Does LUX Matter?

[Nick D]

Hi all...
In my futile attempts to grow plants in my fish tank, I just purchased
a Hagen Sun Glo which has 125 Lux reading for a 24" bulb, which I
assume could grow some plants. On my next trip back to the Fish Store
I notice a Hagen Life Glo which had 235 Lux reading. Apparently, as I
understand it, Lux is a reading of Light Intensity (in a nutshell). So
I'm wondering if a light with a higher Lux reading is better at
growing plants, than say one with a lower reading. I am currently
searching for the most powerful florescent tube I can find to grow
plants in my 29gal. I realize spectrum has a lot to do with how well
plants grow, but with only 2 tubes over my 29gal I need all the
intensity I can get, right?

Thoughts, Suggestions?

Thanks,
Nick D.

[Greg G.]

On 1 Dec 2003 18:12:33 -0800, (Nick D) wrote:

>Hi all...
>In my futile attempts to grow plants in my fish tank, I just purchased
>a Hagen Sun Glo which has 125 Lux reading for a 24" bulb, which I
>assume could grow some plants. On my next trip back to the Fish Store
>I notice a Hagen Life Glo which had 235 Lux reading. Apparently, as I
>understand it, Lux is a reading of Light Intensity (in a nutshell). So
>I'm wondering if a light with a higher Lux reading is better at
>growing plants, than say one with a lower reading. I am currently
>searching for the most powerful florescent tube I can find to grow
>plants in my 29gal. I realize spectrum has a lot to do with how well
>plants grow, but with only 2 tubes over my 29gal I need all the
>intensity I can get, right?
>
>Thoughts, Suggestions?
>
>Thanks,
>Nick D.

Hi Nick,

Intensity is important, but just as important is color temperature.
Various claims are made by manufacturers concerning their bulbs, as
they tend to be high dollar items - most of which is unjustified.

The unit of intensity measurement known as lumens is more frequently
used in measuring lamp intensity. LUX is a unit of illumination equal
to 1 lumen per square meter; 0.0929 foot candle. CRI is a measurement
of how much like "sunlight" a lamp appears to the human eye.

Problem is, many intensity measurements are made with the human vision
spectrum in mind. Thus what YOU see as a bright light, may not appear
as bright to plants in the photosynthetic realm.

With that said, 2x 20 watt bulbs are NEVER going to be bright enough
to grow many plant specimens - period. You can throw money at bulbs
manufacturer/vendors all day, with all kinds of specifications, and it
just won't help. You can slowly grow low light plants, anubias,
crypts, and a few others, but that is it. You need more light at the
correct color temperature to grow medium to high light plants.

One of the best PAR bulbs is a common 5000K tri-phosphor fluorescent -
available for about $3.50 at most commercial lighting vendors - maybe
even at your local Lowes or Home Despot. Phillips, Sylvania, GE all
make these bulbs. Chroma 50, Colortone 50, Designer 5000k, Ultralume
5000k, Alto Advantage 5000k, etc. Switching to T-8 bulbs (and
matching electronic ballasts) opens up a new realm of bulbs that are
more efficient and have more choices available.

Read more than you wanted to know here:

http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/faq.html'

Greg

[Greg G.]

On 1 Dec 2003 18:12:33 -0800, (Nick D) wrote:

>Hi all...
>In my futile attempts to grow plants in my fish tank, I just purchased
>a Hagen Sun Glo which has 125 Lux reading for a 24" bulb, which I

Oh, yea - one more thing...

You might consider retrofitting for Power Compact Fluorescents, which
allow you to put more lumens in your tank in a limited space.

Greg

[Dick]

Greg, I wonder if everyone wants the same plants you do. I have 5
tanks with low light and a variety of plants. I know I can't have
the majority of the many varieties, but the plants, including Anubias,
are doing their biological thing and providing nooks and crannies the
fish seem to enjoy.

I am not much of a gardener outside or inside, but when I finally
bought low light plants I was pleasantly surprised with the growth,
color, and variety I was successfully growing.

I admire the beautifully planted tanks I have seen, but have seen one
30 gallon tank that I had to look carefully to see the plants were
made of silk. Beauty and variety are important, but I am quite
satisfied to have a tank that functions well even if the varieties
available to me are limited.



On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 04:03:44 -0500, Greg
> wrote:

>On 1 Dec 2003 18:12:33 -0800, (Nick D) wrote:
>
>>Hi all...
>>In my futile attempts to grow plants in my fish tank, I just purchased
>>a Hagen Sun Glo which has 125 Lux reading for a 24" bulb, which I
>>assume could grow some plants. On my next trip back to the Fish Store
>>I notice a Hagen Life Glo which had 235 Lux reading. Apparently, as I
>>understand it, Lux is a reading of Light Intensity (in a nutshell). So
>>I'm wondering if a light with a higher Lux reading is better at
>>growing plants, than say one with a lower reading. I am currently
>>searching for the most powerful florescent tube I can find to grow
>>plants in my 29gal. I realize spectrum has a lot to do with how well
>>plants grow, but with only 2 tubes over my 29gal I need all the
>>intensity I can get, right?
>>
>>Thoughts, Suggestions?
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Nick D.
>
>Hi Nick,
>
>Intensity is important, but just as important is color temperature.
>Various claims are made by manufacturers concerning their bulbs, as
>they tend to be high dollar items - most of which is unjustified.
>
>The unit of intensity measurement known as lumens is more frequently
>used in measuring lamp intensity. LUX is a unit of illumination equal
>to 1 lumen per square meter; 0.0929 foot candle. CRI is a measurement
>of how much like "sunlight" a lamp appears to the human eye.
>
>Problem is, many intensity measurements are made with the human vision
>spectrum in mind. Thus what YOU see as a bright light, may not appear
>as bright to plants in the photosynthetic realm.
>
>With that said, 2x 20 watt bulbs are NEVER going to be bright enough
>to grow many plant specimens - period. You can throw money at bulbs
>manufacturer/vendors all day, with all kinds of specifications, and it
>just won't help. You can slowly grow low light plants, anubias,
>crypts, and a few others, but that is it. You need more light at the
>correct color temperature to grow medium to high light plants.
>
>One of the best PAR bulbs is a common 5000K tri-phosphor fluorescent -
>available for about $3.50 at most commercial lighting vendors - maybe
>even at your local Lowes or Home Despot. Phillips, Sylvania, GE all
>make these bulbs. Chroma 50, Colortone 50, Designer 5000k, Ultralume
>5000k, Alto Advantage 5000k, etc. Switching to T-8 bulbs (and
>matching electronic ballasts) opens up a new realm of bulbs that are
>more efficient and have more choices available.
>
>Read more than you wanted to know here:
>
>http://www.thekrib.com/Lights/faq.html'
>
>Greg

[Greg G.]

On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 04:37:46 -0600, Dick >
wrote:

>Greg, I wonder if everyone wants the same plants you do. I have 5
>tanks with low light and a variety of plants. I know I can't have
>the majority of the many varieties, but the plants, including Anubias,
>are doing their biological thing and providing nooks and crannies the
>fish seem to enjoy.

I don't have a problem with low light plants - I have quite a few.
I never stated that I didn't like them, I was simply warning the
original poster that his "futile attempts to grow plants in my fish
tank" were probably based upon improper plant and lighting selection,
and that throwing money at some vendor based upon murky claims of
higher light output were wasted dollars.

>I am not much of a gardener outside or inside, but when I finally
>bought low light plants I was pleasantly surprised with the growth,
>color, and variety I was successfully growing.

Again, I pointed out that he could grow anubias, crypts, java ferns,
and others. But most of these are hard, if not impossible to find at
the local fish store. They generally carry medium to high light
plants - banana plants, hornwarts, cabomba sp., bacopa sp., etc.

>I admire the beautifully planted tanks I have seen, but have seen one
>30 gallon tank that I had to look carefully to see the plants were
>made of silk. Beauty and variety are important, but I am quite
>satisfied to have a tank that functions well even if the varieties
>available to me are limited.

Perhaps you have me confused with the O.P. Again, I simply pointed
out that if he wants to grow many species of plants, more light is
necessary than is available from 2 20-watt N.O. tubes - of any type.

But with that in mind, look here for some selection criteria on
selecting low light plants for use with minimal lighting:

http://www.tropica.com/default.asp

Greg

[Dick]

I hope that our comments on low light approach to planting a tank
would encourage some people that might be put off by the various hi
tech and hi light methods. Low light planting offer a more care free
option. I shop only online as I have no LFS. It is too bad that
there is not a category of "Low Light Plants." I go to one site that
does show the desirable lighting, but only after selecting one
species. A couple of on line stores do offer a package of low light
plants.

I did go to one LFS on my way home that had a plant book and he did
look up the plant lighting and I was able to get some starter plants
for my first tank.



On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 11:08:44 -0500, Greg
> wrote:

>On Tue, 02 Dec 2003 04:37:46 -0600, Dick >
>wrote:
>
>>Greg, I wonder if everyone wants the same plants you do. I have 5
>>tanks with low light and a variety of plants. I know I can't have
>>the majority of the many varieties, but the plants, including Anubias,
>>are doing their biological thing and providing nooks and crannies the
>>fish seem to enjoy.
>
>I don't have a problem with low light plants - I have quite a few.
>I never stated that I didn't like them, I was simply warning the
>original poster that his "futile attempts to grow plants in my fish
>tank" were probably based upon improper plant and lighting selection,
>and that throwing money at some vendor based upon murky claims of
>higher light output were wasted dollars.
>
>>I am not much of a gardener outside or inside, but when I finally
>>bought low light plants I was pleasantly surprised with the growth,
>>color, and variety I was successfully growing.
>
>Again, I pointed out that he could grow anubias, crypts, java ferns,
>and others. But most of these are hard, if not impossible to find at
>the local fish store. They generally carry medium to high light
>plants - banana plants, hornwarts, cabomba sp., bacopa sp., etc.
>
>>I admire the beautifully planted tanks I have seen, but have seen one
>>30 gallon tank that I had to look carefully to see the plants were
>>made of silk. Beauty and variety are important, but I am quite
>>satisfied to have a tank that functions well even if the varieties
>>available to me are limited.
>
>Perhaps you have me confused with the O.P. Again, I simply pointed
>out that if he wants to grow many species of plants, more light is
>necessary than is available from 2 20-watt N.O. tubes - of any type.
>
>But with that in mind, look here for some selection criteria on
>selecting low light plants for use with minimal lighting:
>
>http://www.tropica.com/default.asp
>
>Greg