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I have a 15 watt bulb (the original bulb from the factory) now for my 20G tank. It's fishless cycling now and hasn't been planted yet.

My question is what would be a good wattage/kelvin rating to go for to grow mid-light plants?

The tank already has a DIY CO2 rig up and running as well.

15 watts over a 20 isn't going to grow med-light plants, but the usual K rating for plants is right around 6700. That should get you going on some very low-light plants. For med-light you might want to look at some compact fluorescent lighting - a 55 watt bulb fits very nicely over a 20 and would be a great amount of light for what you're planning. No need for a new fixture, either - just use a retrofit kit from, say, AH Supply]http://www.ahsupply.com[/link] or [link=Hello Lights. Just for comparison, my 20 has a 55 watt kit and a 36 watt kit above it - and I've been thinking of switching the 36 for another 55. Particularly with CO2, higher light is the way to go (well, IMO, anyway - low-light tanks are just so frustrating to me!).

-Molly
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Thanks for the reply. I didn't think the 15 watt bulb would cut it.

Oops, I missed the "what ... wattage" and just saw the kelvin rating part. Well, good thing I answered you anyway!

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

Hi,
A 15 watt flourscent bulb on a 20 gallon tank yields
3/4 watt/gallon - less than one watt/gallon.
You could grow SOME low light demand plants and nothing
else. The higher demand plants would simply wither away
and die.

Take a look at the plants that are in the three
divisions (low, medium, and high) and see what ones
you would like to have in the tank, and then purchase
the hood that will allow you to have that many
watts/gallon.

http://www.azgardens.com/ Has plant "packages"
set up by light demand, and biotope. You don't need
to buy them from them, but the plants are listed in
the various groups, and you can look at them, one plant
at a time, and decide what works for you. Then you can
buy them a few at a time from your LFS.

Power Compact lights are one way. Or, a canopy that
uses the T-5 (5/8 diameter) flourscent bulbs might
be the answer. Look in the various catalogs such as
Drsfostersmith for the various options.

With 1 watt/G or less you are limited in your choices.

Frank


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