Good morning, everyone!
I am totally new to planted tanks, and I have a Fluval Spec V straight out of the box that I am cycling (I have since learned that cycling with plants is bad juju, but..they're in there already, so okay), and I was wondering about the light that comes stock.
I have been researching and I can't seem to find any definitive answers as to whether the light is good enough for low light, low tech plants. I have four anubias, and one java fern. My tall anubias is growing a new leaf, and yesterday I had to actually move two of the anubias closer to the substrate because they were getting transparent splotches in their leaves, so I figured they were up too high/too close to the light.
The plants seem to be okay so far, however I have only had the tank about two weeks. For long-term keeping, I am trying to figure out if I need to upgrade the light or not. I have seen people say "Omg, that light is complete crap, even my anubias won't grow" and I have seen people say "I've got anubias, java fern, java moss, <insert any other plant here> and they're thriving with the stock light!" I have seen a lot of people recommend the Finnex Fugeray 16" or 20" lights for this particular tank, and I have seen videos where they are definitely MUCH brighter - however I wonder if that light would then be too bright for the plants I currently have, and then I'd have to add vegetative cover or whathaveyou to keep the plants from burning up. Though I have also seen that the Fugeray lights are still "low" level lights, even being that much brighter...so...yep, I am utterly confused.
I don't really know any of the technical terms (like PAR, for example) and what they mean. The light claims to be 7500K, but from what I've been reading, a lot of people say they're only 1800K? How can you tell/measure?
I have been reading some of the beginner threads here, however a lot of the links are Error 404 now. Mostly, I would just like suggestions on whether or not I can keep the stock light or if I should upgrade.
I am totally new to planted tanks, and I have a Fluval Spec V straight out of the box that I am cycling (I have since learned that cycling with plants is bad juju, but..they're in there already, so okay), and I was wondering about the light that comes stock.
I have been researching and I can't seem to find any definitive answers as to whether the light is good enough for low light, low tech plants. I have four anubias, and one java fern. My tall anubias is growing a new leaf, and yesterday I had to actually move two of the anubias closer to the substrate because they were getting transparent splotches in their leaves, so I figured they were up too high/too close to the light.
The plants seem to be okay so far, however I have only had the tank about two weeks. For long-term keeping, I am trying to figure out if I need to upgrade the light or not. I have seen people say "Omg, that light is complete crap, even my anubias won't grow" and I have seen people say "I've got anubias, java fern, java moss, <insert any other plant here> and they're thriving with the stock light!" I have seen a lot of people recommend the Finnex Fugeray 16" or 20" lights for this particular tank, and I have seen videos where they are definitely MUCH brighter - however I wonder if that light would then be too bright for the plants I currently have, and then I'd have to add vegetative cover or whathaveyou to keep the plants from burning up. Though I have also seen that the Fugeray lights are still "low" level lights, even being that much brighter...so...yep, I am utterly confused.
I don't really know any of the technical terms (like PAR, for example) and what they mean. The light claims to be 7500K, but from what I've been reading, a lot of people say they're only 1800K? How can you tell/measure?
I have been reading some of the beginner threads here, however a lot of the links are Error 404 now. Mostly, I would just like suggestions on whether or not I can keep the stock light or if I should upgrade.