otherwise they tend to grow tall and thin trying to get to the surface to get the light they need.

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I hate to say this but the WPG rule only really applies to T-12's or T-8's. The T-5 HO's put out considerably more light than T-12's and T-8's. and drive that light much deeper into the tank and produce much higher PAR values also and plants need good par to photosynthesize.

Why do you hate to say it? You're stating an opinion based on your experiences. You should never hate to share your experience and opinions with people. That's what we're all here for, anyway!

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Well I didnt want to upset you about your opinion on lighting. The WPG rule came about I believe it was back in the 70's when everybody used the same lighting as in T-12's but with advancements it doesnt apply. I will gaurentee if 3-4 WPG of T-5 HO's were put on a tank it would be nothing but an algea farm. The T-5 HO's are being used on reef tanks and with 4 WPG you can keep just about any coral or anemone you might want as long as the tank doesnt go over 20 inches deep and they can be kept at most anywhere in the tank.

I still use the WPG rule because most people that ask about keeping live plants have never heard of PAR, much less what it is or why it's so important. Assuming proper feeding practices and proper maintenance of the aquarium, a moderately to heavily planted aquarium shouldn't experience much in the way of algae problems.

I was also going on the assumption that he'd be going with the PC lights. I agree with you 100% on the T5's; they're deceptive little buggers.

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So will that light kit work for me archer? And will I be able to use glass top for my tank or will that mess up the lighting.

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my 75g build
---->http://www.aquariumforum.com/f45/fin...ild-18272.html
Tank specs so far
75g beasolbob tank peat moss & safe-t-sorb
Fish
6congo
2bristle nose plecs snails
Plants
30ish anarchis 3anubis on 3pieces of driftwood
5bronze crypt wendettis,1crypt ponteiI
1bronze water lilly1onion plant 2micro swords

Marineland 5g hex
bunch Java

Both of the lights I posted links to will work or are you talking about a different one??

The ones you posted thanks

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my 75g build
---->http://www.aquariumforum.com/f45/fin...ild-18272.html
Tank specs so far
75g beasolbob tank peat moss & safe-t-sorb
Fish
6congo
2bristle nose plecs snails
Plants
30ish anarchis 3anubis on 3pieces of driftwood
5bronze crypt wendettis,1crypt ponteiI
1bronze water lilly1onion plant 2micro swords

Marineland 5g hex
bunch Java

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55gallon
Light - 6500K CFL, 23wattsx5 5hr/day
Substrate - Red Mexican Clay, Sphagnum Peat moss, Eco-Complete
Misc- Pressurized CO2, EI Dose KNO3, KH2PO4, CSM-B
Plants -Limnophila Aromatica, Stargrass, Dwarf Hair Grass, Christmas Moss, Baby Tears (HM), Dwarf Baby Tears(HC), Rotala Rotundifolia, Ludwigia Glandulosa, Riccia Fluitans