Setting up a low tech/biotope

[ilaizm]

I am interested in setting up a low tech tank closer to a biotope actually. The tanks is a 95G.


Are two T5 bulbs of 54w each on for 8 hours good?
What colors should the two bulbs be?
I am only interested in having a few plants since I want it close to a biotope.
Are there any plants that can live well without CO2?

[colinlp]

2x 54W T5s would be fine for 8 hours but if you wanted you could even halve that if you are low on plants. I have my 160 gallon (UK) running most of the time on just 44W T5 and it's plenty bright enough for slow plant growth on species like Echinodorius or Anubias (on wood) which will get along fine without CO2

Check out this page (http://www.theplantedtank.co.uk/lighting.htm) for colours of lights

[Rex82]

have a look at the red map discus thread....his bio looks awsome IMO...and would be low maintanence

[Dutch dude]

For natural somewhat warm colors (low in UV = reduced algea growth) I would recommend the Osram/Philips 830 (new generation warm white) and a Osram/Philips 840 (new generation cool white). The 830 in the back and the 840 in front. You could use a diferent lighting schedule of 5 hours only the 830 on, followed bu 3 to 4 hours no lights at all (early in the afternoon) and both tube lights on for 6-7 hours in the evening. The mentioned tubelight numbers 830 and 840 are standard tubelights used for office lighting, cheap and have a long live. The T5 range comes very close to T8 so you might want to go with standard cheaper T5.