Lighting

[Jeffreyb]

Trying to make a low tech planted tank but not having luck. Was thinking maybe a better light but don’t want to break the bank. Anyone have any suggestions. 

[JoeQ]

For a lower light/tech tank I love the Finnex Stingray 

[lefty o]

hygger makes some fairly decent inexpensive lights.

[Jeffreyb]

On 4/16/2022 at 6:29 PM, JoeQ said:

For a lower light/tech tank I love the Finnex Stingray 

Thank you all I have on the tank now is the led it came with. Have had the plants about 2 months and haven’t done much of anything. So I was thinking maybe they need a better light. All by plants I have are low light needs.

[Tanked]

What have you tried so far?

[Guppysnail]

I’ve tried a few different ones. I swear by these. I now have 9 of different sizes from 10g to 40b. I even grow some plants well that supposedly need high tech. Very affordable and durable.

[Patrick_G]

@Jeffreyb, what kind of plants are you trying to grow and what are the details of your setup? That might help us diagnose the problem, you might not even need a new light. 

[Jeffreyb]

It’s a 40 gallon breeder. Ph is 7.6 temp is 78. I have some anubias and Java fern for now. Lights are on from 8 am till around 6pm. All I have right now is the led light that came with the tank. I was dosing every 2 weeks with flourish at recommended amounts. Fish are 3 hillstream loaches 3 angels little over half grown 1 juvenile gold severum and one lonely bleeding heart tetra. I have since changed dosing of flourish to about once a month. There is only 2 small anubias plants and 4 Java ferns. 

On 4/19/2022 at 10:29 AM, Tanked said:

What have you tried so far?

For lights just the led the tank came with and for plants anubias and Java fern 

[Guppysnail]

For those plants that may be too much light. My anubias tank and my Java tank I only give 4-6 hours on 2nd lowest setting. They don’t need much at all. 

[Torrey]

I agree with Guppysnail, too much light. I would try breaking it into two 4 hour photo periods, and see what happens over the next 2-3 weeks.

I would keep photographs in the spreadsheet where you document water parapmeters, dosing of ferts, and water changes, so it's easy to see what changes in the new growth... and I would only change one thing at a time.

[Jeffreyb]

On 4/20/2022 at 1:36 AM, Torrey said:

I agree with Guppysnail, too much light. I would try breaking it into two 4 hour photo periods, and see what happens over the next 2-3 weeks.

I would keep photographs in the spreadsheet where you document water parapmeters, dosing of ferts, and water changes, so it's easy to see what changes in the new growth... and I would only change one thing at a time.

Thank you 

On 4/19/2022 at 10:37 AM, Guppysnail said:

I’ve tried a few different ones. I swear by these. I now have 9 of different sizes from 10g to 40b. I even grow some plants well that supposedly need high tech. Very affordable and durable.

Yes I’m going to try one of these they have good reviews and are not too expensive. Thank you