Lighting amount

[Paul.G]

Hi all,
Not sure if this is the right forum area for my question, but as its sort of plant related here goes..any help appreciated! :help:

I'm building a new hood for my tank and have 2 options
1. fit 5x18 Watt florescent tubes no lower than 3.5cm above the water level.
2. fit 6x18 watt florescent tubes no lower than 9.5cm above the water level
option 1 will give me approx 3watts/gallon, option 2 will give approx 3.6 watts/gallon. :huh:
Will the extra tube in option2 more than componsate for having the lights further away from the water level. I'm only planning to plant Anacharis, Hornwort, Pondweed and if I can get hold of it Java moss.
intending to populate the tank only with White cloud fish. :hang:
Thanks.

 

[will5]

Hi

Go with the 3 wpg setup. But you will need Co2 and to add ferts and to add more stem plants if you are to avoid the worst algea bloom you have ever seen.

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

I don't advise having lights dangling only a few centimetres from water level--water from the filter output could easily splash up (unless there's a glass cover to protect the lights).

Also, I'm not sure what you mean by pondweed. Most people use that term for anacharis, which you've already mentioned in your list.

In any case 3 wpg would be plenty of light for the other plants you mentioned.

 

[Paul.G]

The pondweed i was thinking of is "Elodea Crispa", this should grow to give some surface shade

The lighting is all weather proofed with a good plastic cover/defuser for protection.
the 3.5cm is the very lowest i could drop the lights to over the water, but i could raise it to any height i want above that.
the added ferts & CO2 i had already recognised as being needed