Wpg

[Rorie]

A plant i want to get requires 'high light'. Around 2.5 to 3 WPG i am told.

When i was getting lights for my aquarium, i was told 2x 54W T5 tubes would do. 2x54W= 108Watts of light...simple. I was told getting a third light would be OTT

However, with a 360L tank, to get 2.5 WPG, i would need to have FOUR 54W tubes! That is a LOT of tubes! Am i missing something with my Wattage calculation?

 

[KittyKat]

No, you're not missing anything.. did whoever told you that a third tube would be over the top know that you were considering a high intervention/care planted setup?

 

[Rorie]

No, you're not missing anything.. did whoever told you that a third tube would be over the top know that you were considering a high intervention/care planted setup?

Hmm. I have been told this by both the shop I was buying from - would be in their interest to tell me i'd need more you'd think! And also an aquatics Plant specialist, who said a 3rd could be used for a couple hours a day if I wanted. Hmm. They both knew I wanted a heavily planted aquarium!

So should I take it that my 1.2 wpg makes my aquarium 'low lit? If I get another one, it'd be 1.8wpg, or a 4th would give 2.4. Any suggestions what I should go for? If I scrap the plant the requires intense light, and just go for average light ones, how much light is that?

Thanks

 

[ian]

you have thought about what else you'll need to go along with the higher wpg. IME there ain't that many plants/if any that don't do well with a max of 2wpg. Amano has admitted never using high lite aquariums, rarely going over 2-2.5 wpg apparently.

which plants are we talking about Rorie?

 

[KittyKat]

No, you're not missing anything.. did whoever told you that a third tube would be over the top know that you were considering a high intervention/care planted setup?

Hmm. I have been told this by both the shop I was buying from - would be in their interest to tell me i'd need more you'd think! And also an aquatics Plant specialist, who said a 3rd could be used for a couple hours a day if I wanted. Hmm. They both knew I wanted a heavily planted aquarium!

The point of emphasis was "high care" in what I was asking It is very easily possible to have a heavily planted tank with low light.

So should I take it that my 1.2 wpg makes my aquarium 'low lit? If I get another one, it'd be 1.8wpg, or a 4th would give 2.4. Any suggestions what I should go for? If I scrap the plant the requires intense light, and just go for average light ones, how much light is that?

My personal scale is <1 wpg is low, 1-2 wpg is medium and >2 wpg is high. You should be able to grow most plants with 1.2 or 1.8 wpg. The only time I would consider higher lighting on purpose would be if the tank was quite deep (over 2 ft) and I wanted light to get to the bottom. Also, you could be surprised by how well "lots of light" plants grow in medium lit tanks.

Usually, one would base the decision on whether you want to use CO[sub]2[/sub] or fertilisers (more light) or not (less light).

 

[Rorie]

you have thought about what else you'll need to go along with the higher wpg. IME there ain't that many plants/if any that don't do well with a max of 2wpg. Amano has admitted never using high lite aquariums, rarely going over 2-2.5 wpg apparently.

which plants are we talking about Rorie?

Ok, but do you think 1.2 is pushing it on the low side? I have my co2 system set up and ready to go, so I guess I am fine on that front.

The plant which needs a lot of light is a carpet plant called lilaeopsis brasiliensis. Though I know there is another one similar that requires low light. But this is what sparked me looking into it- 1.2, a third of the recommended for some. So was wondering if I should up the light anyway...

 

[KittyKat]

which plants are we talking about Rorie?

The plant which needs a lot of light is a carpet plant called lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

I am currently growing it in 1.1 wpg without CO[sub]2[/sub], nor fertilisation. It is growing very slowly, but it is growing.

 

[Rorie]

which plants are we talking about Rorie?

The plant which needs a lot of light is a carpet plant called lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

I am currently growing it in 1.1 wpg without CO[sub]2[/sub], nor fertilisation. It is growing very slowly, but it is growing.

That's interesting! If I'm adding co2, am I correct in saying it will grow even slower for me as I would need to compensate with more light?

Kitty Kat, my tank is a good 1.5 foot deep, and I also have the lights elevated above the tank, so they are prob nearly 2 foot away from the gravel.

I guess a good way to know is to try with what I have. But I guess I won't know if I need more light or not as this is my first planted tank. Hence I'd prefer to get it theoretically correct hehe

 

[ian]

for me that plant would/should carpet under that light with C02, good flow and a good fert regimen.

 

[KittyKat]

which plants are we talking about Rorie?

The plant which needs a lot of light is a carpet plant called lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

I am currently growing it in 1.1 wpg without CO[sub]2[/sub], nor fertilisation. It is growing very slowly, but it is growing.

That's interesting! If I'm adding co2, am I correct in saying it will grow even slower for me as I would need to compensate with more light?

Kitty Kat, my tank is a good 1.5 foot deep, and I also have the lights elevated above the tank, so they are prob nearly 2 foot away from the gravel.

I guess a good way to know is to try with what I have. But I guess I won't know if I need more light or not as this is my first planted tank. Hence I'd prefer to get it theoretically correct hehe

It should grow faster as lack of CO[sub]2[/sub] and fretilisation are the factors limiting the growth of mine. The trick is to find a good balance between light, CO[sub]2[/sub] and fertilisers because the increase of one requires increase in all the others. As I do not use fertiliers and CO[sub]2[/sub], someone else should be able to advise you on the correct quantities better.

 

[ian]

i'm gonna move this over to the planted section, Rorie.

 

[Rorie]

i'm gonna move this over to the planted section, Rorie.

Oh who knew this would all be so confusing

I think I will stick with what I have then and give it a go. I'm sure I'll be showing photos etc and asking how I am supposed to know if I need more frets, light or co2!

Thanks for your help!

 

[ian]

My advice would be to start simply, lower light (obviously not super low). Good flow, this should never be missed out. Get a simple fert to start with ie tpn +, you then can go over to dry fert when you understand what's going on.

 

[FishyWishie]

Personally On my 360L I've got 2 X 54 W and 2 X 39 W giving me around 2.34 WPG and even then I only went for over 2 WPG because the tank is quite deep otherwise id probably have gone for 3 x 54W