Can someone explain Low and high light needs?

[DAVIDFBT]

Is there a chart out there or something similar that says how many wpg is low light or medium light or high light? Like on Plantgeek.net it says low light or medium low or medium high, I want to know specifically how many watts per gallon is low or medium light.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Kinda depends on the tank.
As it may apply to a 30gal.
IMO
1.0-1.5wpg low
1.5-2.8wpg med.
2.8-4.0wpg high

 

[Bk718]

Kinda depends on the tank.
As it may apply to a 30gal.
IMO
1.0-1.5wpg low
1.5-2.8wpg med.
2.8-4.0wpg high

really high is that low?? wow lol I always thought high was 3.5+wpg

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

I thought it was 3

There is obviously a permeable boundary here.

 

[DAVIDFBT]

How about for a 10-gallon tank?

 

[Fordtrannyman]

really high is that low?? wow lol I always thought high was 3.5+wpg

In a 30gal I would consider 2.8 med/high. (Unless it's a 30 tall.)
I was just trying to give a rough ballpark response.

IMO anything in the 2.8-3.2wpg range using T5HO or PCF lighting
with a tank volume range between 20g - 80gal. and no more than 24" deep,
will support successful growth of a wide range of high light plants.

 

[Bk718]

just curious ford where you got these values?? people throw around the high/med/low/bright and it would be great to know the exact values.

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Lots of research.
Here is one reliable example.
http://www.aquajake.com/blog/hardware/lighting/lighting-how-much-do-you-need/

 

[-KT-]

I just got the 6.6 gallon bookshelf aquarium and it came with a 15w florescent. Now technically thats about 2 wpg but I have heard it's a bit different for smaller tanks, it that still sufficient for plant growth?

 

[nickmcmechan]

just curious ford where you got these values?? people throw around the high/med/low/bright and it would be great to know the exact values.

also depends where you live, a UK gallon is 4.5 litres, so in the UK I have 1.9 and 2.0 wpg on my planted tanks, however in the US I have 1.7wpg...

however, i would say its not an exact science

keep it simple

i would say

1.5wpg or below is low

1.5 to 2.5 is medium

2.5 to 3.5 is high

3.5+ is very high

all, imo, of course