[Wet Thumb Forum]-Question from newbie - El Natural

imported_Rizos · 02-22-2005, 09:22 AM

I'm in the process of setting up a 36 gallon bow front tank and would like for it to be a planted tank. In the process of doing research, I came across this site and the "low tech forum."

Please forgive me if this question has been asked before (I haven't read Ms. Walstad's book yet)...

Does a low-tech tank still have to follow the WPG of light recommendations?

I will only have 40W of fluorescent light which will give me a bit over 1 WPG...Could I still grow plants that are considered low light with this method?

imported_Rizos · 02-22-2005, 09:22 AM

I'm in the process of setting up a 36 gallon bow front tank and would like for it to be a planted tank. In the process of doing research, I came across this site and the "low tech forum."

Please forgive me if this question has been asked before (I haven't read Ms. Walstad's book yet)...

Does a low-tech tank still have to follow the WPG of light recommendations?

I will only have 40W of fluorescent light which will give me a bit over 1 WPG...Could I still grow plants that are considered low light with this method?

imported_russell · 02-22-2005, 01:53 PM

i dont see why you couldn't grow some plants. as you know, we use much more light than 1 wpg, but i know that many plants such as aponogeton, water lilly, and anacris will grow well in extreme low light conditions.

dwalstad · 02-23-2005, 03:54 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Rizos:
I'm in the process of setting up a 36 gallon bow front tank and would like for it to be a planted tank. In the process of doing research, I came across this site and the "low tech forum."

Please forgive me if this question has been asked before (I haven't read Ms. Walstad's book yet)...

Does a low-tech tank still have to follow the WPG of light recommendations?

I will only have 40W of fluorescent light which will give me a bit over 1 WPG...Could I still grow plants that are considered low light with this method? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd be careful here. 40W is borderline.

If the 40 watts is all this tank will get, you won't get enough total plant growth to compete with algae. For this reason, low-light tanks are prone to being overrun with algae.

I'd make sure this tank gets some window light. Also, I'd read my book before you try my method.

imported_Rizos · 02-23-2005, 04:22 AM

What would be the lowest wattage suggested for a "low light" tank?

dwalstad · 02-23-2005, 09:03 AM

A low light tank would be one with 1.5 or less watts/gal. I'd also say that any tank that only has one ordinary fluorescent tube over it is, in my opinion, low-light.

I've seen some people get by with low light, but I don't recommend it. The tanks are handicapped right from the start.

All my tanks have two watts per gal plus window light. All have at least two fluorescent bulbs on top. So, in essence, they have medium strong lighting.

imported_Rizos · 02-23-2005, 09:44 AM

Thanks for your reply Diana!

Well, it looks like I'll be ordering that 55watt compact fluorescent fixture... It will give me 1.5wpg of light.

What type of bulb do you recommend? There are way too many choices and I need a bit of guidance.

Also, do you know of any local bookstores that carry your book? I'm in Raleigh by the way.

dwalstad · 02-24-2005, 11:45 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Rizos:
Thanks for your reply Diana!

Well, it looks like I'll be ordering that 55watt compact fluorescent fixture... It will give me 1.5wpg of light.

What type of bulb do you recommend? There are way too many choices and I need a bit of guidance.

Also, do you know of any local bookstores that carry your book? I'm in Raleigh by the way. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I don't know what your choices are. But I would get the ones for growing plants or with color rendition of somewhere around 5,000 K. Don't get the 10,000 K bulbs, which are mainly blue light for growing deepwater coral.

That's good you're in the Raleigh area. Lots of serious aquarium folk here. The Raleigh Aquarium Society will be holding their annual workshop/auction this weekend. And I'll be giving a talk on "How Plants and Soil Help" at their meeting on March 3. Check their website if you're interested in workshop or my talk.

My book is mostly available via Internet booksellers, like Amazon.com, etc. You won't find it in ordinary bookstores.

kenmeyer · 03-01-2005, 09:51 AM

Watch the fixture dimensions I believe the 96watt fixtures are longer then 36" but I maybe wrong. But either way the 110 watt should be great for the 46g tank thats almost 2.4 wpg of light

MyraVan · 03-04-2005, 03:03 AM

I've got a 20gal tank with 30W of light (2 15W tubes, with reflectors behind them). The tank gets direct sunlight on sunny days for an hour or two. The plants are doing fine, growing slowly, but definitely growing. They are all green, of course; I have far too little light for red plants. But without going to PCs that's all the light I could get over my tank!