View Full Version : WPG in buckets?
Hey guys I have my moss and several other plants in buckets with my lights shining on them, and well lets just say that they are not doing as good as they did when they were in my aquarium. I have 116 watts over a 55 gallon witch equals out to about 2+ wpg . I understand that the rule changes when you have a very little aquarium and that you need way more lights then what I have. So I was wondering does this rule apply to my plants in buckets? cuz they are small like a 5 gallon aquarium? So do you think the 116 watts is no where near enough as it was when it was in the aquarium?
What do you mean when you said, "they are not doing as good as they did when they were in my aquarium."?
What is the condition of the plants now?
PostalPenguin
03-28-2009, 03:50 AM
The plants in the aquarium were likely getting nutrients from fish waste. You may need to fertilize them.
The plants in the aquarium were likely getting nutrients from fish waste. You may need to fertilize them.There were no fish in the aquarium at the time at all. ONly ammonia and thats it o.O
What do you mean when you said, "they are not doing as good as they did when they were in my aquarium."?
What is the condition of the plants now?Well when I had them in the aquarium they seemed to be doing good even producing new groth, they've been in the 55 for like 2 months, I moved them into buckets about 1 month ago because I had to do some stuff with the 55, and now the moss seems to be dying out and anaubias is turning yellow and the leafs are falling. =[ I think this is the answer to my problem, just not sure and I want as much of your input as I can .
"If the tank is very small or very large, the WPG rule means nothing. In small tanks it is because there is a minimum light threshhold. Watts are NOT a measure of how intense your lighting is, but rather how much electricity your bulbs use. Plants desire the intensity of the light and really don’t care about how much electricity your bulb(s) or fixture uses.
Plants need a certain amount of intensity , regardless of the size of the tank. Therefore, in a small tank, if I were using the WPG rule, I could expect to grow low light plants in a 1 gallon tank using a 1 watt bulb. I don’t think I could find my keys with a 1 watt bulb, much less grow some plants. Do you see where I’m getting at?"
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Hmm...so i am guessing that the lights is now just sitting directly on top of the bucket? How long do you have it on for?
Yes it is sitting directly over the bucket. I keep the lights on mostly for 6hrs sometimes from 6-8 because I was told my plants dont require more then 6-8 hrs. Before I used to keep the lights on for 10hrs and sometimes even 12 witch seemed like they grew but then caused some crazy diatoms and hair algae. Maybe I should try 9hrs? since it seems like they grew at 10hrs+
I might be wrong here but...maybe the lights might be too intense now that the plants are in a smaller space? Oxygen levels in the bucket might be a factor too.
You know , I havent thought about that! Your onto something!!! Augh why is life so complicated X_X
Wild Turkey
03-28-2009, 06:19 AM
No co2 or ferts would also be my guess. If you arent dosing or adding them in some way and there are no fish there shouldnt be any of either.
You could create both in some interesting ways since you dont have the burden of fish. Decaying plant matter and throw on a filter, dose ferts however you like, experiment with different temps, throw on some diy co2, etc etc the possibilities are endless and risks quite low
Well I never had any co2 or ferts, cuz my tank never had any fish. But since my tank is gonna be done by the end of next week. I will have all my plants back in and maybe something will happen ....I guess ill just have to wait and see X_X" thanks for the help though!
Cool...better transfer them soon before they turn totally turn brown. You coluld try adding some ferts for aquariums. Umm...aerate the water maybe? Try switching off the lights. Good luck!
Wild Turkey
03-28-2009, 12:26 PM
Well I never had any co2 or ferts, cuz my tank never had any fish. But since my tank is gonna be done by the end of next week. I will have all my plants back in and maybe something will happen ....I guess ill just have to wait and see X_X" thanks for the help though!
Sort of..the thing is a tank thats been established for a while is producing its own ferts and stuff by breaking down old leaf matter, and from organisms and micro organisms doing their thing, like snails, which produce ferts and co2 and you probably have a few if you have plants. So its not surprising that the plants did well in the tank but not in the bucket. Your water also contains co2, and some ferts, so no you never had a total lack of either.
My money is still on lack or ferts or o2.
Awesome thanks for the advice guys I will definitely put them back into the tank.
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