TOO much light?

[tank3544]

i just recently put some java ferns, water wisterias, and a sword in my tank

i'm going to be picking up a kit to upgrade the lighting to support the plants

is it possible to have too much?

i was thinking of getting a 2 X 36 watt kit .. is that too much? should i just get one 55 watt?

also i don't want any of those goofy colored lights .. i want a clear tank showing natural colors .. is the 6700 the best for that?

this is in a 20 gallon tank

 

[phanmc]

Is there such a thing as too much light in general? I don't believe so, I have 5wpg myself and sunlight is much more intense than anything we make.

Is having 72watt over a 20 gallon tank overkill for your plant choice? I'd say yes and that a 55watt will work fine and make the tank a little easier to maintain.

6,700k sounds like what you're looking for, it closely simulates sunlight.

 

[Jerm]

either light, the 2x36 or the 1x55 would work fine. The 2x36 would cover a greater area though.

ugh sum1 posted first!!! o well, 72 watts, well, are these ahsupply lights? is it a 20h or a 20L? 72 watts in a 20 gallon tank really isn't toooo much if it's a high tech tank with a lot of CO2 and ferts.

 

[tank3544]

yeah ahsupply is where i'd get it

i have no idea what 20h and 20L is

hmm from what you're saying maybe i should just pick up the one 36 watt

 

[Shariukas]

Hi tank3544. Lighting depends on your aquarium depth, plant's light demands, and whether you want to go high-tech by boosting up the plants with CO2 and ferts, or some a bit advanced low-tech with a bit of CO2 and occasional ferts if needed. 1 bulb of 36W is quite enough for the plants you mentioned. I have 2x18w bulbs in my 20 gallon (osram fluora and cool white), echs, crypts and vals are doing well.

 

[tank3544]

i don't really want to go high tech .. i'm not really interested in making them grow big and fast .. i don't want them to overtake the tank

they are simply there to look pretty and keep my ammonia levels and such in check

thanks for everyone's input .. i think i'm going to just pick up the 36watt bulb setup .. i may buy the dual head just so i have expansion room later

those plants are pretty low maintence right?

 

[Shariukas]

Java fern and sword are easy ones, don't know about wisteria, never had it. Try to search the web, i'm sure you'll find it's requirements. Leaving room for lighting expansion is a good idea

 

[reiverix]

The problem I had with wisteria under high light > 3wpg was that it tended to grow horizontal rather than vertical. It's a nice plant and I'd use it in a medium light setup but not under high light again.