10 gallon lighting

sujeev87 · 12-30-2010, 04:39 AM

Hey how many watts of lighting would be required for a 10 gallon tank to be considered in the high light range?

BJRuttenberg · 12-30-2010, 04:55 AM

Hard to say for sure but it is certain that 10gal tanks and below do not conform to the traditional watts per gallon rule.

I have run a 40watt on a 10 gal and would consider that a low-medium light tank and I currently run 80watts over a 10 and can grow just about anything (currently have a nice carpet of HC, Dwarf Hairgrass and HG). I would say somewhere around 60-65 watts your reaching medium-high and around 70+ its probably high light.

Of course this also depends on how high your light is above your tank...

**huhu89151734** · 12-30-2010, 08:20 AM

I would say 36W PL light is more than enough for a 10G.

**huhu89151734** · 12-30-2010, 08:21 AM

And welcome to TPT!

dmxsoulja3 · 12-30-2010, 03:19 PM

when you use a CFL, is the wattage considered what it draws or what it outputs? meaning if I have two 23w 100w equivalents is that just considered 46 watts and then divide by gallons for WPG figures?

**barbarossa4122** · 12-30-2010, 03:22 PM

I run a Catalina 24w t5ho 12" above the tank with good results.

sujeev87 · 12-30-2010, 04:18 PM

i have 2x15 watts pc lighting in my ten gallon. The guy at Big al's pet store told me that for my 10 gallon 30 watts is more than enough... i guess he was wrong... what kind of lighting are you using to get 40 watts of light into a 10 gallon tank. I was going to get a 15 or a 20 gallon but this is my first planted tank and i wanted to do a smaller set up. Should i just do a diy hood that would just hold up my current pc lights and then add a normal table lamp? Anyone have a better alternative or should i just stick with my set up and grow low light plants? does anyone know why the watts per gallon principle doesn't apply to tanks 10 gallons and less?

12-30-2010, 04:39 AM	#1
sujeev87 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 3	10 gallon lighting Hey how many watts of lighting would be required for a 10 gallon tank to be considered in the high light range?

12-30-2010, 04:55 AM	#2
BJRuttenberg Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 74	Hard to say for sure but it is certain that 10gal tanks and below do not conform to the traditional watts per gallon rule. I have run a 40watt on a 10 gal and would consider that a low-medium light tank and I currently run 80watts over a 10 and can grow just about anything (currently have a nice carpet of HC, Dwarf Hairgrass and HG). I would say somewhere around 60-65 watts your reaching medium-high and around 70+ its probably high light. Of course this also depends on how high your light is above your tank... __________________ My Visit to the ADA Nature Aquarium Gallery - Article - Pictures Growing a 45x24x30 Do!Aqua - Pic

12-30-2010, 03:22 PM	#6
barbarossa4122 Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (19/100%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Forest Hills, NY Posts: 1,473	I run a Catalina 24w t5ho 12" above the tank with good results. __________________ *"Ich Hatte Einen Kameraden"*

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12-30-2010, 08:20 AM	#3
huhu89151734 Dwarf Fish Lover (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 249	I would say 36W PL light is more than enough for a 10G.

12-30-2010, 08:21 AM	#4
huhu89151734 Dwarf Fish Lover (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 249	And welcome to TPT!

12-30-2010, 03:19 PM	#5
dmxsoulja3 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FL Posts: 247	when you use a CFL, is the wattage considered what it draws or what it outputs? meaning if I have two 23w 100w equivalents is that just considered 46 watts and then divide by gallons for WPG figures?

12-30-2010, 04:18 PM	#7
sujeev87 Newbie (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 3	i have 2x15 watts pc lighting in my ten gallon. The guy at Big al's pet store told me that for my 10 gallon 30 watts is more than enough... i guess he was wrong... what kind of lighting are you using to get 40 watts of light into a 10 gallon tank. I was going to get a 15 or a 20 gallon but this is my first planted tank and i wanted to do a smaller set up. Should i just do a diy hood that would just hold up my current pc lights and then add a normal table lamp? Anyone have a better alternative or should i just stick with my set up and grow low light plants? does anyone know why the watts per gallon principle doesn't apply to tanks 10 gallons and less?