Level of Light

[bigmick474]

Hi, I have 1.7 wpg of light in my aquarium.
I'm new to fish keeping so dont know if this is a high amount of light or not.
Also i dont know what plants will thrive in this amount of light.
Any help would be great.

Thanks

 

[guppygirl]

Ok, anything below 1.5 is very low light. Java fern, java moss and a few other forgiving plants are suitable.
1.5-2.5 (If I'm right guys, help me out here!) is low-medium light, basically the above and stem plants, swords, etc. Not everything will thrive, but it will grow.
2.5-4 Is high light. co2, nutrients and lots of plants will keep the algae down! Usually you can grow just about anything here, depending on your water qualities.

Don't quote me on this, I'm only generalizing.
With your 1.7, I would upgrade if you're trying to grow lots of high light plants. Otherwise, you could just grow some low light plants. The other member might have some good suggestions.
HTH!
Robin

 

[bigmick474]

Thanks, i'll upgrade.
Is it as simple as high light is better, or will some plants prefer low level light?

 

[bigmick474]

totally unrelated but,
congratulations Guppy girl on coming second.
good luck with your horse trials in the future?

 

[guppygirl]

Ok, ok, before you go getting a new light, remember that if you upgrade your wattage, you also have to ugrade plant populations AND co2. Or else you'll be like half of the members on this forum, who got a algae filled tank as a result.
Some plants (but not many) prefer low light, like java moss, anubias and cryptocorynes. But you can still include them in high light setups. Just place them somewhere it's shaded (under a big sword plant, for example.).

 

[guppygirl]

Oh oh yes, thank you so much big mick!!! (my horse says thank you too!! )
I had so much fun, we did great.
I have another horse trial in july, I'm already planning!!

 

[shuhu]

I read somewere that having a rate of 3watts of Fluorescent Light per Gallon it's considered as medium lighting

 

[kingkano]

It depends on the size of your tank. WPG falls over in smaller or larger tanks....

For example I have an 80g tank with 150w over it, but its growing red ludwigia and many other red plants aboslutely great... with no co2 addition as well.

 

[Robbo851]

i dont know what my light is ,its a 6w ,i think thats low is it? for a 12 gallon tank

 

[shuhu]

i dont know what my light is ,its a 6w ,i think thats low is it? for a 12 gallon tank

Yes, it is too low, but I think (not sure) that it could work for plants that need low light or maybe it won't even work for those, you could try and see with a not so expensive plant just to be sure

 

[guppygirl]

yes, robbo, it's too low. That will give you 0.5 wpg, which won't grow much more than some java moss, java fern, anubias, and some algae.

 

[Robbo851]

what should i change it to, heres a pick with my plants in it sorry dont know what they are ,im not good with plants

theres more pics on this thread
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=94314

sorry this tank is only 10 gallon my mistake