How To Get High Lighting?

I have a 29 gallon that is 18 in. tall. Currently I have Italian Val, anubias, crypt wendtii, and dwarf water lettuce. I want to grow some sort of carpet, but I've heard you need high lighting so that the carpet plant does not grow tall. Will 2 T8 bulbs and 1 T5 bulb be considered high lighting for my tank? Those are the bulbs I have currently but they are not over my tank yet...

 

The bulbs are 17 watts if that helps. I believe that makes it about 1.75 watts per gallon... if that "rule" is even useful

 

In order to carpet you would also need co2, otherwise the high light would cause a algae farm

 

In order to carpet you would also need co2, otherwise the high light would cause a algae farm

How much algae? Cause I'm sure my otos and shrimp wouldn't mind

 

What carpet plant do you want to grow? There are many different types of medium light carpet plants out there, if you are unsure if you have high light.

 

The bulbs are 17 watts if that helps. I believe that makes it about 1.75 watts per gallon... if that "rule" is even useful

That rule don't work. It depends on how tall your tank is. A 20 tall for example need higher light than a 20 long, because the light has to travel thru deeper water.

 

That rule don't work. It depends on how tall your tank is. A 20 tall for example need higher light than a 20 long, because the light has to travel thru deeper water.

Yeah, and the rule was made for older bulbs such as T12's, not T5's.

 

Yeah, and the rule was made for older bulbs such as T12's, not T5's.

I'm pretty sure I heard that rule years ago when we used incandescent lights.lol

 

What carpet plant do you want to grow? There are many different types of medium light carpet plants out there, if you are unsure if you have high light.

I'll grow whatever will grow best with my 3 T8s

 

micro sword comes to mind, I mean its a taller carpet, better than hairgrass, but not super short..shrimp would like it

 

I'll grow whatever will grow best with my 3 T8s

Do you know the K number on your bulbs?

 

Do you know the K number on your bulbs?

I believe they are 6500k each

 

micro sword comes to mind, I mean its a taller carpet, better than hairgrass, but not super short..shrimp would like it

Cool! My friend is giving me some of his cherry shrimp cause they are breeding like crazy. That could work

 

I was hoping to get Monte Carlo or the aquatic four leaf clover, if anyone knows whether that would work or not

 

I believe they are 6500k each

Perfect for plants.

 

I want to say 4 leaf clover needs CO2. So if you don't have it it may not do what you want. Christmas Moss is cool