What do you think of this lighting for a planted tank?

13 posts • Page 1 of 2

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


Zambize4899
 
Posts: 499
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:35 am

What do you think of this lighting for a planted tank?

by Zambize4899

I have a 10 gallon tank with two small lights (side by side, not parallel) that are 50/50 actinic and 10 watts each. The package says 10,000K, each. I'm working to convert this tank to planted status, but can't decide if this lighting is appropriate. It doesn't look bright, but maybe that's because it's 50/50. I've read that 2 watts per gallon is "medium" light, but how does the 10,000K affect things? And is it so strong that it may burn plants in such a small tank? I've read a ton about plant lighting, but it just doesn't click with me, like calculus.

Zambize


jweb1369
 
Posts: 547
Joined: Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:55 am

by jweb1369

For the best results in planted tanks I would use 6500K as they say that is supposed to be closest to actual sunlight and most beneficial for plant photosynthesis. I am not sure what 50/50 means but I would not buy actinic, I think that is for saltwater setups. For best results I would have about atleast 3 watt per gallon if you want to keep high light plants alive and well. 2 watts per gallon is good but 3-4 is better. Also make sure you only have about 10 hours of lighting each day some people say 8 or 9. Anything over 10 is over kill and doesn't help the plants grow at all. Plants wake up and go to sleep at certain hours and you want lights on when they wake up and off when they sleep. Just thought I'd mention that.


Zambize4899
 
Posts: 499
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:35 am

by Zambize4899

50/50 means that the the light is 50% white and 50% blue. In one of the "bulbs" there are two small fluorescents with one being blue and the other white. This isn't a saltwater setup though. I got it as a kit, and it is only 10 gallons. My 37 gallon freshwater kit came with a partially actinic light, too. I dunno, maybe it's suddenly trendy... Thanks for the info......I think a proper light will be hard to find for this hood. :|

Z


Tmercier834747
 
Posts: 887
Joined: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:33 pm

by Tmercier834747

Corals utilize more high end kelvin (10,000/18,000/etc) than normal FW plants do. Jweb is also correct in saying that the actinic (which has little to do with the kelvin rating, more the color of light) is also more of a SW supplemental light. I guess ocean flora or w/e utilizes more UV light, which the actinic supplies.

I tried growing a high light plant in my 5gal with 10w 50/50 and it abruptly died. You might want to consider just getting some kind of 24" (i think thats the standard witdth for 10gal) power compact with 2/18 or 2/20w bulbs or something for maximum $80 with at least a 6500k rating. That'll grow pretty much anything you'd want to grow...


acerkai640
 
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Jun 11, 2008 1:09 am

by acerkai640

so i was considering 1 - 96 Watt 50/50 combo bulb (half 12,000K Daylight, half 03 Actinic) would i be wrong to get that, i dont have many live plants just a handfull and i have a 115 gal? im so confussed


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

I guess your tank is about 2 feet deep and the light is a power compact. I have one of these double 95 watt lights with half actinic blue and half daylight. Mine is 3 feet long and it's used in combo with a double 29 watt Nova Extream and my tank is about 30 gallons.

You should be able to grow low light plants as well as Amazon Sword with a double 95 watt. The blue is OK, though when you replace the bulbs in 8-10 months or so I would get 2 daylight bulbs.

The 95 watt bulbs are about $75 each!


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

The light you're looking at is 2 times 95 watt right?


Peterkarig3210
 
Posts: 1980
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:04 am

by Peterkarig3210

I think if you have co2 your plants will grow with less light. I just hooked up my co2 again.


a1k8t31524
 
Posts: 939
Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 5:10 am

by a1k8t31524

FW plants do not use the actinic i just asked the guys at plantgeeks about this i plan on replacing my 2 actinic bulbs with som 6500k "plant bulbs then i will have 2x 10000k and 2x6500k and i am assuming that that will be a good setup.


MonkeyChunks
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Mon Jul 14, 2008 9:42 am

by MonkeyChunks

Hi Zambize, I did soem research on this topic for my own 10 gallon tank. Optimal light for growing plants in freshwater is apparently 6700K.

I read on a website about Amano planted aquarium techniques http://www.fitchfamily.com/lighting.html , that Takeshi Amano uses much more watts per gallon than other aquarists. I think he uses at least 8watts per gallon! And I think this is true because I went to my local Amano specialized aquarium store and they're using very strong light bulbs. The ones they use the most are the ones that look like 2 thin fluorescent tubes. I think they're called mini fluorescent or something.

Also for people who like to grow dry land plants entirely indoors the lamps used are at least 400w and up to 1200w (yes that much) and they dont burn the plants because they're in the correct spectrum. that is their heat output is very low compared to their lumens output. So I think same principle should apply in the aquarium.

What do you think of this lighting for a planted tank?

13 posts • Page 1 of 2

12
Display posts from previous: Sort by: