Aquarium lights??!?

i want to start a planted aquarium.......
ok, so i read that you should have like 2.5 to 3 watts per gallon in your tank. is that true?
i have a 20 gallon, and the light i have is only 15 watts.
is there a light with really high wattage thats 18"??
or do i need a new light or hood or somthin?
i wanted to try a planted aqurium, and im going to get a co2 system, but i need like a light or something. right?
i was going to get the flourite gravel stuff and can i mix it with sand? or pebbles?-i wana have kuhli loaches..
i have the flourish for the plants, and should i get driftwood, or can it be fake?
what type of plants do u recommend. i already have some ideas.

thanks 2 whoever answers seriously!!!

Watts per gallon isn't really a good rule to follow, because reflectors and T5 bulbs affect this rule. But nonetheless, 2-3 WPG is a good way to start. Here are two lighting systems that will provide 2-4 WPG: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pr... (Freshwater 65 watt)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/pr...
(Freshwater 48 watt)
Don't be discouraged that the last one is only 48 watts. T5 bulbs will penetrate the water deeper, tossing out the WPG rule.

Flourite is an excellent gravel for plants. You can mix it with sand or you can't. Or you could just use plain sand if you plan on having Khuli Loaches.

Real driftwood would be nice, but it can be fake as well. Many planted tanks contain driftwood because it looks beautiful and it leaches (harmless) tannins into the tank that lower the pH and soften the water. However, it also stains the water to a tea color. If you don't want this tea color, you can add some carbon to your filter.

If you're not going to use a CO2 system, I'd recommend easy plants such as Anubias, Cryptocoryne, Aponogeton Ulvaceus, Anacharis, Hornwort, and Hygropholia. If you will use a CO2 system, then you can get more "advanced" plants, such as Echinodorus species, Didiplis Diandra, Rotala species, and Vallisneria.

For an excellent plant guide sorted out by categories, check out this site: http://www.plantgeek.net/plantguide.php

E-mail me for any questions!

Yes, to get 2wpg, you will need to get a new light strip.

This one would fit the bill:
http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS/ctl...

a plant aquarium...i never thought of that haha.
dang that sounds like fun

yes, Yes you can

Tags

　　Cats 　　Dogs 　　General Pets 　　Rodents 　　Reptiles 　　Horses 　　Fish 　　Birds 　　Abyssinian 　　Ocicat 　　Savannah 　　Sphynx

Related information

What kind of Fish can I keep in a 5 gallon and how many?

white clouds would be a good choice for a un-heated tank. 5-6 would be a good number. Platties and guppies also would be a good choice as long as the water will not get below 65-68

...

Is it okay to get guppies in a 5 gallon tank if so how many?

A breeding trio of one male and 2 females would be fine. Make sure you have lots of plants and hiding spots and just leave them alone. The fry will hide in the plants and stuff and maybe some wil...

Python Clean and Fill and Changing 1/3 water?

You can still use tap water to top off your aquarium,just add your dechhlorinator to the tank as you fill. the water temp doesn't have to be exact just within a few degrees. Certain fish need ...

Mistake What can you put in a 2 gallon tank?

A betta would be the best choice, since they really don't mind being on their own. Other fish are either too big or should be kept in schools so they need more room to swim.

...

Can you tell me if my guppy is really pregnant?

If it has a gravid spot then it almost definately is pregnant. They dont get super fat till closer to the birth, but it gets a little bigger in the beginning.

...

Lionhead goldfish...?

yes, that's about right. it's a rarer fancy goldfish. it maybe have been a tiny bit on the pricier side if it was small, but it's not too bad. I have a Ranchu which is similar and sl...

What kind of cories (fish) do i have?

It is possible they are panda corydoras, as they are common in the pet trade. Below is a link to Corydoras World. They have large databases with pictures of countless cories. They can be very helpf...

I have two goldfish and one is a lighter color than the other is that bad or good?

If it's the natural color, there's nothing to worry about. All goldfish aren't exactly the same color - they can be orange (red), yellow/gold, white, bronze, black, and combinations...