memorywrangler Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 What does "good for medium to low light" in plant descriptions actually mean? I have this light (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093GZKYM9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) on a 5-gal cube and an 16-in finnex stingray 2 on a 10-gallon. I'm guessing this is "medium"? I also see sites say thing like "2W/gal" but is this LED watts or incandescent watts or some other notion of watt? -steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkaleyAquatics Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) On 3/24/2022 at 1:38 PM, memorywrangler said: What does "good for medium to low light" in plant descriptions actually mean? I have this light (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093GZKYM9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) on a 5-gal cube and an 16-in finnex stingray 2 on a 10-gallon. I'm guessing this is "medium"? I also see sites say thing like "2W/gal" but is this LED watts or incandescent watts or some other notion of watt? -steve The watts per gallon is out dated because of the LED's. To measure the intensity of light you will need a PAR meter, which can measure the umols at substrate. I can not speak on the Hygger clip on but the finnex stingray 2 on a 10-gallon I believe is considered to be medium light. Irene put a video out about this and measured the par for it. Edited March 24, 2022 by SkaleyAquatics Added about the finnex 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 10:38 AM, memorywrangler said: What does "good for medium to low light" in plant descriptions actually mean? I have this light (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093GZKYM9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) on a 5-gal cube and an 16-in finnex stingray 2 on a 10-gallon. I'm guessing this is "medium"? I also see sites say thing like "2W/gal" but is this LED watts or incandescent watts or some other notion of watt? -steve Hi -steve, You will see many descriptions on various forums for what low, medium, and high light are. They all deal with light intensity, specifically measured in Photo-active Radiation or the amount of light that is usable to plants that hits a given spot. I personally consider PAR@50 or less at "low light"; PAR@ 50 - 80 as "medium light"; and PAR@80 or greater as "high light". Usually when dealing with high light it is best to use injected CO2 to avoid growing an algae farm in my tank. Do plants know if the are low, medium, or high light? Of course not. I have grown 'moderate light' species (Pogostemon helferi) in PAR@40 with no CO2, it put out new leaves but it was far from 'thriving'. I did a little searching online and the Finnex Stingray II provides about PAR@60 at the substrate level through a Aqueon Versa-top. Of course, you can have a 'high light' tank and plant 'low light' plants in it by placing them so they are shaded by other plants. FYI, the 2 watts per gallon rule applied to the very old florescent T-12 tubes and have not bearing on T-8. T-5, or T5-HO lamps. Hope this helps! -Roy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apulo Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 modestfish.com did some PAR testing on a few models of lights for a review. Pretty decent info. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seattle_Aquarist Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) On 3/24/2022 at 12:16 PM, Apulo said: modestfish.com did some PAR testing on a few models of lights for a review. Pretty decent info. Although they do mention the manufacturers of the fixtures regrettably not the models of the fixtures or if the readings were in 'free air', through water, and if there is a glass cover or not. I got my information from a YouTube video with an individual using an Apogee PAR meter in a 10 gallon aquarium with the model light of the OP through a glass top. -Roy Edited March 24, 2022 by Seattle_Aquarist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apulo Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 On 3/24/2022 at 3:58 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said: Regrettable they do mention the manufacturers of the fixtures but notthe models of the fixtures or if the readings were in 'free air', through water, and if there is a glass cover or not. Yeah, no model numbers since this is a review of the Fluval Plant 3.0. They did show a picture of the test tank. The readings were through water with no cover. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) The info regarding the models of light are on the site @Apulo mentioned. I don't want to post a link since they have ads on the sight buts it's under menu-equipment-lighting. Edited March 24, 2022 by Patrick_G 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apulo Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) Here's the list: Edited March 24, 2022 by Apulo Hit enter too many times 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 @Apulo, thanks, that’s great info to have. I hope they test more lights in the future! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apulo Posted March 24, 2022 Share Posted March 24, 2022 Me too, that information is super valuable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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