Need help understanding LED lighting/watts per gallon

Hello everyone! Thanks in advance for all answers. I have been keeping fish for about 5 years know. I have always had fancy goldfish and I love them! I recently upgraded to a 60 gallon tank. The lights that came with the tank look yellow, and are not as bright as I want them to be. I want to grow live plants in my aquarium and I just don't think I have the right lights. I have been looking online and I am honestly just confused. I have a 60 gallon Marineland ensemble, that I purchased from Petsmart. It doesn't say the wattage of the lights so I don't know what I have.

I want enough light to grow all types of plants, so I am guessing the highest needed? Please recommend brands and wattage so I can buy exactly what I need. Thanks!!!

 

You may have to add more lights or replace the existing lights.

I have done the former with two of my tanks.

You can get all pseudo-scientific but in my opinion if they look dI'm they are dim!

 

How do you know if the LED light bulbs are strong enough? Are they labeled by gallons or what? I just don't know how to tell if I am buying strong enough lights.

Also, if I have a Marineland hood, do I have to buy Marineland bulbs or will another brand work?

 

I've added another light to a marineland hood.

I added another T8 and fixed it to the front-opening lid to supplement the one at the back that is under a glass cover.

I used a waterproof fitting.

This has doubled the light output for the tank and also improved the distribution of light.

On my other tank I added 2 x high output T5 lamps to the rather pathetic 2 x T8 lamps which were supplied. This more than doubled the output.

I'd be inclined to see if you can add more lights to the existing lighting.

 

LED fixtures do not go by wattage like T5HO fixtures: they go by PAR. I am assuming that you are wanting to grow low-light plants with your Goldfish; therefore, I would look into getting a Finnex Planted Plus or a Current Satellite Freshwater LED Plus. Another option is to get a two bulb T5HO fixture: shoot for about 1.5 to 2 Watts per gallon for low light plants. Do not make the mistake and add too much lighting because then you will need to infuse CO2 which is an added expense. If the decision were mine, I would purchase the Finnex Planted +, plant Amazon Swords, Anacharis, and maybe some Java moss on driftwood. You will need to ditch you hood, but you can purchase a glass lid or make your own screen top to let the light through.