How much light.

[Sasha]

How many watts are required for a fluorescent light to grow live plants in a 46 gallon tank? I have a book that says 20 watts with water 15 inches deep. Is this correct?

The tank is around 20 inches deep. I want to be able to have live plants, but first I want to know everything about their care.

 

[bodasafa]

it depends on the deepth of the tank but if it isnt that deep the rule of thumb that i have seen is that most plant will do well in 2 to 3 watts per gallon but some plants need higher lighting some need lower ighting you just have to look at the info on the plant.hope this helps

 

[bodasafa]

more on lighting some plants to bud need red lighting info red floresnts do not emit red floresnt is blue lighting witch plants need to grow plants need uv and uvl lighting to florish i would say that in your tank a 175 watt metal hyiligh or even 2x50 watt metal hyiligh would do fine

 

[bodasafa]

plants consume co2 and convert it in to air there are many was to inject co2 there is the co2 tabs that i use all you do is just pop 1 tab per gallon in your tank once a week and your done there is manual injecters witch use co2 tanks with a syetem to inject gas into your tank and there is the ever expensive auto co2 injecters that will drain your pocket faster than you can say pay check that has a ph probe that moniters you ph and when your ph changes it injects some co2 it is about the best in my opinon they are the best well hope that helps

 

[Sasha]

Thank for the information! I have plant fertilizer. Would that be as good as a CO2 injecter?

 

[De Plano]

Aquatic plant fertilizer OK for aquariums with fish?

 

[Lateral Line]

Aquatic plant fertiliser is okay with fish, but rarely in fact, necessary. It is not a replacement for CO2. If a plant is not getting enough CO2 it will not grow. There are, however, many plants that do not require large amounts of CO2. Generally plants that require very high light levels, (Cabomba's etc.), need high CO2 levels as well and grow very fast.

2 - 3 Watts per gallon is good enough for many plants. Browse Tropica's plant list and choose some plants that match your water and light set up. If you go for plants considered "Easy" or "Very Easy" you won't need to worry about CO2 systems.

 

[Sasha]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I appreciated it! I browsed through that plant website and it was just what I needed. I would have to study it more before I chose some plants that would fit my lighting.