FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi again, got another question. I planted my little 10 gal tank two weeks ago. forget what I put in, hygro, i think some kinda swords. Anyways, the question is about lighting. The lights that came with the tank are incandescent, and since a bulb broke (away from the tank thankfully) I had to upgrade from 3 wpg to 5 wpg. Does it matter that they're not flourescent? The tank sits near the sliding glass doors in the living room, about 5 feet away and gets all kind of natural light. I know the plants have only been in there a few weeks but they appear to be doing very well. any suggestions or comments?
thanks

Hi,
5 Watts/gallon in a 10 gallon tank is begging for trouble.
You are way, way over powered so to speak, and between
that and "all kinds of natural light" you are very probably
going to have the "mother of all Algae outbreaks."

When you can, go to the nearest large hardware store and
purchase a screw in flourscent bulb. They are rated at
6700K (excellent for plants), and will drop you to about
2.5 wpg. You really should shield the tank from the
sunlight. Subjecting the tank to sunlight and an
incandescent light will raise the tanks temperature to
near fatal levels, especially during the summer months.

A 10 gallon tank is so shallow that a 10 watt bulb would
seem like a 20 watt bulb. Light is absorbed and scattered
as it makes its way through the water to the surface of
the gravel.

Depending upon what type of sword plant(s) you have in
the tank, you could very soon be purchasing a larger one.
Many swords will out grow a 100G tank! They are also
"heavy root feeders" and will soon deplete the substrate
around them of all nutrients, and you will soon have to
start supplement then with plant sticks or plant tablets
that you push into the gravel near the plants roots.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks Frank. I had planned to do just that, if not get the screw in flourescents then just the 15 watt bulb that came with it.
I, too, was worried about algae in the tank, since starting it several months ago but it never seened to happen. Maybe because everything in there eats algae.
After returning from work tonight, I did notice that the hood was much warmer than usual, due to the hotter bulb, and it will be replaced in a day or so. Thanks again

Last edited by divertran at 03-Feb-2005 02:01