does the watt per gallon count for florscents?

[krap101]

because i have a 10 gallon tank and a 29 with a florescent hood. the highest it goes is like 20 watts... and i was wondering if florescent put out more light?

[Toirtis]

Fluorescents put out more light (and different wavelengths) than incandescent lights, if that is what you are aswking.

[hashbaz]

Yes the "watt per gallon" rule applies to fluorescents, but not incandescents.

[greenmaji]

did you want to put plants in the tanks? Im guessing thats why you asked this question..

[krap101]

yeah... (to the plant) the highest watt per gallon for compact florescents is 10 (put 2 in the hood) and the full florescents 15.

so what would be better?

[greenmaji]

wpg. of 1-3 ,3 being very high light and matance, is what your looking for..
10 gallon tank you would want somewere between 10-30 total watts.. I would suggest keeping it around 1.5 wpg if your new to the planted aquarium.. unless your wanting to keep vals. then 2-2.5 should do..
basicly triple the values for the 29 gallon..
If you get above 1.5-2 wpg consider CO2..

[krap101]

doesnt riccia need like 3-4 wpg?

[krap101]

how do you do the watt per gallon for incandescents (compact florescents)

[czcz]

You mean screw-in Compact Flourescents? The ones that can go into an incandescent fixture? The tank will never see the rated wattage, and it may be best to halve (or more) the rated wattage as a guesstimate due to restrike. Maybe these threads will help:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=52471
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=52020

[greenmaji]

Ricca..
http://192.38.244.204/go.asp?show=products
www.tropica.dk/plants.htm has info. on most plants you might want to keep..
it says that they need low-very high light.. low is about 1-1.5 wpg.. so that would be your starting point.. tropica will not give you a wpg. just a low-very high rating.. and 4 wpg is extremely very high light by the way..