Best lighting for plants

TetraChelle · 03-19-2013, 01:36 AM

I have a 56g tall angelfish tank that has quite a few plants in it. It has Java Fern, Jungle Val, a bunch of Anacharis, a few mystery plants and some water sprite. I was wanting to get some other people's opinions on what's the best lighting to help with plant growth in a deep tank? All my plants are really big actually but my Java Fern and my Jungle Val are not doing so well. I am dosing them with Flourish Excel to help along with Flourish Iron and I have the comprehensive but I haven't used it yet. I know that Jungle Val is a very delicate plant but I was hoping I could get some input on what kind of lighting to use. Right now I believe I'm running a T5 LED day/night light strip but I'm not sure if that's enough to penetrate through all that water. Any suggestions?

seanski21 · 03-19-2013, 02:29 AM

for the vals it's important to have some nutrients in the substrate. I would suggest some osmocote plus tabs if you're not already doing that. as for the lighting we need more info. What brand of light, how many bulbs and how far is the light off the substrate. If you don't know the brand post some pics.

mistahoo · 03-19-2013, 02:39 AM

How tall is the tank? LEDs and MH penetrate water very well (much better than PC, T5, and T5HO). You have to take in consideration the PAR and spectrum though.

Aquaticz · 03-19-2013, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistahoo

How tall is the tank? LEDs and MH penetrate water very well (much better than PC, T5, and T5HO). You have to take in consideration the PAR and spectrum though.

+1 to that
Personally I like T5 with LED.
You get the best of both worlds. You might have to make adjustments To the length of your photoperiod

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

eaunaturale · 03-19-2013, 02:50 AM

Vallisneria sp. will virtually grow in the dark. The secret to success with vals is a rich substrate. I have had them thrive in a Walstad style dirt tank with nothing but (very) indirect sunlight from a north-facing window, but I'm sure they well do just as well with root tabs and your current lighting.

It is also worth nothing both vals and java fern appreciate hard water with high carbonate levels.

03-19-2013, 01:36 AM	#1
TetraChelle Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Kentucky Posts: 29	Best lighting for plants I have a 56g tall angelfish tank that has quite a few plants in it. It has Java Fern, Jungle Val, a bunch of Anacharis, a few mystery plants and some water sprite. I was wanting to get some other people's opinions on what's the best lighting to help with plant growth in a deep tank? All my plants are really big actually but my Java Fern and my Jungle Val are not doing so well. I am dosing them with Flourish Excel to help along with Flourish Iron and I have the comprehensive but I haven't used it yet. I know that Jungle Val is a very delicate plant but I was hoping I could get some input on what kind of lighting to use. Right now I believe I'm running a T5 LED day/night light strip but I'm not sure if that's enough to penetrate through all that water. Any suggestions?

03-19-2013, 02:39 AM	#3
mistahoo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Houston,Tx Posts: 705	How tall is the tank? LEDs and MH penetrate water very well (much better than PC, T5, and T5HO). You have to take in consideration the PAR and spectrum though. __________________ SunSun Pimp #82\|RAOK Club Member #89\|Eheim Pimp #543 210G\|1.5G Iwagumi DSM\|5G Fluval Chi

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03-19-2013, 02:29 AM	#2
seanski21 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 164	for the vals it's important to have some nutrients in the substrate. I would suggest some osmocote plus tabs if you're not already doing that. as for the lighting we need more info. What brand of light, how many bulbs and how far is the light off the substrate. If you don't know the brand post some pics.

03-19-2013, 02:50 AM	#5
eaunaturale Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NW England Posts: 63	Vallisneria sp. will virtually grow in the dark. The secret to success with vals is a rich substrate. I have had them thrive in a Walstad style dirt tank with nothing but (very) indirect sunlight from a north-facing window, but I'm sure they well do just as well with root tabs and your current lighting. It is also worth nothing both vals and java fern appreciate hard water with high carbonate levels.