Lighting - Watts To Gallons

[chrisnewmanuk]

Hi

Now, I know that the rule of thumb for working out the watts per gallon is 1-2wpg for fish and more for plants. Does this take into a count the reflector or just the tube wattage?

My tank has 2x20Watt flourescent tubes, with a reflector "doubling" the amount of light being delivered to the water. Do I actually need to increase this (190L tank, H64cm L90cm, D46cm) for fish and plants? Also, the one tube is 10000K and the other is 15000K, so quite high on the colour temp (one gives of almost white, the other colour is purple tinted)

Im thinking that the answer is prob. yes to the increase, but what about the actual calculation of WPG?

 

[littleimp]

I thinkit includes the reflector as this is a standard piece of equipment in most tanks.

From what I read & researched you shouldn't be using colour temperatures above 7000k fo a planted tank. Anything above this will cause severe algae outbreaks as this is what algae thrives in. 10000 & 15000 are purely for marine use (unless thats what you want them for??)

 

[chrisnewmanuk]

no, i want it for tropical fish!

looks like ill take a trip to the lfs and se what they are ging to do - i noticed they should have supplied 25w tubes and not 20's as well!