Two 15watts for a ten gallon?

[Wingman]

I've searched the whole site and can't find an answer, so I'm posting my question...

I have a ten-gallon aquarium. I want enough light without spending too much $. I've got a 15 watt hood with a full-spectrum bulb and I just got a second hood for free. Do two 15 watt bulbs equal thirty watts total (thus making 3.0 watts/gallon)?? If not, is the second hood going to help at all?

I guess I didn't pay attention in physics but I'm sure you folks will know.

[djlen]

Assuming that you are talking about fluorescent tubes, yes that will be 30 watts, or 3 watts/gal. and should be fine.

Len

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, 3 wpg should be fine for just about any plant you want to add.

[Starry]

I hope you realize that with so much light it will be absolutely necessary to add CO2 and fertilize, and you will be doing major pruning every weekend. Not much room in a 10 gal, I end up replanting half the tank at every water change. But, if you're up to the task, it could be a very nice tank.

[SnakeIce]

or you could just plant stuff that is sized for a ten... some of the crypts stay smaller and while they are usually used in low light situations they could be used here... try to find small leaved plants and ones that grow in rosets in stead of stem plants.

I saw a contest entry that made a ten look like a 30 gal cause of the variety of small plants used in the tank

[djlen]

3 wpg in a 10 is not as radical as 3wpg in a 50 or 100 gal. tank.
IMO, you probably can get by without CO2 by using Flourish Excel for the carbon, along with the other ferts in the Flourish line.
I believe they make products for all the macros, and the ever popular 'Flourish' for traces. Don't buy Flourish Trace...just plain Flourish. It is a more comprehensive product for dosing traces.

Len

[Starry]

I don't like to disagree with Len, but in my experience that is a lot of light, and without CO2 you're going to have a very hard time. I'm at 26W on a 10gal, and Excel doesn't do anything noticeable compared to lots of CO2. And you have to dose Excel every day, unlike CO2. Your choice in the end, and you can always switch from one to the other.

[TKOS]

I have 3 wpg in a 5 gallon tank and things grow at a resonable pace. No added CO2 and occasional ferts. I have 2.6 watts per gallon in my 10 with occasional ferts and no CO2 and I might take a leaf or 2 off of my amazon sword every week.

[elgecko]

I grew some different plants in a 10 gallon with just 15 watts.

- Egeria densa (Brazilian Waterweed) did fair with 1.5 watts per gallon

- Ceratophyllum demersum (Hornwort)
- Cryptocoryne wendtii
- Rotala rotundifolia
- Java Moss
- Java Fern
All grew without problems