Lighting requirements

[Carping]

normally aquatic plants that have red leaves need good light. In low light the leaves remain green - with good light the leaves will go red.

Guys, I love my plants and would love to have more in my community tank, but I think I am on the wrong track with regards to lighting. My tank is a 400lt tank, 1800mm long and about 600mm deep. Currently I have a 1200mm 36W daylight florescent globe with a 600mm 18W red plant light in there.
Without going the expensive T5 route, what would you recomend I install there to improve my plant growth?

[LanceP]

I thought the T5 route was the inexpensive route?

[Henk Hugo]

80watt T5s are +-150cm long - i would do 6 of them.....

I currently run 6X 54watt T5s on my 1.6M and it works like a charm but i plan on upgrading to 6X80watts if i can actually find the osram ballasts

[Slojo]

I thought the T5 route was the inexpensive route?
T5 Globes is more expensive than T8s.
But i've seen that the electronic balast for the T5s is cheaper than the T8's ballast at the LFS.

[Henk Hugo]

the duel output 54watt T5 ballasts should set you abck around R240

[Reafer]

But i've seen that the electronic balast for the T5s is cheaper than the T8's ballast at the LFS.

Lighting shops are alot cheaper than the LFS i found. I can get Duel ballasts 54w T5 in PE for R180 if anyone wants