Watts per gallon
- Thread starter mojoman
- Start date
Swimfins
This is as good as it gets.
low 1.5 -2 watt per gallon
medium 2.5 -3
medium high 3.5
high 4
very high over 4
A good reflector can almost double your light intensity.
The presence of algae or cloudy water reduces light intensity.
Or so I see it.
medium 2.5 -3
medium high 3.5
high 4
very high over 4
A good reflector can almost double your light intensity.
The presence of algae or cloudy water reduces light intensity.
Or so I see it.
WPG is a very general rule, it can 'fall apart' with very large or small tanks. For example, I've got a 1g pico with a 13W PC light, so technically it's got 13WPG. If I put 13WPG over my 65g it would be like having a small sun in my living room, but I'd say the pico is actually under a medium light level - I wouldn't try demanding high light plants under these lights.
For most tanks 20 - 75g I think the numbers SF listed are right on. AFAIK, in very large tanks less WPG can be used. One thing to add is that the 'rule' was developed with NO fluorescents - PC puts out more light per watt.
For most tanks 20 - 75g I think the numbers SF listed are right on. AFAIK, in very large tanks less WPG can be used. One thing to add is that the 'rule' was developed with NO fluorescents - PC puts out more light per watt.
Agree w/Blinky - both ends of the scale are different (and in opposite directions) from the great middle ground. I actually include 75s in with large tanks. And I strongly agree that the scales are for standard NO fluorescent light with less than ideal reflectors - i.e., what you get in most strips and hoods.
My personal scale is slightly different for my own tanks, just from experience. For me, "low light" is <2 WPG, "moderate light" is a narrower range of 2.0- ~2.5 WPG, "high light" is 2.5 WPG and up. The "high" designation for me means that I need to have bioavailable carbon (CO2 or Excel) and routine supplements or I am likely to have algae or plant growth issues, or both. The narrow "medium" band I can do without routine supplements but may have to monitor a few things such as nitrate. I don't do plants other than Java Moss or other super easy ones below 2 WPG.
Use either PCs or upgrade refectors and the scales shift.
My personal scale is slightly different for my own tanks, just from experience. For me, "low light" is <2 WPG, "moderate light" is a narrower range of 2.0- ~2.5 WPG, "high light" is 2.5 WPG and up. The "high" designation for me means that I need to have bioavailable carbon (CO2 or Excel) and routine supplements or I am likely to have algae or plant growth issues, or both. The narrow "medium" band I can do without routine supplements but may have to monitor a few things such as nitrate. I don't do plants other than Java Moss or other super easy ones below 2 WPG.
Use either PCs or upgrade refectors and the scales shift.