I am setting up a 20L planted tank. I have cats so a hoodless lighting system was out of the question, and I was only able to get a twin strip light with a versa hood. I can only get 40 watts out of this. Thats 2 watts per gallon, so I meet the requirements for low light plants. How would plants that require moderate lighting stand up to this kind of lighting? Would they eventually just die or would they just grow slowly? How would something like stargrass hold up in this tank? Its only 12 inches tall so I was thinking if I used a light cycle of 10-12 hours things might not go all downhill, but I havent really been able to find any answers other than just the straight forward yes and no's Ive been finding in some articles. Help would appreciated, thanks.
planted tank
- Thread starter deviant
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You said that you have a 20L tank=5.27 gallons. I am guessing you meant 20 gallon since you said 2 watts per gallon(WPG). From what I have heard, Stargrass can do ok in moderate lighting, but better in higher lighting like 3WPG. Any moderate plant should do well in this lighting. Just make sure you use light bulbs that are for growing plants. To help it out, I hope you have a decent substrate like flourite, or laterite. Also, you might want to do a search on DIY CO2 since that could help your plants out if you do not use it currently. And most importantly, have fun 
thanks for the info, I was hoping maybe it would be fine. I think ill just add that one to my wish list. btw, any reccomendations for DIY Co2?
Here are 2 useful sites that might help you out. But you can use one 2 liter bottle instead of 2 if you like.
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Diyco2.htm
http://fish.orbust.net/carbondioxide.html
Best of luck
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Diyco2.htm
http://fish.orbust.net/carbondioxide.html
Best of luck
Give it a try and if you still need more light and want to keep the same light strip you are using then go and pick up a 4f32-t8 ELECTRONIC ballast and rewire the bulbs in series with all 4 leads and you will over drive the bulbs and give you more intense light. Works great and is a cheap fix.