08 How much light do I need?
Description
This article is from the Aquaria: Plants FAQ, by multiple authors.
08 How much light do I need?
The "classic" rule of thumb for lighting is 2-4 watts of fluorescent
light per gallon (0.5-1 watts/l) for a tank of normal depth, less than
24 inches (60cm). In reality, the issue is clouded (so to speak) by
the amount of algae and other particles in the water and on the walls,
what sort of reflector you have on the light source, and how far away
the source is from the tank. In general, start with the guidelines,
but be prepared to add more later.
For plants that demand medium to high light, most people find they
need at least two fluorescent bulbs of the length of normal tanks
(20-gallon (80l), two 24 inch tubes; 55-gallon (200l), two 48 inch
tubes). More detail can be found in the later LIGHTING section.
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