Considering getting specialist plant lights??

[Bilbo B]

Hi all,
I have a 200 litre (100 cm long, 50cm high, 30cm back) aquarium which has 6 harlequin rasboras, 9 rummeynose tetras, 4 SAEs and 7 Cardinal tetras. I have a Fluval U4 filter ( running on the top hose setting), 4 pieces of bog wood, and an Eheim heater ( the tank is normally 27-28 degrees C ( 80-82 degrees F)). We have 4 anubias in the tank, 1 cryptocoryne wendtii, 2 crinums , a Vallisneria Australia 'Gigantea' and an Ophiopogon. We also have some small floating plants, but not many. Our lights are 2 GLO POWER GLO 36"/91cm 30w T8. After every water change ( weekly, sometimes every two weeks or more) I sometimes put in 50 ml of MultiFit Plant Fertiliser (when I have it!) . This is the correct measurement for a 200 l aquarium. I also put some JBL Kugeln pro flora balls into the gravel.

The plants were doing well in the summer, but it seems like as the sunlight reduced going into the winter the plants got worse. Is it possible that getting less natural light made the plants get worse?

I was considering buying special lights to help plants grow. If anyone has any experience or opinions on this please share them!!??. I was thinking of getting them as an Xmas present, but are these 'specialist' plant lights just a hoax? If not what brands would you recommend?

Thanks, and I look forward to getting any help!

P.S the lights are currently on from 18:00-00:00

 

[Caliban07]

Hi all,

I have a 200 litre (100 cm long, 50cm high, 30cm back) aquarium which has 6 harlequin rasboras, 9 rummeynose tetras, 4 SAEs and 7 Cardinal tetras. I have a Fluval U4 filter ( running on the top hose setting), 4 pieces of bog wood, and an Eheim heater ( the tank is normally 27-28 degrees C ( 80-82 degrees F)). We have 4 anubias in the tank, 1 cryptocoryne wendtii, 2 crinums , a Vallisneria Australia 'Gigantea' and an Ophiopogon. We also have some small floating plants, but not many. Our lights are 2 GLO POWER GLO 36"/91cm 30w T8. After every water change ( weekly, sometimes every two weeks or more) I sometimes put in 50 ml of MultiFit Plant Fertiliser (when I have it!) . This is the correct measurement for a 200 l aquarium. I also put some JBL Kugeln pro flora balls into the gravel.



The plants were doing well in the summer, but it seems like as the sunlight reduced going into the winter the plants got worse. Is it possible that getting less natural light made the plants get worse?



I was considering buying special lights to help plants grow. If anyone has any experience or opinions on this please share them!!??. I was thinking of getting them as an Xmas present, but are these 'specialist' plant lights just a hoax? If not what brands would you recommend?



Thanks, and I look forward to getting any help!



P.S the lights are currently on from 18:00-00:00

Well it's difficult to say that the lack of light was directly responsible for the recent poor plant growth as their are lots of reasons plants begin to struggle in aquariums.

Having said that, the lighting is especially important for your plants to thrive but you need ample amounts of carbon and nutrients also. If your light intensity is too high then the need for the other two is heightened and if there is not enough then deficiencies can occur. If there is not enough light then plants will struggle for sure. Plants have a certain point in which they need light levels to be at in order to carry out photosynthesis called the light compensation point. If this point is reached then photosynthesis us matched by respiration and the plant cannot assimilate co2 will equals slow death.

So in a small nutshell because I am already waffling, light is measured as PAR and its the amount of photons of light generated per meter per second in the wavelengths of light that plants can utilise. PAR decreases the deeper you go and will depend on other things in the water of how much is absorb.

With T8 tubes over about 18inches you are at a low par 10-30. Only certain plant species can tolerate this light intensity such as Anubias. I would look into getting a fixture that allows medium PAR.

Btw I have just upgraded my lights from what you currently are and the difference can be seen already in terms of plant growth.

If you are in the UK you best bet might be T5 high output fixture or lol at some of the LED fixtures on Co2 art.co.uk. If you are in the US the finnex brands are popular.

Edit: for help choosing a fixture a more experienced plant enthusiast will have to step in.

Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Mebbid]

Following along on caliban's coat tails, a light fixture is all about money.

Whats your budget for an upgrade?

 

[Bilbo B]

Well I think I would be willing to buy a top-quality lights, if it was to make a noticeable difference for sure, as long as it isn't ridiculously expensive... If I was going to buy new lights, I would probably try to go for a pretty top of the range set, because if you're going to do a job you may as well do it right!
Hope that help!
Thanks for all the help so far

 

[Autumnsky]

Also up your water change frequency. The nutrients in fresh water are beneficial to the growth of plants. I was recently talking to a well seasoned fish keeper and he said that he sees the best size and health in the tanks he has on auto water change system and his other equally seasoned keeper friends also had been commenting together about the difference in the tanks.

So while you are considering light types, start with weekly to more often water changes to freshen up the water. Can't hurt.

 

[Mebbid]

The finnex 24/7 light fixtures are very popular and effective.
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Planted-Automated-Aquarium-Controller/dp/B00U0HMX1C

Build my LED is a bit pricier but their lights are of a little better quality.
Build My LED Custom LED Lights for DIY Horticulture Aquarium Hobby Lighting

Kessils are very expensive, but well built and popular with the salt water crowd.
Kessil LED Lights

Personally, I would go with a single finnex 24/7 light fixture. I am not a fan of flourescent fixtures as they make a ton of heat and the bulbs have to be replaced frequently.