T5 6W Bulb How Long Should It Be On Each Day?

[marieukxx]

I have a 21 litre tank with a T5 6W bulb. Plants in there are anubias, java fren and stricta thai.

I've was keeping my light on for 6 hours in the evening but since I got the Nomaphila Sticta Thai I've been keeping them on a lot longer. The guy in the shop said it needs a lot of light. I'm putting the light on at 3pm until about 2am. I figured being a low watt bulb I'd need them on ages but is this harmful to the plants?

How long should I leave the lights on each night?

 

[tribalbrit]

6 to 8 hours max... to much light and you run the risk of an algae out break. Plants which require higher lighting need more wattage rather than longer time in the light.

 

[marieukxx]

Can you get T5 bulbs in a higher watt but that are the same length as the 6w? So it would fit my ballast?

 

[tribalbrit]

I think so, depends on the length you need. but the starter/ballast needs to be rated to the wattage of the bulb required. It will say on it the min and max wattage.

 

[marieukxx]

ah mine is 6 to 8w I just had to get a new one recently after my old one broke.