Floating Plants and WPG

[JPDVM2014]

I was just wondering if floating plants would affect the WPG of the plants in a tank? I'm saving to get a 1x55 light from ahsupply for my 26 and wanted some floating plants but was just wondering if it would change the WPG.

[jpappy789]

It wouldn't really affect the WPG but it would affect how much light is getting to the plants rooted down. I'm overrun by duckweed and my plants aren't getting enough light penetration to grow normally. Something like brazilian pennywort would work because it just grows like a rooted plant, compared with duckweed that multiplies like crazy and is a pain to remove.

[JPDVM2014]

Ok, that is what i thought, but figured i would ask. Thanks for the suggestion too.

[Mgamer20o0]

It wouldn't really affect the WPG but it would affect how much light is getting to the plants rooted down. I'm overrun by duckweed and my plants aren't getting enough light penetration to grow normally. Something like brazilian pennywort would work because it just grows like a rooted plant, compared with duckweed that multiplies like crazy and is a pain to remove.
i dont even like the wpg rule and its not even a rule but a guide line at best. you can put 100 wpg over a tank but if you have it too high off the tank it could still be a low light.... or if you block it with duckweed or what not.

[JPDVM2014]

Thanks for the info mgamer. The only reason i'm asking is cause i'm about to get a 10 for some dwarf puffers and want to replace the incandescent lights that come with it with some CFL. But there are two slots and the wattage i think is gonna be pretty high. I don't really wanna have to deal with CO2 so i was just thinking about maybe putting in some floating plants to offset the higher wattage.

[jpappy789]

The WPG rule doesn't really apply to smaller tanks (under 20 gallons) and larger tanks over 100 gallons.

[JPDVM2014]

Ok, then i guess since it is going to be heavily planted then it should be alright? I'm just worried about having an algae outbreak. Also, i'm not sure if the light has a reflector or not, but if not, should i try and put some sort of reflector into the light when i put in the CFL bulbs?

[Mgamer20o0]

its not how much plants its how much the plants need. i would look at 2 14w bulbs make sure they are 6500k daylight bulbs.....

[JPDVM2014]

Ok, thanks so much. What about the reflector?

[fishorama]

I use 2 14w screw in daylight fluorescents over a 10g with just the strip light over glass it came with. No fancy reflector is needed. I don't do CO2 either. I don't have floating plants but the ambulia covers part, I can grow medium light plants well without much ferts & no algae (knock wood), it's a shrimp tank.

[JPDVM2014]

Ok. Thanks fishorama.