Help me !!! I have been reading, reading, and reading the past hour. Hoping to find some form of solution, to getting the right type of light for my new 20 Gallon tank. Maybe i am just confused, or just making it harder then it really ought to be. Now i get the WPG rule which works for tanks, that are between 20-70 gallons which is fine.
Here comes the fun part about kelvin ratings, to wattage, and etc. I know from reading over and over, that plants photosynthesize best between the range of (5000-6700k) spectrum. And that you should be looking for peaks in the blue, and red colors which is beneficial for plants. Blues tend to be on a 475 nm scale(ie. nm = nano meter), and reds tend to be 650-675 nm scale for plants to grow at their best.
I still have no clue where 10,000k lights come into play, aside from being used in marine aquariums. But have no clue how it will be benefit the plants in growth, unless certain light models emit in this light in the blue n red range. And just giving it a preference on color choice. But then again ive read on threads, where people can successfully grow plants under these lightings. But are there certain plants that, benefit with such lights? But this 10,000k thing is just a side note.
So given the knowledge to what i have read, i would need the following light setup:
-40 watts of light based of the WPG rule (2/wpg)
-light in the range of 6500-6700k range.
-with good peaks in the blue and red's based of the labelling on the product id be buying.
Now i know light also is a factor for which plants, a person will be growing as i plan on doing low-medium light plants. B/c we all know as much as low light plants are neat, you get more option of species of plant if u just take an extra step to higher lighting. I plan on keeping the typical low light plants, like (anubias, j.fern, j.moss, etc...) just to name a few. Then some moderate light plants as well, that would like (water wisteria which i already have, ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, dwarf sag, etc.....). And few others...
Here is the fun part. The stock lighting that i got with the tank is a 20watt 24" Power-Glo flourescent light bulb with a 10,000k rating. It appears on the blueish with tinge. It means nothing to me in lamen terms. Now i can stick with what i have, but growth wont be as ideal. I also know that higher lighting you have, the rapid demands are in the supplementation area. Hence i figured i keep it simple keep it low-moderate lighting, and possibly provide the suplementation through flourite as my substrate. If need be as a last resort setup a diy co2, and liquid dosing which i have been doing moderately with Flourish:Comprehensive.
I went to the LFS's to check out lighting, i couldnt find lighting up to 40-50 watts that would fit under my light canopy. The staff suggested that i get a new canopy, that has dual light strips. I checked the price, and i ran out the store. Then i googled more found out you can get 24" high output flourescent bulbs, but i didnt see it in any LFS's that i went into. Then i aint sure if the HO lights would be compatible, with the light canopy i have.
Or worst comes to worst make my own DIY Hood, hopefully with a budget of $50 dollars with the finished product.
I think i am done now........lol.
Insert Input Below........Please and Thanks

Here comes the fun part about kelvin ratings, to wattage, and etc. I know from reading over and over, that plants photosynthesize best between the range of (5000-6700k) spectrum. And that you should be looking for peaks in the blue, and red colors which is beneficial for plants. Blues tend to be on a 475 nm scale(ie. nm = nano meter), and reds tend to be 650-675 nm scale for plants to grow at their best.
I still have no clue where 10,000k lights come into play, aside from being used in marine aquariums. But have no clue how it will be benefit the plants in growth, unless certain light models emit in this light in the blue n red range. And just giving it a preference on color choice. But then again ive read on threads, where people can successfully grow plants under these lightings. But are there certain plants that, benefit with such lights? But this 10,000k thing is just a side note.
So given the knowledge to what i have read, i would need the following light setup:
-40 watts of light based of the WPG rule (2/wpg)
-light in the range of 6500-6700k range.
-with good peaks in the blue and red's based of the labelling on the product id be buying.
Now i know light also is a factor for which plants, a person will be growing as i plan on doing low-medium light plants. B/c we all know as much as low light plants are neat, you get more option of species of plant if u just take an extra step to higher lighting. I plan on keeping the typical low light plants, like (anubias, j.fern, j.moss, etc...) just to name a few. Then some moderate light plants as well, that would like (water wisteria which i already have, ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, dwarf sag, etc.....). And few others...
Here is the fun part. The stock lighting that i got with the tank is a 20watt 24" Power-Glo flourescent light bulb with a 10,000k rating. It appears on the blueish with tinge. It means nothing to me in lamen terms. Now i can stick with what i have, but growth wont be as ideal. I also know that higher lighting you have, the rapid demands are in the supplementation area. Hence i figured i keep it simple keep it low-moderate lighting, and possibly provide the suplementation through flourite as my substrate. If need be as a last resort setup a diy co2, and liquid dosing which i have been doing moderately with Flourish:Comprehensive.
I went to the LFS's to check out lighting, i couldnt find lighting up to 40-50 watts that would fit under my light canopy. The staff suggested that i get a new canopy, that has dual light strips. I checked the price, and i ran out the store. Then i googled more found out you can get 24" high output flourescent bulbs, but i didnt see it in any LFS's that i went into. Then i aint sure if the HO lights would be compatible, with the light canopy i have.
Or worst comes to worst make my own DIY Hood, hopefully with a budget of $50 dollars with the finished product.
I think i am done now........lol.
Insert Input Below........Please and Thanks