How many watts per gallon is TOO much?

emilyekk

emilyekk

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Apr 28, 2009
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I have been looking for a (cheap) better lighting system for my planted tank for a few weeks now.


I know 2 watts per gallon is what you want to shoot for, but what is the MOST watts per gallon you should have, or is there a limit?

I found a cheap temporary (I think it's a halogen) light for $15 at home depot, but it's 250W... and I have a 55 gallon tank. At the store tonight I figured that was probably overkill... but could I get away with it until I could afford better lighting? Or would I be blinding my fish? lol.
 
You'd grow a lot of algae with that lighting.

There's really no set limit, on either end of the spectrum, but keep in mind that the more lighting you have the more balance you will need to meet the other plants needs (Co2, ferts) which means a lot of work in the end. Shoot for about half as much light.
 
jpappy789 said:
You'd grow a lot of algae with that lighting.

There's really no set limit, on either end of the spectrum, but keep in mind that the more lighting you have the more balance you will need to meet the other plants needs (Co2, ferts) which means a lot of work in the end. Shoot for about half as much light.
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well, I am basically planning to save up for a much better lightening system. I'm thinking in about 2-5 months I would have the money, would it be okay to use the mega light (Lol) for that long? In your opinion, do you think it would affect the water temp?
 
petluvr said:
As I stated in you other thread you can go to wal mart and get a shop light with a total of 80 something watts that would work great.
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I went there (and home depot, and lowes) tonight and looked at shop lights.

The MAXIMUM wattage for all the shop lights they sold was 32W, so 64W total... I was hoping for more like 40W a bulb, 80 total.


So I guess I won't be doing shop lights. :/

Which is why I was asking if that would be too much wattage because I am still attempting to come up with a temporary solution until I can afford better lights with the wattage I need.
 
I realizing this is kind of asking about old stuff from that other thread, but also the shop lights they sold didnt have ANY like edges or raise to them, so I would literally probably just be setting the lights directly on the glass canopy.

Is that going to break the glass overtime or hurt anything?

I know someone had suggested wooden blocks to elevate the lights but after seeing the way the fixtures were, that wouldn't really work because it would still be directly touching the bulb.

OR the only other option I saw were these square shop lights that were covered (remind me of something you'd see in a classroom: http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100063004&N=10000003+90401+502059

but, I wonder if those would diffuse the light too much? Do you think you'd be getting less watts per gallon because its covered? That light too was only up to 64 watts total so I just wonder.
 
emilyekk said:
I went there (and home depot, and lowes) tonight and looked at shop lights.

The MAXIMUM wattage for all the shop lights they sold was 32W, so 64W total... I was hoping for more like 40W a bulb, 80 total.


So I guess I won't be doing shop lights. :/

Which is why I was asking if that would be too much wattage because I am still attempting to come up with a temporary solution until I can afford better lights with the wattage I need.
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The 32watt bulbs are actually more powerful (more output) than 40 watts, T8 > T12 btw. Usually Walmarts have the shoplights that have enough of a lip to support the bulbs off of the glass.
 
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