live plants lighting

35 posts • Page 1 of 4

Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


Mike0372983
 
Posts: 267
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:59 pm

live plants lighting

by Mike0372983

please be honest, would 2 WPG be enough lighting for amazon swords? preety much going insane over lighting for live plants!


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

by Peterkarig3210

I'm not that sure about this. I would guess yes, but you may want to enter the forum at www.plantgeek.com to get more experienced opinions.


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

by Tmercier834747

Mine has lived for 8 mos and for awhile was producing baby plants in <1wpg.

It's therefore easy to say it would do better wtih 2wpg.


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

by Zambize4899

There are many other factors though. Water parameters, substrate, plant foods, tank dimensions...

Z


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

by Peterkarig3210

I think Orbit makes good aquarium lights and many come with lunar lights too. I want a halide because they're the best and lights create a shimmering effect on plants, substraight, etc.


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

by jweb1369

I have two types of swords that have been in my tank for about 3 months or so, and are doing okay with a 20 watt light in a 30 gallon. I use flourish liquid ferts. I also have vallisneria which is sending out new sprouts.


Mike0372983
 
Posts: 267
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:59 pm

by Mike0372983

I have a 20 watt light too, but everything is turning yellow, but when I get my new light which will be 65 and clip on the back of tank hopefully they do better... and some fertilizer


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

by Peterkarig3210

A clip on light?

The only clip on lights I've seen are these awsome $300 halides. Halides give the best and brightest light and like I said before, they create a really cool shimmering effect on the plants and gravel.

I'd like 4 of them for my 100 gallon, and 2 for my 30 gallon long.I guess that would be $1,800!!!!! Ouch!

Let's I'd like these to turn off one by one to simulate sunsett, and then I'd have lunar lights come on for the evening for a few hours too.

The addition of the 65 watt will for sure grow low light plants, and it should grow amazon sword too which is a low/med light plant.

What light are you buying Mike?


Mike0372983
 
Posts: 267
Joined: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:59 pm

by Mike0372983

actualy I meant like a coralife 24" 65watt light that would clip on the back but hang over the tank...

but now I found a 30" coralife that is also 65watt, and it will be held over with mounting kegs now... I was thinking about getting an all glass hood and use the 20 watt light I have now with it...

and I was wondering if anyone had some recomendations for substrate, not into the large pebble idea, more the sand I am looking at..


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

by Peterkarig3210

There's black flourite sand, puke colored flourite that looks like puke colored cat litter, black flourite that looks like black cat litter, and Eco-Complete, which is a beautiful substraight for planted tanks that has fine and coarse consistancy. The sandy part falls to the bottom and the pebbly part stays on top, and it's grey/black in color.

There's also different grades/sizes of plastic coated gravel that looks natural and is like small rounded pebbles.

You can also collect gravel from a stream, but it should be boiled to kill any parisites or fungus.

live plants lighting

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