Light Required For Nano?

[montyII]

I'm a little confused on how much light I'll need for a 10gal nano I'm planning.

The tank is roughly 15"X12"X13" deep, so the water depth, including substrate, will be about 11".

I understand that the wpg rule doesn't apply under 20gal, but I'm not sure I understand the lumens/square inch thing. So as a rough guide, how many watts should I be looking at for this tank?

Also: is the advantage of PC T5 over regular T5 or T8 tubes that they produce more lumens??

I'll be using either a coke bottle DIY or Nutrafin CO2 kit, and probably a commercial substrate, and I'd like to grow some high light plants.

Any help appreciated.

 

[Castellop123]

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[Themuleous]

I ran a 24x8x8" 24lt tank with 36W of light, thats more than most marine tanks. There is a link in my sig to an article by the finches, check that out its very interesting to see what T.Amano uses on small tanks.

I make your tank 35lt / 9 USg? I would aim for between 25 and 35w over the tank.


Sam

 

[garuf]

that was facinating! according to his calculator i should be running twice as much light over my 10/11 gallon tank, 68watts! i fun just 36 and get mad growth regardless!

ps. its the fitches not the finches

 

[montyII]

OK, thanks Corin and Sam... I'll aim for 25-35W power compact T5s..

The Interpet Compact T5's should be ideal for you... I have a 36W Interpet Daylight Plus tube lighting my 17G (my tank is a pretty low-light tank, though...) I also know someone who lights his 5G with the same 36W tube (but it is a nano)... I would recommend you go for a Interpet PC T5 36W (I prefer the look of Daylight Plus tubes, but it's your choise)... Living Seas are pretty cheap, but only offer one tube type (the Daylight Plus)...

Thanks for the tip but I'm in Australia, and I don't think we can get Interpet stuff here (and it'd be twice what you pay if we could!). I'll keep searching.

Cheers.