Light For Planted Tank? Help Please!

So I have recently started a planted tank and I have a 15watts T8 bulb, my tank is 14inchs high. will this lighting suffice or should I invest in a new hood setup?

 

Depends on if you get low light, medium, or high light plants. It also depends on the bulbs-are these specifically for plants?

 

Should grow low light plants such as anubias and Java ferns. Especially in this short of a tank.

 

Depends on if you get low light, medium, or high light plants. It also depends on the bulbs-are these specifically for plants?

yes its for plants, and I have amazon sword and some moneyworth and some java ferns

 

yes its for plants, and I have amazon sword and some moneyworth and some java ferns

Amazon light moderate to high light so, imo that will need to be the one that will get the most light. I kept java with just a regular led light-low light. I tried moneywort but got no where with it as my fish ate it!

 

Check out a finnex stingray. It will last forever and perfect for low/medium light plants. PM me if your interested as I can sell you one for a good deal.

 

So I have recently started a planted tank and I have a 15watts T8 bulb, my tank is 14inchs high. will this lighting suffice or should I invest in a new hood setup?

Yes. I would not try carpet plants, but plants like Swords, Crypys, rotala, etc. will do well. with one bulb you are at approximately 15 PAR at the substrate, but you are at about 45 PAR 10 inches away from the light. Here is a thread that has a PAR chart for light fixtures...just follow the line for T8 bulbs.

 

Yes. I would not try carpet plants, but plants like Swords, Crypys, rotala, etc. will do well. with one bulb you are at approximately 15 PAR at the substrate, but you are at about 45 PAR 10 inches away from the light. Here is a thread that has a PAR chart for light fixtures...just follow the line for T8 bulbs.

Awesome so what I got from that was that my plants will be fine and I have a medium light intensity, decent.

 

yeah. look at the chart...you are High light at the Surface; Medium light about 10 inches down; Low light the rest of the way down. I think you are fine.
Too much light = Algae Farm

 

yeah. look at the chart...you are High light at the Surface; Medium light about 10 inches down; Low light the rest of the way down. I think you are fine.
Too much light = Algae Farm

EDIT: You can always add another light if what you have is not enough.