New Planted Tank: Do I need more light?

[Machete]

Hi everyone!

I am starting a new hi-tech planted tank and I was wondering if I´m short of lights. The tank is a 40 gallon breeder (36″ x 18″ x 16″), and I have a Fluval Plant 3.0 LED that gives me 3,300 lumens. I am planning of having it heavily planted and have carpeting plants like dwarf hairgrass or maybe dwarf baby tears.. should I get another lamp besides this one?

Thanks!

[lefty o]

i would start with just that one. 3300 lumens is a lot of light.

[Machete]

Thanks! I thought so, but I read that high-tech planted tanks should have at least 40 lumens per liter, which would put me at 6400 lumens...

[Randy]

I have run one 3.0 on a 40 breeder and had no issues with the plants I was trying to grow.  I find that the 3.0 is a very powerful light and often needs to be dimmed down.

[FrozenFins]

The Fluval 3.0 is a great planted aquarium light, your all set.

[gardenman]

When you say high tech I'm assuming you're adding CO2. There's a balancing act that goes on between nutrients (fertilizers and CO2) and light. You need enough light for the plants to be able to use the nutrients. I'd start out with the one Fluval and if you're not getting the results you want, supplement the lighting. I've seen people (Fish Boy USA on YouTube for example) with cheap LED lights off of eBay that grew amazing plants. I don't think he uses CO2 either. Growing aquatic plants is a juggling act between the right light, substrate, water conditions, nutrients, and the right plants.

[O13SC3N3]

So 40 lumens per litre??? My 55 gallon would put me over 8k... So is my ~3300 LED light from hugger not bright enough?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0896Y818P/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_CHtYFbGZPDD4R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1