Watts per gallon

[khombre]

Hi

When you guys give advice in terms of watts per gallon, is it the same whether you're using incandescents or fluorescents? (Is this a dumb question? lol :hitting

 

[redilyn]

We are talking about fluorescents.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

incandescents shouldnt ever be used imo.... they just get to hot. WPG was made up using t12 fluorescents lighting.

 

[thinair421]

so whats the recommended WPG for a medium light setup using CFL's?

 

[phanmc]

CFLs and T5s are more efficient than NO Fluorescents so you should aim for the lower end of the wpg guidance, so 1 is enough for low, 2.5-3 is enough for high light, etc.

 

[echoofformless]

It's less about WPG than it is the type of light as stated. T5s and CF will give off more light at the same wattage as NO fluorescents.

AND it's less about WPG as it is about the height of the tank and the configuration of the lights. For example I had problems with 65w of CF light over a 20g long because it didn't run the whole length of the tank - and because the height of the tank made the light more direct - so there were still very dark spots where nothing would grow well. It wasn't until I added a second fixture that this problem was alleviated. But on my 55g I am only running around 3wpg NO T5 and CF and there are no dark spots - the height of the tank and length of the bulbs allow the light to spread out evenly.

 

[irishspy]

Point of clarification, yer honor

"NO" = "normal" (as opposed to compact flourescent)?

 

[phanmc]

NO = normal output as opposed to HO or VHO (high output or very high output).

Compact fluorescents would fall somewhere between NO and HO.

 

[OldMan1947]

khombre: about your other question - The only dumb question is the one you don't ask. Nobody here is a mind reader so we can only answer what you do ask.

 

[irishspy]

NO = normal output as opposed to HO or VHO (high output or very high output).

Compact fluorescents would fall somewhere between NO and HO.

Ah. Thank you.

:clap: