freshwater plant lighting

**Skrippdaddy13** · 03-14-2012, 05:16 AM

Hey everyone, i have been racking my brain ragged online trying to figure out this watt per gallon rule!! the pet stores in my area dont have any good answers for me, and i cant understand why this has to be so difficult! im growing hearty easy plants like wisteria and java moss, but there are no 24" bulbs that i can find that will get me even close to the 60 watts i supposedly need. bought a light from petsmart that they recommended and the tank was so dark i could barely see the dang fish!!! do i have to have more than one bulb on my 30 gal???

**Goes to 11!** · 03-14-2012, 05:28 AM

Watts only refer to the light the bulb uses and have nothing to do with it's useable output BTW.. Here's a link about aquarium lighting you should read [The links too].

No answers for you? I only see one question above. ?
Answer = Yes.. Apparently

More details clearly describing your current lighting please

**Skrippdaddy13** · 03-14-2012, 05:44 AM

thanks for the reply, ill check out the link, lighting is a single 24" aqueon 17watt full spectrum daylight,8000 k, t8. just confused cause every where i look people swear by following this watt per gallon rule?? kinda hard to do 60 watts with one 24" bulb. thanx

**Skrippdaddy13** · 03-14-2012, 06:16 AM

o.k , so i checked the link out, very informitive, i guess a little to informitive. just askin for a simple answer to a simple question. you seem very experienced in aquaria judging from your profile, and all i need to know is this..... What light setup do i need for my simple freshwater plants to grow rapid and lush. ive got co2, liquid ferts, good substrate, and that damn aqueon bulb. plants are only two weeks old and seem to be doing o.k. just wanna make sure they are getting a good source of light for fast growth. if that bulb is not recommended then i would be grateful if someone could lead me in the right direction of something better.( thanx for the grammar lesson by the way )

**Goes to 11!** · 03-14-2012, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Skrippdaddy13

thanks for the reply, ill check out the link, lighting is a single 24" aqueon 17watt full spectrum daylight,8000 k, t8. just confused cause every where i look people swear by following this watt per gallon rule??

No, Not everywhere you look:
Look here ---> 'The WPG rule is inaccurate, ineffective and is most explicitly not a measure of useable light.'

[For the reason I have mentioned but you can read all about that in the link.]

kinda hard to do 60 watts with one 24" bulb. thanx

True. One is not going to cut it.

**Goes to 11!** · 03-14-2012, 10:55 AM

Ooops I see my edit did not go through - Sorry for the delay.

I would get either a T5 or a T5HO fixture to replace your current one. I have 36w [18w@ 1 6500k, 1 colormax] of T5NO over a non-CO2 29 and everything does well.

**dbosman** · 03-14-2012, 08:56 PM

Here is a chart from http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/
It should give you a better idea of what you're looking for.
My usual suggestion for inexpensive T5HO lighting fixtures is your local hydroponics store.
My other usual suggestion is incandescent strip lights powering Sylvania, 23 watt, daylight, "now smaller than ever", spiral compact fluorescent bulbs.