What LED color to use?

[malinpingy]

I've recently started a heavily planted tank. I bought an LED light which currently I'm running 10 hours on red only and 2 hours on blue only. Is this a good way to go about it? Do I need to use any white light?

FYI the fish I have like low light and the plants are from low to medium light. I also use fertilizer and CO2.

Thanks!

 

[Aiken Drum]

The coloured LEDs are such a narrow wavelength of light they are pretty much useless for plant growth. They are for effect only. Use the white lights.

 

[SwampeastMike]

From everything I've read the RGB lights mainly please you--not the plants.

 

[Aiken Drum]

From everything I've read the RGB lights mainly please you--not the plants.

A broad spectrum of blue and red light is beneficial for plant growth. The output from the coloured LEDs is typically very narrow. The white light typically gives you this broad spectrum.

Blue light promotes bushy leafy growth, red light promotes long, tall growth. So both are beneficial.