I've heard that lighting a 10 gallon tank is diffrent then lighting a any other size tank. I read on a seperate forum that 4 wtts per gallon would actually be more like 2 watts per gallon. I just spent 100 bux on a lighting fixture for my 10 gal. Its a statelite CF fixture that puts out 40 wpg. 4 watts per gallon would be ideal for growing the plants i plan on growing. Should i return and get a fixture with even more power or is this just a myth? thank you for your time.
10 gallon
- Thread starter secretmuscles
- Start date
Correct. This is NOT a myth imo. Anything 10G and less I would classify as having this issue. On my 5.5G I have close to 35W which close to 6.6WPG and the plants are just barely doing good - but I am using Flourish Excel and not CO2 injection.
There is a link on this forum somewhere that demonstrates this logic - cant find it now.
What plants are you growing??
Aries
There is a link on this forum somewhere that demonstrates this logic - cant find it now.
What plants are you growing??
Aries
If you want to grow some of the higher light red plants then you would probably have to up your wattage a bit.
Coralife make a 96w quad aqualight for about the same price you paid for yours. I had one over my 10g nano reef but it was lying around doing nothing after I upgraded to a 55g tank. I just got a 6700k bulb for it and am now putting it to use on my growout tank.
However, you may find that the plants you like will grow fine under your current lighting so it's not quite time to panic. Do you have any plants in mind?
Coralife make a 96w quad aqualight for about the same price you paid for yours. I had one over my 10g nano reef but it was lying around doing nothing after I upgraded to a 55g tank. I just got a 6700k bulb for it and am now putting it to use on my growout tank.
However, you may find that the plants you like will grow fine under your current lighting so it's not quite time to panic. Do you have any plants in mind?
10g tank dimension is similar to a 20g tank in terms of height, the 20g tank has like 2 inches on the 10g unless its a tall tank. The 40w CF light would give the 20g tank 2wpg, it would give the 10g a little more than that. You're still looking at less than 4wpg, somewhere in the range of 2.5-3wpg since you're using CF. That will grow most plants except for some of the red, difficult to grow plants.
I plan on growing a few stem plants, mainly some rotala. I also plan on growing hair grass. So I am pretty sure i will need to return the fixture. Can anyone send me a link or tell me where to go to purchase the coralife 96wtt fixture? I want to do this right and not waste 100 bux on some half *** lighting.
96w quad
It's the second item (ES53111) @ $92.99
There are other options such as a retrofit that might work out better. Two of the 36w kits from AHSupply. Most people think they have the best reflector on the market so it might even put more light in your tank than the Coralife.
I have to admit that my experience in lighting small tanks is limited and just maybe your current light will grow rotala and hairgrass.
It's the second item (ES53111) @ $92.99
There are other options such as a retrofit that might work out better. Two of the 36w kits from AHSupply. Most people think they have the best reflector on the market so it might even put more light in your tank than the Coralife.
I have to admit that my experience in lighting small tanks is limited and just maybe your current light will grow rotala and hairgrass.
The amount of light you currently have should be fine for dwarf hairgrass. What kind of rotala are you looking at? You're going to need more light if its rotala macrandra but indica is fine at your light levels.
You know, it really all depends. Not sure on what though.
Ive been able to grow my Alternanthera reineckii perfectly in my 15 gallon with 1.7 watts per gallon (compact screw in Flourscents), much better then in my 72 with pressurized C02 injection and 3.7 watts per gallon of lighting.
I can't explain it...............
I always say try it out, you never know what will grow in your tank.
Ive been able to grow my Alternanthera reineckii perfectly in my 15 gallon with 1.7 watts per gallon (compact screw in Flourscents), much better then in my 72 with pressurized C02 injection and 3.7 watts per gallon of lighting.
I can't explain it...............
I always say try it out, you never know what will grow in your tank.