Lighting on my 20g planted

[Nortzy21]

Ok so my biggest worry as of now is lighting. I'm setting up a low tech 20g planted with low light, hardy plants and some fish. I'm not doing co2 or anything hardcore like that. I will be using some ferts though like API leaf zone and maybe some root tabs. For lighting though I'm only using 2 clamp lights with CFLs. One bulb is 75w while the other is 13w. Both bulbs are 2700k. On the box of the 75w bulb it says "only uses 20w." Tell me what this means for my plants.

Here's a pic


Another pic


I'm really just wondering if this is sufficient enough for low tech plants like ferns, anubias, etc. Feel free to criticize all you want!

Thanks,
Sam


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Nortzy21]

Keep in mind that my substrate is on the way. I ordered 2 bags of Eco complete


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[pittbully13]

If you're using your current light setup, I would recommend using 6500k cfls. Since 6500k light spectrum is a great place to start. 2700k spectrum is not ideal to grow plants. The lowest light spectrum I would go is maybe 5000k, but 6500k will grow plants for sure. I've used them in both a 10g and 29g.

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Nortzy21]

If you're using your current light setup, I would recommend using 6500k cfls. Since 6500k light spectrum is a great place to start. 2700k spectrum is not ideal to grow plants. The lowest light spectrum I would go is maybe 5000k, but 6500k will grow plants for sure. I've used them in both a 10g and 29g.

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Aquarium Advice mobile app

Ok thanks. I'll change those out. What exactly does kelvins mean for growing plants?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[pittbully13]

Kelvins is a unit of measure for color temperature of light. The 2700k bulbs mimics the temperature color of light in the late afternoon per say, and 6500k would mimic light between 12 and 3 o clock. Google it, your mind will be blown. Lol hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Nortzy21]

Kelvins is a unit of measure for color temperature of light. The 2700k bulbs mimics the temperature color of light in the late afternoon per say, and 6500k would mimic light between 12 and 3 o clock. Google it, your mind will be blown. Lol hope this helps.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

Ya I knew it was color temp but I like the analogy with the time of day. Another way to look at kelvins is to compare the amount of kelvins to the distance from the equator. Most of the plants we grow are from regions near the equator where the sun gives off 6500k persay


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Khuligirl93]

Those lights should work great for growing low light (and maybe some medium light) plants! Get a few nice driftwood pieces to tie ferns, moss, and anubias onto and it'll look amazing
You'll be able to grow crypts and Amazon swords as well- both like deep substrate and root tabs because they grow huge root systems.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Coursair]

I use Flourish comprehensive along with the LeafZone for more complete dosage. One is Micros , one is Macros.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice