Which Light

[GodFan]

I am on a college student budget and cannot afford to be wrong about this. I have a 36 gallon bowfront. Probably about 18-19 inches from top to substrate in most places (I have a shelf for the dwarf sag). I just want to grow crypt, anubias, dwarf sag, and maybe a val or micro sword. No ferts. no co2. Low light low maintenance.
I would like to go under 100 total for cost. Here is the fixtures I am considering:
Amazon.com: Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Light for Aquarium, 24 to 36-Inch: Pet Supplies
Amazon.com: Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Light for Aquarium, 24 to 36-Inch: Pet Supplies
Amazon.com: Finnex Ray2 Aquarium LED Daylight, 30-Inch: Pet Supplies

Help! lol If I must go t5 that is fine but link the fixture you recomend please
Thanks and God bless!

 

[gobluewolverines4]

Finnex ray 2 all the way!

 

[Tobykourtney]

I am on a college student budget and cannot afford to be wrong about this. I have a 36 gallon bowfront. Probably about 18-19 inches from top to substrate in most places (I have a shelf for the dwarf sag). I just want to grow crypt, anubias, dwarf sag, and maybe a val or micro sword. No ferts. no co2. Low light low maintenance.
I would like to go under 100 total for cost. Here is the fixtures I am considering:
Amazon.com: Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus Light for Aquarium, 24 to 36-Inch: Pet Supplies
Amazon.com: Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Light for Aquarium, 24 to 36-Inch: Pet Supplies
Amazon.com: Finnex Ray2 Aquarium LED Daylight, 30-Inch: Pet Supplies

Help! lol If I must go t5 that is fine but link the fixture you recomend please
Thanks and God bless!

The current plus is your best bet I'd get the 36-48 in fixture so it goes all the way across your tank. The finnex will give you 60 par at the substrate so without co2 you'll have a nice little algae farm.

 

[bud29]

I personally would get the satellite, the ray2 probably would require pressurized co2, and I believe the satellite is dimmable - so you can get a lower lighting level if need be.

 

[GodFan]

Finnex ray 2 all the way!

ok thanks. Why that one?

The current plus is your best bet I'd get the 36-48 in fixture so it goes all the way across your tank. The finnex will give you 60 par at the substrate so without co2 you'll have a nice little algae farm.

I would have to get the 24-36 because it is my display tank and I cant have it overhang. The finnex would be too much really?
Would there be another fixture you like more for this situation?

 

[GodFan]

I personally would get the satellite, the ray2 probably would require pressurized co2, and I believe the satellite is dimmable - so you can get a lower lighting level if need be.

Would the 24inch satellite be enough light though?

 

[Tobykourtney]

Would the 24inch satellite be enough light though?

Sorry I misread and thought your tank was 36 inches across. At 18 inch deep the current plus will give you a par rating of 28 which would be on the high end of low light.

 

[GodFan]

Sorry I misread and thought your tank was 36 inches across. At 18 inch deep the current plus will give you a par rating of 28 which would be on the high end of low light.

So what are my plant options with that light, no ferts, and no co2?

 

[bud29]

You could probably do things like java ferns, moss, crypts, anubias, etc. The crypts definitely would appreciate some root tabs though.

 

[GodFan]

You could probably do things like java ferns, moss, crypts, anubias, etc. The crypts definitely would appreciate some root tabs though.

Ok thanks! I will be buying one soon then hopefully! 2 more questions first though:
1) Is there a light you would recommend more for the application?
2) Is there any significant advantage of the plus version of the light versus the regular?

 

[dragonfisher33]

what is your substrate? i know that you don't want to dose ferts or co2, but if you have nutrients in the substrate, then you grow low-medium maintenance plants without problem. also, it doesn't make sense to me that you would invest the money in a quality light but not substrate

 

[GodFan]

what is your substrate? i know that you don't want to dose ferts or co2, but if you have nutrients in the substrate, then you grow low-medium maintenance plants without problem. also, it doesn't make sense to me that you would invest the money in a quality light but not substrate

Ecocomplete mixed with alittle black gravel.

 

[dragonfisher33]

Ecocomplete mixed with alittle black gravel.

if you already have eco complete, you can grow about i would say half of the plants out there. if you don't mind, you can always grow stem plants like ludwigia, although you will not get the redness that a lot of people want since ludwigia needs co2 for redness. wisteria, rotala indicas, anubias, ferns, moss, dwarf sag, riccia, vals, and etc are also good.

 

[GodFan]

if you already have eco complete, you can grow about i would say half of the plants out there. if you don't mind, you can always grow stem plants like ludwigia, although you will not get the redness that a lot of people want since ludwigia needs co2 for redness. wisteria, rotala indicas, anubias, ferns, moss, dwarf sag, riccia, vals, and etc are also good.

Cool even with the low light right?

 

[dragonfisher33]

Cool even with the low light right?

i have more success with medium light, but you might just get away with low lights if you have your photoperiod longer

 

[GodFan]

i have more success with medium light, but you might just get away with low lights if you have your photoperiod longer

Ok thanks!

 

[wutdidyousay]

So what did you end up deciding on. Im in the same position financially and im looking for similar things. I was set on getting a t5 light because I know what they do to above water plants

 

[GodFan]

So what did you end up deciding on. Im in the same position financially and im looking for similar things. I was set on getting a t5 light because I know what they do to above water plants

I just ordered the current usa led+

 

[Tobykourtney]

I just ordered the current usa led+

Good choice post some picks with it set up

 

[GodFan]

Good choice post some picks with it set up

Will do once it comes in!