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Hey all, have a few questions on lighting, and a few options to get your opinion on, and experience with specific fixtures if you have any. I did search around prior to posting this to see if I could find the answers, but I think some of my questions haven't been covered, or are hidden away in the billion posts on here 
I am looking to light a 29 Gallon paludarium (still building). It will of course have a variety of plants from bottom to top...perhaps a few aquatics, up to terrestrial plants, then up to background and maybe some epiphytes, moss etc. I have found a lot of inspiration from the vivs I've seen here on dendroboard.
Note this paludarium will not house DF's, it's for my japanese firebelly newt. There will be plenty of cover for my newt via floating plants, overhangs, roots etc so it can escape the light if it chooses to.
Questions
1. My research makes it sound like a good option is T5 HO's...is this what most of you use for your vivs? And would you recommend this for my planted 29 Gallon?
2. If T5 HO's are good a good option for this situation, would a 30" 2 x 24W setup be a good choice? (too much light? too little? just right?)
3. I've noticed most people usually elevate the light fixture several inches above the top of the tank via wires or the legs that usually come with the fixture. What is the purpose(s) of elevating the lighting? (seems counter-intuitive to a noob, like there would be more light loss due to distance and also via the space all around the light where it's not at the tank level)
- Also, can those fixtures be set directly onto the tank with a glass lid?
4. Is there a difference between lighting for aquariums vs vivariums? Seems like a lot of people use the aquarium setups for vivs..?
5. Two options that look nice to me are these:
A.
B.
Questions regarding the above fixtures, that I can't find answers to anywhere:
- Do either of those fixtures' legs allow placement on top of a tank that has a glass lid? One person commented on one of those that it can't be used with a tank lid, but I am not sure if that is accurate. If anybody here has one or both of those fixtures how does it fit on and do you use a glass lid?
The bulbs that are listed with the zoo med fixture on amazon that "are usually purchased with the zoomed fixture" are:
- do those sound like a good combo?
Thanks for all of your help, I know you are probably sick of lighting questions
I am looking to light a 29 Gallon paludarium (still building). It will of course have a variety of plants from bottom to top...perhaps a few aquatics, up to terrestrial plants, then up to background and maybe some epiphytes, moss etc. I have found a lot of inspiration from the vivs I've seen here on dendroboard.
Note this paludarium will not house DF's, it's for my japanese firebelly newt. There will be plenty of cover for my newt via floating plants, overhangs, roots etc so it can escape the light if it chooses to.
Questions
1. My research makes it sound like a good option is T5 HO's...is this what most of you use for your vivs? And would you recommend this for my planted 29 Gallon?
2. If T5 HO's are good a good option for this situation, would a 30" 2 x 24W setup be a good choice? (too much light? too little? just right?)
3. I've noticed most people usually elevate the light fixture several inches above the top of the tank via wires or the legs that usually come with the fixture. What is the purpose(s) of elevating the lighting? (seems counter-intuitive to a noob, like there would be more light loss due to distance and also via the space all around the light where it's not at the tank level)
- Also, can those fixtures be set directly onto the tank with a glass lid?
4. Is there a difference between lighting for aquariums vs vivariums? Seems like a lot of people use the aquarium setups for vivs..?
5. Two options that look nice to me are these:
A.
Questions regarding the above fixtures, that I can't find answers to anywhere:
- Do either of those fixtures' legs allow placement on top of a tank that has a glass lid? One person commented on one of those that it can't be used with a tank lid, but I am not sure if that is accurate. If anybody here has one or both of those fixtures how does it fit on and do you use a glass lid?
The bulbs that are listed with the zoo med fixture on amazon that "are usually purchased with the zoomed fixture" are:
Thanks for all of your help, I know you are probably sick of lighting questions