how much light

[Tropjunky]

i have a 24(L)*12(W)*13(H) tank about 12GL and it's planted i curentle use a 15Watt light (power-glo and i don't have any plants that need high levels of light but i'm looking to get some and i wanna know how many watts of light should i have.

 

[Silly me]

could you fit two more in the hood??

 

[Tropjunky]

yah but it's not gonna be nice. i've got a clearseal hood one of those plastic/metal ones. how manny watts should i have

 

[clutterydrawer]

if you want high light plants you're gonna need 3-4 wpg.

 

[Tednol]

hey tropjunkey,
i have exaclty the same tank, with the same hood and the same problem with lighting, so applying the 3-4 wpg rule then we would need
45-60Wattage of light,
or is it U.K gallons becasue i have just done that using 15gallon which is 12gallon in the U.K

 

[Silly me]

in a small tank its always a problem to get the right amount of light.. I have a 5gallon tank with 35Watts of light.. not easy but if you want the plants you'll need the lights..

you could always get a nice setup with Java Fern as background plant Anubias barteri as middle layer plants and java moss as a carpet infront.. and these are all easy to get low light low care plants that you'll no extra light, hood or setup.??

 

[Tropjunky]

well i was thinking about some of the following
anubis nana
blood stargrass
creepin rush
orchid lily
cryptocoryne wendtii
sagittaria subulata


I'm not too kean on tall grassy plants as i've tried them and they seem to wither and die.

 

[clutterydrawer]

sometimes tall grassy plants sold in the lfs aren't actually aquatic plants at all.

 

[Tropjunky]

yah i know but i know my lfs only sell decent stuff i know this cos i worked there i usually go there cos i know almost everything about that place.