Wattage Measurement Question

[KookScape]

Why is it that in order to determine the level of lighting, you need to measure the watts? I hardly ever hear anything about the importance of temperature in tank lighting. Couldnt you have a 36 watt bulb, yet the temp was way off, making the bulb less effective for growing plants? I might not be making ANY sense but if i am, feel free to reply.

[Crispino Labayen Ramos]

Being a resident of the lower desert in Arizona, I take lighting temperature into consideration whether choosing the light fixture or fluorescent tube Kelvin. I like light fixtures with exhaust fans (as long as they're not noisy), external ballasts and fluorescent tubes with lower Kelvin.

[1aqumfish]

Check out hoppy's work, actually measured and explains.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...t5-t12-pc.html

[dbosman@msu.edu]

The question is valid. The answer can be very complicated and confusing. Or simple.

Any light that will produce sufficient PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) will grow plants.

Ignoring the evaporation, a 96 watt actinic on a 10g tank probably won't grow anything a freshwater plant enthusiast would want to grow and look at.
So, yes, a 36 watt of the wrong temp (degrees kelvin) could be way off.

Hoppy's chart has gained wide acceptance here and while it does mention wattage, the more important part is low light, medium light, and high light for a given combination.

[HypnoticAquatic]

Originally Posted by dbosman@msu.edu

The question is valid. The answer can be very complicated and confusing. Or simple.

Any light that will produce sufficient PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) will grow plants.

Ignoring the evaporation, a 96 watt actinic on a 10g tank probably won't grow anything a freshwater plant enthusiast would want to grow and look at.
So, yes, a 36 watt of the wrong temp (degrees kelvin) could be way off.

Hoppy's chart has gained wide acceptance here and while it does mention wattage, the more important part is low light, medium light, and high light for a given combination.

,
id beg to differ on the actinic with low light plants like anubius, ext, ext ive dont it and that was with stock t8's so you might be surprised at what they can grow, its just not very pleasant to look at for most people. so there are better options out there but that doesnt mean actinic is useless!!

[dbosman@msu.edu]

I'll clarify my post by saying pure actinic lighting probably won't grow anything a freshwater plant enthusiast would want to grow and look at, while the lights are on. Many of us find actinic lighting it a bit harsh, outside a saltwater environment.