Watts Per Gallon?

[SJ2K]

I keep hearing people talking about how many WPG they get from such and such, what id like to know is, if I only have room in my lid for one 18W bulb, and my tank is approx 18 Ukg, how on earth to i treble that? Ive seen no light tubes available, at the right size, with wattage above about 18?

 

[mark.w.jones]

Unless youre prepared for more work in terms of fertilsers and CO2 dosing, you don't really want to exceed more than 2 watts per US gallon. This level is more than adequate for a low light tank. So you are looking at getting about 40 watts over your current tank to fulfil this. I would advise that you measure the diameter and length of your current bulb. A T5 is 5/8 of an inch. A T8 is 1" in diameter. T5s are more compact and efficient than T8s and usually available at a shorter length. The interpet ones here are good and what I use:

http/www.aquatics-online.co.uk/catalogue...ct-lighting.asp

Although there are plenty of others makes. They may not be usuable with your current ballast and sockets mind so you might have to completly replace it all. It will need DIY fitting to your hood but as long as your reasonably competent it is a dead easy job. Just take your time.

 

[afishdude]

compact florescent. i believe corilife makes a 20" with a 65w.

 

[SJ2K]

I think ive got a bad understanding of colours, isnt florescent like purple/blueish?

 

[afishdude]

florescent can be many colors. standard white, blue, and sometimes even red.
whats your tank dimensions?

 

[SJ2K]

Bout 80x30x30 (cm)...Only got fittings for 1 tube.

 

[afishdude]

ooh, thats not a standard tank..... would be hard to get a new fixture. hows your DIY skills?

edit: will this work? you use it with a glass top available at any lfs
http/op5.triadinet.com/elmers/nlcatalog....args=sku|653005

 

[SJ2K]

ooh, thats not a standard tank..... would be hard to get a new fixture. hows your DIY skills?

edit: will this work? you use it with a glass top available at any lfs
http/op5.triadinet.com/elmers/nlcatalog....args=sku|653005

Whats DIY?...Lol, I think that answers your question and im pritty sure its a standard sized tank, its just an off the shelf Juwel rekord 80 .

The light seems bright to me but my calculations (Yeh, it really hard to work out the WPG for an 18g tank with an 18W light ) say its only 1WPG? Not alot? I dont want to cook my fish but if its better to have more then maybe I should?

 

[mark.w.jones]

2 WPG per gallon with dosing of a decent fertiliser like Seachems Flourish will give better growth and health to you plants than you have currently. If you add a yeast based CO2 system or a liquid carbon source like Seachems Flourish Excel then growth will be even more. This type of set up with fast growth and good availability of nutrients will always lead to a healthier tank anf very little algae. 1WPG is consider very low light. Growth will be pretty slow and algae more likely to be an issue.

I would advise that if you want to go for a heavily planted tank then you need to be getting a 40w bulb and looking at your fertilisation + CO2 situation. If you are happy growing very basic, easy plants then you may well get away with what you currently have.

 

[fiskkeeperpro]

you could get a luminaire couldnt u? they just clip onto the tank and then you can hav 2-4 tube sin there t5 or t8

will

 

[SJ2K]

Atm my tank is all fake plants so that isnt an issues, just want to really make sure im getting as much as I can/should from my lighting

thanks for all the responses!

 

[afishdude]

DIY= do it yourself. as in making stuff

look into the link i provided, its the only way you could get more watts and keep one tube.

 

[SJ2K]

DIY= do it yourself. as in making stuff

look into the link i provided, its the only way you could get more watts and keep one tube.

Lol, dw im not that bad Just stressing the point im really not very good with it, unless its flat pack furniture lol

Ta everyone