Lighting Question

[EGMono]

Ok, I must be missing the point or something...

I read online the calculations for proper lighting for a 35 gallon hex
tank is 120 watts for 12.5 hours. Is this correct? And since my bulb
says 15 watts, how screwed am I? :^)

[Dick]

On 7 Jan 2006 03:47:58 -0800, "EGMono" > wrote:

>Ok, I must be missing the point or something...
>
>I read online the calculations for proper lighting for a 35 gallon hex
>tank is 120 watts for 12.5 hours. Is this correct? And since my bulb
>says 15 watts, how screwed am I? :^)

Watts per gallon is the formula I know, however what is the correct
result depends on the plants you are getting. I have "low light"
plants that are happy at less than 1.5 w/g. At that level, 52 watts
would be adequate.

If you have correctly identified the bulb at 15 watts then who cares
how long you have it on? As to hours of lighting, I don't know of a
formula. I cycle my tanks 4AM on, 1PM off, 3PM on and 7PM off. I
have no idea whether this reduces algae, but having set up the
controlers, I let them continue. I still get dots of green algae on
the glass that I scrap off when I am in the mood.

dick

[Jim Anderson]

In article om>,
says...
> Ok, I must be missing the point or something...
>
> I read online the calculations for proper lighting for a 35 gallon hex
> tank is 120 watts for 12.5 hours. Is this correct? And since my bulb
> says 15 watts, how screwed am I? :^)
>
>

There is a calculator on the net that takes into account the distance of
the light source from the gravel, in addition to other parameters, that
is better than Watts per gallon only, in a tall tank.

I can not find the link in my mess of links, maybe someone knows it and
will post it.

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[sew crazy]

"Jim Anderson" > wrote in message
et...
> In article om>,
> says...
>> Ok, I must be missing the point or something...
>>
>> I read online the calculations for proper lighting for a 35 gallon hex
>> tank is 120 watts for 12.5 hours. Is this correct? And since my bulb
>> says 15 watts, how screwed am I? :^)
>>
>>
>
> There is a calculator on the net that takes into account the distance of
> the light source from the gravel, in addition to other parameters, that
> is better than Watts per gallon only, in a tall tank.
>
> I can not find the link in my mess of links, maybe someone knows it and
> will post it.
>
> --
> Jim Anderson
> ( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

http://www.petfish.net/calculators/utankcalc.php

http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/calculators.php
registration on the last one is free

[Jim Anderson]

In article >,
says...
> http://www.petfish.net/calculators/utankcalc.php
>
> http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/calculators.php
> registration on the last one is free

Thanks a bunch.

--
Jim Anderson
( 8(|) To eMail me, just pull "my_finger"

[EGMono]

Yes, taking into account hex shapes vs. rectangle shapes, and height.
Can anyone tell me if the wattage boost is worth it? Just a quick look
through the aquarium store says it will cost me $100 to boost the
wattage to 50-65 watts. No idea how to get it to 120 watts and still
have it fit on my tank.

ps., went to 4 fish stores, got 4 completely different reasons why my
plants aren't doing so well. :)