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Thread: How Many Watts Do I Need?

  1. #1
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    How Many Watts Do I Need?

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    I have a 36 x 20 x 20" tank with riccia, nana and spikey moss. No CO2 but light is currently 60W, on for alternate 4-hours. Is the watts enough enough?

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    I see only riccia may require more light else generally undemanding. Ballpark 2.5 to 3 watts per gallon is desirable

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    You can calculate how much wattage you have with our Aquarium Calculator. The link is just below our site banner, on the right.
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    is your riccia floating?

    In my opinion, it is not enough. However, you did not inject CO2 so too much also not good. For your information I have 72W for 1.5ftx1ftx1.2ft
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    is your riccia floating?

    In my opinion, it is not enough. However, you did not inject CO2 so too much also not good. For your information I have 72W for 1.5ftx1ftx1.2ft
    Not floating, they are tied to wire mesh but sometines can see some runaway

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    Problem with riccia if they do not receive enough light is start to rot and slowly dislodge from whatever you tie it on to. It will float but still growing

    In my opinion riccia is only suitable for high light tank with CO2 injection. It is very prety when they are pearling.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    Problem with riccia if they do not receive enough light is start to rot and slowly dislodge from whatever you tie it on to. It will float but still growing

    In my opinion riccia is only suitable for high light tank with CO2 injection. It is very prety when they are pearling.
    Thanks for ther feedback. May consider switching to using CO2 in the near future

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    Why are you running your lights alternate 4 hrs instead of 8hrs or 9 hrs continuous? any particular reason?

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    some people believe that it will help prevent Algae.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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    ah I see. doesn't this stress the fauna though? unnatural light cycles and all.

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    it is ok, it wont be completly dark anyway. Unless your light time is in the middle of the night Fauna probably think (assuming they can think) that claude covering the sun.

    However I do read somewhere that plant is at maximum rate of growth after 6 hours of continuous light. How true? no idea
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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    I think depends on the type of plant, they all have a range of photosynthetic cycles they will thrive best in.

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    is your riccia floating?

    In my opinion, it is not enough. However, you did not inject CO2 so too much also not good. For your information I have 72W for 1.5ftx1ftx1.2ft

    is it a need for such a high wattage lighting for such small tank ?
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  14. #14
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    nope, mostly depend on the plant you choose and how fast the grow rate you want it to be.

    I have 72W because the initial 36W does not make my glosso stay low. 55W is too long for 1.5ft, though I do grow nice creeping glosso in 2ft tank with 55W. So the next available option is 2x36W.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

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