When the recommendation of say 3-6 watts per gallon are calculated is the resulting wattage as in incandescent (true) wattage or fluorescent wattage? I ask this because a 16 watt fluorescent bulb's output is equal to a 60 watt incandescent lamp. There is huge difference between a 54 watt fluorescent and a 50 watt incandescent lamp.
Question about the watts per gallon formula
- Thread starter InfernoST
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone with an interest in aquariums or fish keeping!
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
fluorescent..... no one uses incandescent....
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
lol HN if you want to get into details also.... there is a difference between reg fluorescent which the wpg was talking about vs CF or T5 also.
FishEggs
Aquarium Advice Addict
i think the wpg rule was based on the t10 bulb wasn't it?
also now the reflectors have been advanced to put more lumens into the tank too
also now the reflectors have been advanced to put more lumens into the tank too
There are way too many options (CF, PC, T5, MH) and no direct correlations to decide on what a given WPG recommendation should be. In a FOWLR, it won't really matter. If you want to go reef Inferno (and everyone besides MG does), it's best to research type and spectrum now, save up and get the one you will ultimately want / need for the animals you want to keep. Upgrades get expensive! Trust me! lol
Now lumens and reflectivity are very relevant.
Did I mention that I HATE lighting and math?
Now lumens and reflectivity are very relevant.
Did I mention that I HATE lighting and math?
I understand that nobody uses incandescent lamps but that is the basis in which all fluorescent output is compared to. is it possible to answer the question asked?
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
..
Keith, Unfortunately I don't think the question can really be answered as posed. It depends on type, color, lumens, etc. CCapt and Melosu have posted in someone's thread here and have really illuminated (pun intended) the amount of variants.
FishEggs
Aquarium Advice Addict
it was based on the t12 or t10 (not much difference) fluorescent bulb.
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
with the wrong spectrum no how many watts there is would be irrelevant. is what i got from HN post. dont know sw so i can only talk about basics.
So what your saying is i can use a ten watt bulb as long as the spectrum is correct?
Yes. A 10W 10K bulb will grow any coral you want. One inch tall in a 2 inch tall 3G tank. The point is that there is more to consider than a simple WPG formula.
You don't have to use anything specific. There are a thousand different variables and therefor as many possible solutions. What exact application are you asking about? That will narrow down the answers a little maybe.
If wattage doesn't matter then i can get a 50 watt spectrum correct lamp???? That's insanity and most definitely not correct, it's combination of both not one being more important then the other.
mgamer20o0
Aquarium Advice Addict
watts is a measure of how much energy is used has nothing to do about how much light its putting out.
thats why you can have the same watts but depending on what kind and how good of reflectors have different amount of light into the tank.
T5ho>CF>T8>t12
FishEggs
Aquarium Advice Addict
ok right now forget spectrum was even mentioned. what type of tank do you want to eventually keep?
If I'm not mistaken the question was about what type of wattage the wattage per gallon formula follows (Fluorescent or Incandescent). By the way, this is going to be built for a 120 gal Tank, i don't think the 10 watt bulb will work to well in this application.Yes. A 10W 10K bulb will grow any coral you want. One inch tall in a 2 inch tall 3G tank. The point is that there is more to consider than a simple WPG formula.
