lighting?

[goin_all_out]

i have no idea what type bulb i dhould get, for my tank, the dimensions of the tank are 20Lx10Wx24H its called a 20 tall tall, i believe its made by miricles. no i want to have this fairly desly planted but i dont kno what i should do in the way of a bulb, i have a 15" fixture. can any one give me some clue here? input is appreciated as i am still learning and collecting parts to set this up right.

 

[steelhealr]

Sorry..but ...how many gallons? SH

 

[goin_all_out]

20 gallon. basically two 10 gallons stacked ontop of each other.

 

[steelhealr]

Start looking here. At 20 gallons, the minimum recommended is 2 watts per gallon or 40 watts. Since your tank is deep and 20 inches long, the fixture below would be a lot of light. You can scale it down if you want. You'd have to see what plants you are going to put in there and their lighting requirements:

http/www.marineandreef.com/products/aqualight20Fresh.jpg

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...ubref=AA&ctt=63

 

[goin_all_out]

wow, is something that strong really needed? im not really sure of the plants i want yet cause i havent even set this thing up yet. im basically collecting parts and info slowley. heck at the rate im going i thin its gonna be a couple months still anyway

 

[yvez9]

alot of nice plants can be kept with basic lighting. Anubias nana for example, java fern and java moss, vallis...

The more colorful plants will require more light though.

 

[goin_all_out]

i was thinking of doing somehtig with a tall piece of drift wood and growing java fern up it, thought that owuld be awsome looking. iv done a little research but im still not 100% on it. is there any good palnt sites that i could look at?

 

[yvez9]

http/www.plantedtank.net/

 

[goin_all_out]

wow awsome thank u, much appreciated.

 

[steelhealr]

The above post is correct...I was under the impression that you wanted an extensive planted tank. I have multiple plants in a 46 G FW doing well with just a 30 Watt aquaglow....hygrophila, hornwort, anacharis, lucien....in my other under similar conditions banana lily, anubias (it flowered), cryptochoryne. Good luck. SH

 

[goin_all_out]

i think that iv read somewhere that those plants dont need very birght lighting so is it possible for them to survive off lower lighting like that?

 

[steelhealr]

Yes...I have to prune my hygrophila and anacharis. SH