Lighting Requirements

[Angry_Platy]

I have been doing LOTS of reading about planted tanks....and the biggest thing that has come up so far is the amount of light in the tank....usually in terms of watts per gall....I currently have 25watts of light in a 30gall tank....so roughly 0.8watts per gallon....the reading I have been doing suggests that very few if any plants will grow in this light...and I thought my tank was bright!!!

So....what lighting does everyone else with planted tanks have and what have they managed to successfully grow with lighting like mine...

Hope someone can help

 

[Dubby]

I have grown java ferns, java moss, vallis, hornwort with that kind of light. I am sure you will find others out there who have grown quite a few plants.

Its getting the balance of light, nutrients and type of plant right thats the trick rather than the 2W/gal.