On 3 May 2005 13:01:22 -0700, "
wrote:

Hi,

I am so confused about the necessary lightning for healthy plants.

I have a 33gal tank, 36" long, 12" wide and 16" height.

With the kit came a aquaglo 24", 20W 400 lumens 55 Lux 18000kelvin

I am not sure it is enough for my plants, I have several kinds,
anubias, ludwigias, cabombas, echonidorus, and others that I can't
think of the name.

I was at the lfs and they have sun glo and life glo.
a 20W sun glo lamp will provide 1230 lumens and 125 Lux and 4200Kelvin

same 20w life glo (there's life glo 2, but the specs seem to be the
same), and provides 1440 lumens, 135 lux and 6700kelvin.

Price wise life glo is quadruple of sun glo. $40cad.

Each lamp also has a graphic on the side but I imagine it's something
to do with spectrum but I have no clue how to read it.

My plants right now seem to be okay, but would I be better off with
another lamp, and if yes which one?

Undecided Wanderer...


If you change anything you can expect some change in response. My
guiding line, "if it ain't broke, why fix it?" Of course, if you like
to play, then expect your plants to react individually. Since your
plants are now ok, why make changes.

Plants need different kinds of light. For me, the secret is to find
plants compatible with the lighting the tank has. In my case the
lighting ratio is less than 1.5 watts per gallon, so I bought plants
that accept the ratio. I don't know how you selected your plants, but
if you lucked out and got plants happy with the existing lights, be
happy. I went through a couple of plant changes taking months to find
if they would survive before getting compatible arrangements.

Of course, if time and money are unimportant and variety is, then
experiment. No one is going to be able to do more than suggest, you
will have to bear the results.

dick