Upgrading to LED lighting system

[Kharrnn]

I currently have a 4 bulb T5 setup on my 20g tank. I'm unhappy with the power consumption, and the continuing cost of this setup, as well as how fast the bulbs need replacing. So I am looking to upgrade to a LED lighting system.

I've been looking around online and in a few LFS, but so far I haven't been able to get any straight answers. I want, and have, red foxtail and one other high light plant (both are currently struggling and I blame my lights) a moss ball, java fern, crypt parva. I've lost HCG and one other medium light plant. Over time I had lost red foxtail which I replaced with what I have now, and a few floating plants, including duckweed (I'm not sad about losing that one though. It was taking over my tank and choking everything else).

I would love to get some more red or purple plants as well as get my green plants really growing. I want my crypt parva to spread and make a carpet faster than it is now (I plan on getting a pressurized CO2 system after New Year’s with my new light). I may, depending on how well my java fern does, take one of them out. I have 2 fairly large groups of it. One firmly attached to my driftwood and another lightly anchored on some rocks.

If anyone can help me with specific LED systems that will allow me to accomplish my goals it would be great. Thank you!

 

[Dallascowboys16]

Look into buildmyled.com and you can design your own fixture and buy preset color temperatures made specifically for planted tanks! All of the "planted Tank Specialists" on this site recommend it or the current USA Freshwater + fixture.

 

[Kharrnn]

Thanks for the reply, but I don't have the time or technical know-how to build one. I'm looking more for a recommendation for a prebuilt system that will provide high light for the more decorative plants. I would like to get a Lace fern (i think that's what it's called) eventually.

I have seen a few people mentioning Fuguray (sp?). But I don't know how to use the information given to determine if it's the right one for me.

 

[sodbuster95]

BuildmyLED.com is not a do-it-yourself thing. They build the fixture (very well, I might add). They also have lots of information about lighting and PAR (for LED lighting, watts are a useless measure of useful lighting. Instead, you must look at PAR values to determine how much light the fixture is generating that can actually be used by your plants.) They have a variety of pre-configured lights sorted by color temp. The 6300K "Dutch Planted" is a good choice for planted tanks, but by no means your only one.

If you were so inclined, you could "design" your own light by picking exactly which LED's you wanted and where you wanted them placed in the fixture. There is an online tool that shows you what the outcome would be.

If you email them or call, they are exceptionally receptive to customers and more than willing to answer any questions you might have.

 

[Rivercats]

Your plants aren't suffering from lack of light right now as a 4 bulb T5HO fixture over a 20g is very high light. When you have that much light you need pressurized CO2 and dry ferts to provide all the macro and micro nutrients plants need. Light is only part of the picture and the higher the light the more CO2 and ferts are needed. It takes all 3 for plants to flourish in high light. I can provide info on the dry ferts if your interested.

I also have 4 Build My Led fixtures and can testify they are very well built and grow plants very well. If you get one I would suggest getting the dimmer as it allows you to use lights from 10-100%. I use the 10% in the evening for extra viewing time without it being so much light to cause algae issues after using the high light for 6 hours.

 

[aqua_chem]

Your plants aren't suffering from lack of light right now as a 4 bulb T5HO fixture over a 20g is very high light. When you have that much light you need pressurized CO2 and dry ferts to provide all the macro and micro nutrients plants need. Light is only part of the picture and the higher the light the more CO2 and ferts are needed. It takes all 3 for plants to flourish in high light. I can provide info on the dry ferts if your interested.

I agree with this. Light is not your problem right now, and adding a stronger fixture will likely only make things worse. Definitely get the co2 and ferts running first and then reevaluate.


Also, you shouldn't really need to change bulbs that often (18m or so with a decent fixture). The up front cost of LEDs usually trumps T5s for many years, especially if you're not getting expensive bulbs every time.