Correct Lighting for a 29 Gallon

[chlefwigum]

Hi,

I am new to the keeping of tropical plants. I have a 29g tank, with a small powerhead/sponge filter, and an Marineland Emperor 280 for filtration. I plan on adding some DIY CO2 later this week. I just added 5 red eye tetras to help start cycling the tank, and have already added a few plants (2 Amazon Swords, 1 camboda, and 2 of what appear to Ludwigia, but I am not positive. My question is all about the lighting. What is the correct amount for a tropical tank to grow healthy plants? Currently I have a 24" 20W Flora-Glo bulb on the tank. Is this sufficient?

Hagen Posts the follwoing specs on the bulb...

20 W
- 24" (61 cm)
- 25 mm Diameter
- T8
- Service Life - 5000 hours
- For growing plants
- Standard intensity
- Warm photosynthetic spectrum
- Ideal for planted aquariums and terrariums

Thanks for your input in advance. I can use every bit of info I can get!

 

[Blinky]

I don't think there's a 'correct' amount, but generally speaking to keep plants happy, 1.5 watts per gallon or more is what I'd suggest. If you've got plants like Cabomba and Ludwigia, I think you definitely need to add some light to the tank - these plants need more light than others like Java fern, which will do fine even in low light levels.
The easiest, most cost effective way is probably to get a retrofit kit from www.ahsupply.com. This will allow you to gut your current fixture and replace it with a 55W power compact fluorescent bulb - PC lighting gives you more light output per watt than T12 or T8s, and the bulbs last longer.

 

[Harlock]

Hey there Chief Wiggum! I have a 29 gallon myself. I had the All-Glass Aquarium hood and light on mine with a 17 watt buld and since the light is just a strip light that sits on the glass part of the hood, I bought a new strip light from Big Al's online. Ic an tell you already that the light you have will be insufficient as is. Blinky's suggestion is good, but rather than buy a retro kit, I got this one: My light. So far so good. My plants have shot up even more snice I added this.