LIGHT WATS PER GALLON??????????

[simonbrown403]

Can antone advise me of the ideal light ratio for a 300ltr (66imp or 79us gallons) planted tank.

 

[Lateral Line]

No, because you don't say where you want to go with the tank!

If you want a few hardy slow growing plants, you'll get away with pretty much any lighting.

With a tank that size, 2 Watts per gallon of full spectrum, (5000K - 6700K), fluorescent lighting for 12 hours per day will give you "Medium" lighting. So browse the plants at Tropica and find something that you like.

If you want to go seriously plants, you'll need more light and CO2.

 

[simonbrown403]

Thanks for the reply lateral line.

Truth is i'm not to sure where to go yet, i'm just dealving into co2, i'm reading artical from John Vasseur, which i found in the forum, and have just made a diy co2 yeast and suger generator and a forced reactor, It seams to improve my plant growth 2 fold ( in just 10 days).

I was thinking of making a pendent light with some fluorescent strips and halogen spots untill i can aford something better, dont know what u think about that?

As for plants i fancy a red Tiger Lotus, i've been looking for ages, but car'nt find it localy.

 

[Lateral Line]

After light, CO2 is the next limiting nutrient for plants. Even under medium light, CO2 can get good results as you've seen.

I have very limited experience with halogen lamps. I don't have open topped tanks so a pendant fitting is no good, and as halogens run so hot, I don't like them in enclosed hoods. One thing I've seen reported often is they produce a lot of higher frequency light into the UV which can encourage algae.

Nymphaea lotus (zenkeri) the Red Tiger Lotus is not a terribly demanding plant actually. It will grow under medium light, but will do better and show better colour under higher lighting regimes.

You could always get a lotus from one of the mail order plant companies. I know Andy at Greenline can get them, but I think you have to order them - may take a week or so.

 

[simonbrown403]

thanks for help

 

[fishwatcher]

Also, look on eBay for plants... just watch the shipping charges and buy from people with high positive feedback. I buy lots of plants (ground and water) off ebay. You can get all kinds of hard-to-find things there.