am I in the high light range?

[myjohnson]

Re: am I in the high light range?

fishboyt,

 thanks for high jacking my post...... :evil:

[myjohnson]

Re: am I in the high light range?

French,

   I have owned all kinds of lights and all I grow is algae.

[screename]

Re: am I in the high light range?

with only 48w over a 12, I dont think you need to worry about about ferts too much.  Remember that the WPG rule doesnt really apply to small tanks.  For reference, I was running 130w CF over an 8 gallon and felt as if I needed "more" or "better" lighting.  Then again, I was trying to grow HC and hairgrass which require a lot more or intense lighting.  You could get away with 48w for low light plants.

[fishboyt]

Re: am I in the high light range?

fishboyt,

 thanks for high jacking my post...... :evil:

Sorry  :(

[fishboyt]

Re: am I in the high light range?

I think Fishboyt's talking about the GE "Plant/Aquarium" T8's - it's about a 2,800k bulb.  They're great for growing algae - don't ask me how I know   .  

Yes, that is the one I am talking about.

[French]

Re: am I in the high light range?

Not sure I follow you here, about the WPG rule not applying to small tanks.  I would think that lumens on target through water would be a function of some coefficient of light transmission per inch of depth, the actual measured depth and the initial lumens you start with above the surface.  I'm not following how a smaller volume of water,  i.e. a shallower water column, would change the physics.  If anything, I'd think that a shallower tank would require less light than the WPG rule of thumb.  

Real life example: many years ago, when I was living in a nano 1 br apartment in NYC, I was growing SPS coral and clams in a 15 gallon with a single 75w halide lamp.  That's "only" 1 WPG more than myjohnson has now.  

Here's a pretty good basic article about lighting by Carl Strohmeyer - I like his approach.  

Of course, understand that I tend to be a minimalist and incredibly cheap.  I'm also new to planted tanks, and still make rookie mistakes, like buying the GE Plant/Aquarium bulb as I figure this out.  BTW, I've taken them out and they're in the garage as back-ups.  I might use them for the "land side" if I ever get around to setting up a vivarium/frog tank for my daughter.

Has the thinking about lighting changed that much in the last decade?  Please discuss.

- French

with only 48w over a 12, I dont think you need to worry about about ferts too much.  Remember that the WPG rule doesnt really apply to small tanks.  For reference, I was running 130w CF over an 8 gallon and felt as if I needed "more" or "better" lighting.  Then again, I was trying to grow HC and hairgrass which require a lot more or intense lighting.  You could get away with 48w for low light plants.