Question about Compact Flourescent Lights

[rainbowcharmer]

On my 5 gallon tank, the light fixture is meant for a CFL bulb. Now I'm wondering what my wattage actually is since the CFL's say on the packages that they are X amount of wattage and it's comparable to X amount of wattage from a "standard" bulb.

So do you use what they say the bulb actually is as far as WPG goes or do you use what it says it compares to?

For instance a 7W bulb may say that it compares to a 25W standard bulb. So is it really 7W when you're calculating WPG or is it really 25W for WPG?

Just trying to figure out which plants will do well in this tank.

Thanks!

 

[CBWMN]

Just use the flourescent value for figuring WPG.
In other words, 7 watt CFL = 7 watss not 25 watts.

Charles

 

[Blueiz]

Use the wattage of the bulb..not what its comparable to

 

[MrGoodbytes]

They're comparing it to incandescent bulbs, which don't put out a lot of light for the amount of power they use. Like the others said, use the bulb's wattage.

 

[rainbowcharmer]

Groovy. Thanks!

I need to double check what is in there but I think it's a 7W. Which should leave me plenty of plants to choose from since that's about 1.2WPG.

 

[calivivarium1]

I am hardly a plant expert, but I would suggest getting a bit more light. In smaller tanks the WPG rule begins to break down.. check out this

 

[rainbowcharmer]

Ok reading through that link was sort of like trying to read German...

I am not so great at this lighting thing. WPG I can understand but LUX and LSI and all that??

Ok so what do I really need on my 5 gallon in order to have plants? The two that are growing in there are out of control as is. But I'm not even positive what they are. They came from one of those bulb packets that the pet stores sell.

My intentions were to put some dwarf sag in there along with the two plants currently in the tank, and that probably will be about it for plants in the 5 gallon since this is not a tank I have a lot of time to tinker with. It's on my desk at work. Currently housing one betta, and hopefully soon a snail and a few shrimp, but that's all I will be stocking. I want to get the dwarf sag planted before putting the shrimp in so there are more hiding places for them. Ideally I'd like dwarf hairgrass rather than dwarf sag, but I don't know that my lighting will be sufficient, and since my LFS doesn't carry either of those things and someone on here is selling dwarf sag, I went with that.

If it helps...

From base to bottom of the lid, the tank is 10.5" tall (minus about 2" of substrate).
It's hex shaped. Flat back - 16" wide, sides bend in to a flat front that is about 8.25". Each of the 4 "sides" are 4.5" and 5" If that makes any sense. Math is NOT a strong suit for me... Figuring out square inches on something more complex than a square is not something I can do... or at least not accurately...

 

[calivivarium1]

I still think that site is like reading Spanish, I understand most of it but it takes me awhile. I think that method is perhaps slightly more scientific than what is always needed, but its a good thing to have in the "bookmarks." Perhaps some guys and gals with thumbs that are greener than mine can chime in, but I would think that something around 10 - 15watts would be better.

 

[rainbowcharmer]

Well I read it 3 times and gave up. LOL

I'll check my bulb once it cools down and see what the actual wattage is.

now would that 10-15W be considered low, moderate or high light??

 

[Riiz]

I would suggest atleast 15watt, to grow low light plants. I have a 5.5gal with a 10watt cfl and its just enough for a few anubias and a java fern, but the growth is so slow.