13 watt for 5 gallons?

j-man the skater-man · 03-25-2006, 04:18 PM

im considering gettin a DIY kit for a 5 gallon tank. its a 13 watt compact floresent kit. i have read that after about 2.5 watts per gallon u need other stuff to keep the tank stable... and since i only have 5 gallons would this be a big consern in my case?
the 5 gallon is for dwarf puffers.

cheseboy · 03-25-2006, 04:32 PM

You don't need other stuff to keep the tank stable just because of the light. Unless you have extremely strong lights so much that it would overheat your tank then that would be a problem. Since you posted in the plants section I am guessing you want to keep plants. The plants decide the level of care and what you need to put in (ferts, special substrate etc) not the lights. So your tank is fine. What exactly did you read you need to put in also? Or link plz?

Fishboy93 · 03-25-2006, 07:28 PM

With that high of light you would probably want to dose a fert to help your plants compete algae. I use Seachem's Flourish Excel for my 2.5 nano planted.

RockabillyChick · 03-25-2006, 09:44 PM

the theory is that if you have a ton of light, you will get a lot of algae UNLESS you add CO2 injection so the plants can outcompete the algae for nutrients.

i think 13 watts is fine for a 5g with nothing else. i have 2.75 wpg on my 20g long and its doing great. the plants are growing like weeds and i only have small amounts of algae that the otos take care of.

j-man the skater-man · 03-26-2006, 12:13 PM

thanks, i had read in other places that after about 2.5 watts you would need co2 and such so that the tank wouldnt turn into a perfect home for algae. but i think i should be ok

jason

03-25-2006, 04:18 PM	#1
j-man the skater-man invert freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: whiteville NC Age: 18 Posts: 345	13 watt for 5 gallons? im considering gettin a DIY kit for a 5 gallon tank. its a 13 watt compact floresent kit. i have read that after about 2.5 watts per gallon u need other stuff to keep the tank stable... and since i only have 5 gallons would this be a big consern in my case? the 5 gallon is for dwarf puffers.

03-25-2006, 04:32 PM	#2
cheseboy Freshwater Shrimp Dude Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Behind you Age: 16 Posts: 340	You don't need other stuff to keep the tank stable just because of the light. Unless you have extremely strong lights so much that it would overheat your tank then that would be a problem. Since you posted in the plants section I am guessing you want to keep plants. The plants decide the level of care and what you need to put in (ferts, special substrate etc) not the lights. So your tank is fine. What exactly did you read you need to put in also? Or link plz? __________________ 20 Gallon Saltwater Tank status: Full Blown Reef! For Information and stories Visit my Journal Here! I Love Inverts!

03-25-2006, 07:28 PM	#3
Fishboy93 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ft. Myers, FL Age: 15 Posts: 658	With that high of light you would probably want to dose a fert to help your plants compete algae. I use Seachem's Flourish Excel for my 2.5 nano planted. __________________ 29 Gallon Reef

03-25-2006, 09:44 PM	#4
RockabillyChick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 22 Posts: 298	the theory is that if you have a ton of light, you will get a lot of algae UNLESS you add CO2 injection so the plants can outcompete the algae for nutrients. i think 13 watts is fine for a 5g with nothing else. i have 2.75 wpg on my 20g long and its doing great. the plants are growing like weeds and i only have small amounts of algae that the otos take care of. __________________ She does nothing to deserve it He only wants to observe it We sit back like they taught us We keep quiet like they taught us He just wants, he wants to prove it She does nothing to remove it We don't want anyone to mind us So we play the roles that they assigned us She does nothing to conceal it He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it We blame her for being there But we are all guilty http://rockabillychick.deviantart.com/

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03-26-2006, 12:13 PM	#5
j-man the skater-man invert freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: whiteville NC Age: 18 Posts: 345	thanks, i had read in other places that after about 2.5 watts you would need co2 and such so that the tank wouldnt turn into a perfect home for algae. but i think i should be ok jason

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