I would look into a planted plus. Ray 2 puts off a lot of light. Planted would give you nice growth withought the high light
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Finnex planted plus or ray II
I have a standard 55g tank which I just started planting. I'd say its low tech. Using excel, flourish, and iron supplements. I don't plan on getting high light plants and would prefer to stay low tech. I just want 1 48" fixture so which would work best?
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Will it be enough to still reach the bottom of the tank and maybe promote flowering on my red lotus?
Will the rayII put me at the need for co2 injections where the planted plus can possibly still be good with only using excel?
Will the rayII put me at the need for co2 injections where the planted plus can possibly still be good with only using excel?
How deep is your tank? There's par values on the site I believe. Can't remmebr them off hand. I'll look them up
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Approx 18" from substrate to light
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=184368
This thread describes the issue fairly well. ut if the Ray II has the same number of bulbs as the Planted+ then you are taking away a few bubs which do fairly well on
plants(as far as the spectrum being good, but not in any "sweet spot" for the plants)
and replacing them/w better bulbs(that are exactly in a sweet spot that the other Ray II doesn't cover.) I would use the same line as for the Ray II to see how much PAR you get from it and it says 45 at 20".
If you want to stay low tech, then it's good for that at 20". The problem/w the overall picture might be that most will want tall plants to try and "fill" that height and then any plants in the shadows of the taller ones lack good light. Anubias, Jave Ferns don't need much light so they could be planted in those shadows and do just fine.
If you haven't gotten the tank yet they do make a 40L which has the same footprint but 16" tall. The visible light from the Planted+ is less which leeds some to think it
might not be enough for a 55 but for one that's low tech it is just right IMO.
This thread describes the issue fairly well. ut if the Ray II has the same number of bulbs as the Planted+ then you are taking away a few bubs which do fairly well on
plants(as far as the spectrum being good, but not in any "sweet spot" for the plants)
and replacing them/w better bulbs(that are exactly in a sweet spot that the other Ray II doesn't cover.) I would use the same line as for the Ray II to see how much PAR you get from it and it says 45 at 20".
If you want to stay low tech, then it's good for that at 20". The problem/w the overall picture might be that most will want tall plants to try and "fill" that height and then any plants in the shadows of the taller ones lack good light. Anubias, Jave Ferns don't need much light so they could be planted in those shadows and do just fine.
If you haven't gotten the tank yet they do make a 40L which has the same footprint but 16" tall. The visible light from the Planted+ is less which leeds some to think it
might not be enough for a 55 but for one that's low tech it is just right IMO.
How about the current USA fixture? A little cheaper with some neat gimmicks?
If you are growing the same plants, whether you go with the Finnex Ray II or Planted +, I would go with the planted +. You will be much happier with the colors that your plant leaves will have vs a Ray II. The greens are much deeper green. I have both of these fixtures on separate tanks.
Good responses. He hit it on the head! +planted plus
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I'm in the same boat. I have a 20in deep tank and I'm running a Build My LED 24in dutch H/O but would like a 2nd light to cover the back of the tank. I like the output of the Ray2 but it doesn't have the red LED's I need for my red plants. Guess I'll have to try out the Planted Plus.
Thank u all for the input. Between this board and another one I posted at planted + was overwhelmingly the favorite. Another light has come into the equation now and that is the current satellite plus. Thoughts?
I have the Current Sat Plus on an ADA 60-P tank. The light is suspended about 2 inches above the top of the tank, and the tank has probably 3" of ADA substrate. I think it's been on that tank for about 3 full weeks now. My fissiden mosses are loving the light, I have a really good green biofilm on the 3 edges of the tank- which I want because I am keeping shrimp in it. The different lighting options are really pretty cool. After you play with them, you probably find your favorite and stick with it. However, once I have shrimp in the tank, I might do the simulated cloudy day where the light intensity fluctuates/cycles around.
For your 55 gal, it might be stretching it a bit. You're probably just on the edge of low light getting down that far. If it were me, I'd probably go with the Finnex for that tank, and if you find that it is a bit too much light, get some risers to lift the light up, shorten your photo period, etc. I think toning down a light is easier than having to make up for not enough. I actually have both brands of lights on different tanks, and like them for different reasons. On my shrimp livestock tanks where I don't have the depth to worry about, I get the Current lights because I like the light cycle features and the color options. On my mainly planted tanks, I like the Finnex because the tanks are deeper, and I have the extra pop in the PAR that I can deal with if it is too much light.
For your 55 gal, it might be stretching it a bit. You're probably just on the edge of low light getting down that far. If it were me, I'd probably go with the Finnex for that tank, and if you find that it is a bit too much light, get some risers to lift the light up, shorten your photo period, etc. I think toning down a light is easier than having to make up for not enough. I actually have both brands of lights on different tanks, and like them for different reasons. On my shrimp livestock tanks where I don't have the depth to worry about, I get the Current lights because I like the light cycle features and the color options. On my mainly planted tanks, I like the Finnex because the tanks are deeper, and I have the extra pop in the PAR that I can deal with if it is too much light.
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