[miktrebor]

Hi, I've had a new 20L tank up for about a week now. No fish yet. I ordered (probably too many) plants from liveaquaria and now have a bit of a jungle. HC, hairgrass, micro sword, anubia, crypts, and alternatha reineckii mini in foreground; ludwigia, rotala, myrio, hornwort, swords in mid and background. I have CO2 on about 2bps on a timer for 8 hours a day, dosing medium level PPS macro/micro daily; KH is around 40 and Ph is around 6.5.

Some leaf attrition on stem plants so far - esp ludwigia, which don't exhibit that amazing red color yet and which I have since replanted to be more directly under the light and separated the stems a bit more - but nothing looks horrible. Swords are thriving/pearling. Rotalas are doing okay, seem to be perking up although the petals seem small and a bit anemic. The foreground plants are holding their own but no runners yet. I know, it's been only a week...

I have one Finnex Fugeray Planted Plus 30" strip going 8 hours a day. I had it raised 2" above glass canopy for a while, then lowered it directly onto glass canopy upon suspicion it may not be delivering enough light to the plants. The light seems to not spread well. Foreground and very back can get a little dark. I can't tell from the internet whether the PAR on this particular model is considered high light or medium. It's not the ray2 or the stingray or the planted plus 24/7 model. My tank is only 12" H (+ 12" W + 30" L) so I thought originally it would be fine (and even too much, although that fear has subsided).

My questions for those of you with experience with this particular light: Is it generally ok for a high tech setup in a 20L tank? Do I need to add more light to foreground? Also is it okay to set the light directly on the glass canopy? Thanks.

Link to the light:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LIL7YP...t=&hvlocphy=1022762&hvtargid=pla-315830974221

 

[IntotheWRX]

i have the light on my 9 gal. since my tank is smaller, its running high light style. since your tank is bigger, the light is being dilluted a little bit so it might be medium high.

the light doesnt spread as much too. i sometimes slide my light to the foreground and background to even out the growth.

 

[miktrebor]

i have the light on my 9 gal. since my tank is smaller, its running high light style. since your tank is bigger, the light is being dilluted a little bit so it might be medium high.

the light doesnt spread as much too. i sometimes slide my light to the foreground and background to even out the growth.

Thanks. How deep is your 9g? Do you have it clipped on to tank edge or resting on a glass top? I don't have the time to slide this light back and forth all day. It seems overkill for such a small tank to put another light strip in front (which also will be a pain to take off every time I prune or feed). Maybe I need to chill out and just see what happens in another week or two!

 

[hector.hinojosa.]

I have the Finnex planted 24/7 works great! No Co2 bright leds.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[hector.hinojosa.]

You get very small shadows in the back I have another 2 Finnex clip on leds. But not neccery. My tank is also 20 gallon long tank. I think the 24/7 is enough to grow plants good.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[miktrebor]

Thanks! Awesome looking tank by the way! I don't have the planted plus 24/7 model, I have the fugeray planted plus. Those are different, correct? Hm, clip on LEDs - that's a new insight. Thank you.

 

[ILikeRice]

Thanks! Awesome looking tank by the way! I don't have the planted plus 24/7 model, I have the fugeray planted plus. Those are different, correct? Hm, clip on LEDs - that's a new insight. Thank you.

Their par ratings are similar, but the fugeray planted + is equivalent if not higher. That 30in is more than enough for an 20L @ 7-8 hrs a day ^^

 

[miktrebor]

Just to put out there - after poor growth on most plants (taking into account that most of this is due to accllimation from emersed state) and observing the light dispersal generally, I added a Finnex Stingray 30" to the top of the tank, along with the 30" Finnex Planted+. This has helped to eliminate most of the dark areas in the tank. I thought the Stingray would be better than having 2 Planted+ strips, which I think would be overkill for a 20L. I also decided to remove the glass top, which was annoying me and impeding the light dispersal. Instead, mounted the two light strips on the tank itself. So far so good. Hopefully no algae explosion. Will report back.