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Lighting Science of Aquatic Lighting - Aquarium lighting is essential for healthy aquatic plants. Discuss proper aquatic lighting for your plants and fish here.

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Old 02-16-2009, 01:36 AM   #41 (permalink)
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Default Re: Proper Wattage for Aquariums

I use 3 x T8 38w (2 x Arcadia Freshwater Lamps and 1 x Original Tropical) for my 48x18x20 Tank (~75 gallons). That amounts to about 1.6 wpg, which by most conventional measures is quite low. I use pressurized Co2.

I have no problems growing fairly light demanding species such as Eriocaulon Cinereum and C. Parva. While I do not get pearling, or intense red colouration, I believe it is indicative that the WPG rule ought to be taken with some caveats. As a quick and dirty measure, it is adequate but definitely it is not the be all and end all with regards to lighting.
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Old 03-12-2009, 12:59 PM   #42 (permalink)
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Default Re: Proper Wattage for Aquariums

i have a 55 gallon with diy co2 and 2 coralife-65w 8000k compact florescents.
My plants are growing well but I don't get pearling, which I would love to see, and the colors are not showing the red I would also like to see.
Any suggestions on how I could improve my light output without buying new fixtures at this time.
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Old 03-12-2009, 03:09 PM   #43 (permalink)
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Default Re: Proper Wattage for Aquariums

Quote:
Originally Posted by brownietrout View Post
i have a 55 gallon with diy co2 and 2 coralife-65w 8000k compact florescents.
My plants are growing well but I don't get pearling, which I would love to see, and the colors are not showing the red I would also like to see.
Any suggestions on how I could improve my light output without buying new fixtures at this time.
Get bulbs other than Coralife. They all have way too much green in the spectral output.
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Old 03-12-2009, 05:22 PM   #44 (permalink)
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Default Re: Proper Wattage for Aquariums

opps. I have 2 coralife fixtures with 2-AGA-8000k full spectrum compact flourescents
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Old 08-06-2009, 12:47 PM   #45 (permalink)
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Default Re: Proper Wattage for Aquariums

I looked into the thread on PAR vs WPG and my numbers just don't quite add up with regards to wpg recommendations. I put the numbers on that thread, but as far as this thread goes, I have a 20 npt with 2.5 wpg T5HO (2x24w) with no problems growing stems, and a 125 npt with only 1.25 wpg T5HO (4x39w) with no problems growing stems except in shaded areas (some Rotala bit the dust after a 1 week bout of pea soup). I have to mention though that these set ups are pretty new, so I don't have long-term observation to confirm how well everything is doing. They have been set up about a month or so.
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