Difference between Plants and Types of Lightning they need

[that Fish Guy]

Hi, Someone recommended this site which is very helpful.

http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_cat.php?category=1 (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_cat.php?category=1)

They list Plants by 7 Categories which is helpful too.

View All Items (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1) (285 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif Not Specific (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=1) (21 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/dot_blank.gif Description: This plant does not have any specific light requirements
http://plantgeek.net/images/dot_blank.gifhttp://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif Low (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=2) (43 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif Medium Low (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=3) (30 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif Medium (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=4) (75 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif Medium High (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=5) (73 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif High (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=6) (37 items)http://plantgeek.net/images/icon_plants.gif Very High (http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_list.php?category=1&filter_by=7) (7 items)

But my question is how many Watts is Low Light, Medium, High, Very High, etc.

The site does not state this.

I need to know how many Watts I need to Grow these Plants.

Tanks in advance,
Steve

[jpappy789]

It's not a black and white system...and wpg certainly has it's flaws. Everyone has their own rating scale.

What plants do you want? Is this your first planted tank?

If so, I would stay within the 1-1.5 wpg range and stick with the low to medium-low light plants. Not only are the plants easier to manage because they are not fast growers but they're less demanding when it comes to CO2 and ferts as well.

[J double R]

Lightning may be a touch too strong for any plants you want to grow. Tends to vaporize.

[jpappy789]

Try to keep one thread per topic.

Here's what I said in your other thread...


It's not a black and white system...and wpg certainly has it's flaws. Everyone has their own rating scale.

What plants do you want? Is this your first planted tank?

If so, I would stay within the 1-1.5 wpg range and stick with the low to medium-low light plants. Not only are the plants easier to manage because they are not fast growers but they're less demanding when it comes to CO2 and ferts as well.

[DoctaQ]

the tank and lighting will determine what plants you can keep

[petluvr]

Lightning may be a touch too strong for any plants you want to grow. Tends to vaporize.
Still a smarty I see :)
As has been stated stay within 1-1.5 watts per gallon and go with low light plants since this is your first set-up. Learn from the low light plants and then you can go higher if you wish.

[THE V]

There are two ways to do this.

1. Look around and figure out what plants you want to grow. Then based upon the plants determine what your lighting needs will be. Depending upon the size of the tank the actual wattage needed to obtain the light levels varies some.

2. Get the lights first and then figure out what plants you can grow with them after. This limits your choices of plants somewhat but the lighting requirements on the page are for the minimum light needed. You can keep low light plants in medium light or medium light plants under high light. You can also grow low light plants under high lighting condition if they are shaded by other plants.... It gets a little complex but hopefully you get the picture.