Newb with lighting question!

raesunrae · 09-11-2012, 04:53 AM

Hi everyone,

Thank you in advance for understanding if this is a stupid question! I bought a Fluval Edge II 12 gallon (46l) with the 42 Led lights which basically only equals 6 watts. I have spent NUMEROUS hours trying to find a lighting mod that won't break the bank or require a DIY as I am not technically experienced in trying to do a lot of the DIY mods as you will see on my question I am about to ask! LOL!

Until I figure out how to upgrade the lighting, I purchased a stainless steel flexible gooseneck desk lamp and put a GE Energy Smart Daylight 6500K 13 watt spiral cfl with 825 lumens. I placed it on top of the top box and bent the neck down over the front top of my tank. It actually looks very stylish and has really increased the light inside the tank a lot!

Okay...here goes..I would like to know how many watts per gallon I have now? The cfl is 13 watts which states is equal to 60 watts incandescent lighting. I know that the 13 watts is what I am actually using energy wise as compared to 60 watts BUT does this mean I now have a total of 66 watts of lighting over my tank (60w cfl + 6w stock led?) or 19 watts (13wcfl+6w led?) I am trying to figure out how many watts per gallon I have now. I would like to add more plant varieties like some type of carpet plants but I'm not sure my lighting is sufficient. Y'all are probably cracking up laughing right now but I seriously cannot understand all the wpg/lumens/par ratios especially with the newer energy saving technology of lighting like cfl and led!

Current plants and livestock:

1 Betta
2 Albino Cory cats (small now but may be going back due to learning more)
5 Galaxy Rasbora/Celestial Danio arriving end of week

Anubias
Amazon Swords
Java Fern
Jungle Val
Wisteria
Water Trumpet (Wendii Green)
Mopani Driftwood
Flourite Dark substrate

Thanks so much for any help you can give me!

Read more: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/f...#ixzz268Iq0zgD

**Hoppy** · 09-11-2012, 05:20 AM

It doesn't matter how many watts per gallon you have. What matters is how much light you have. See http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=184368

raesunrae · 09-12-2012, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoppy

It doesn't matter how many watts per gallon you have. What matters is how much light you have. See http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=184368

Thanks so much Hoppy! Very informative and helps me better understand. All the googling I have done and I have never seen this!

Thanks again.

SittingBull79 · 09-13-2012, 02:44 PM

Sorry to hijack your thread. Similar question. With regards to my 2ft tank (22g) that is heavily planted, what is a suitable lighting to choose? Is there a problem with choosing a "too strong light"?

09-11-2012, 04:53 AM	#1
raesunrae Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Nashville, Tn Posts: 37	Newb with lighting question! Hi everyone, Thank you in advance for understanding if this is a stupid question! I bought a Fluval Edge II 12 gallon (46l) with the 42 Led lights which basically only equals 6 watts. I have spent NUMEROUS hours trying to find a lighting mod that won't break the bank or require a DIY as I am not technically experienced in trying to do a lot of the DIY mods as you will see on my question I am about to ask! LOL! Until I figure out how to upgrade the lighting, I purchased a stainless steel flexible gooseneck desk lamp and put a GE Energy Smart Daylight 6500K 13 watt spiral cfl with 825 lumens. I placed it on top of the top box and bent the neck down over the front top of my tank. It actually looks very stylish and has really increased the light inside the tank a lot! Okay...here goes..I would like to know how many watts per gallon I have now? The cfl is 13 watts which states is equal to 60 watts incandescent lighting. I know that the 13 watts is what I am actually using energy wise as compared to 60 watts BUT does this mean I now have a total of 66 watts of lighting over my tank (60w cfl + 6w stock led?) or 19 watts (13wcfl+6w led?) I am trying to figure out how many watts per gallon I have now. I would like to add more plant varieties like some type of carpet plants but I'm not sure my lighting is sufficient. Y'all are probably cracking up laughing right now but I seriously cannot understand all the wpg/lumens/par ratios especially with the newer energy saving technology of lighting like cfl and led! Current plants and livestock: 1 Betta 2 Albino Cory cats (small now but may be going back due to learning more) 5 Galaxy Rasbora/Celestial Danio arriving end of week Anubias Amazon Swords Java Fern Jungle Val Wisteria Water Trumpet (Wendii Green) Mopani Driftwood Flourite Dark substrate Thanks so much for any help you can give me! Read more: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/f...#ixzz268Iq0zgD Last edited by raesunrae; 09-11-2012 at 05:06 AM.. Reason: addition

09-11-2012, 05:20 AM	#2
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (54/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,209	It doesn't matter how many watts per gallon you have. What matters is how much light you have. See http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=184368 __________________ Hoppy

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09-13-2012, 02:44 PM	#4
SittingBull79 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Sg Posts: 19	Sorry to hijack your thread. Similar question. With regards to my 2ft tank (22g) that is heavily planted, what is a suitable lighting to choose? Is there a problem with choosing a "too strong light"?