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LED Lighting for Itty Bitty 15.8 Tank

894 Views 9 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  cjstl, 
D
Hi:

I am brand new to this but have been surfing this forum. I have a new 15.8 gallon tank. I am trying to do a live planted tank and am hoping these plants don't die. I have two wee rummynose tetras in there right now and am hoping they hold up. This was after a week and a half of me trying to cycle it.

Anyway, I like having the planted tank. I put in a few beginner plants like java moss, anubas, and water wisteria. I am using only the light that came with the aquarium. It has two strips under the hood, each with 16 leds. It also has a blue light. I am thinking I need more light. Me and my roommate looked at it tonight and it looks so - dark. I am worried about my plants. I looked at a lot of the low-tech set up pictures on here and they also seemed "dark" so maybe I am fearing for nothing.

I am a grad student and doing this on a budget. I have never had a tank in my life. It is actually very beautiful and calming. I just worry that my plants are not going to make it. I really enjoy it so far. It combines gardening with having a pet. I am reading about everything I can.

Anyway, I was looking at LED strips I might be able to stick under the hood. What do you guys think? I want to get a couple of dwarf frogs which means that I would need a closed top.

dbw27
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C
Marineland Hidden LED. I have the 17" model front-mounted in a 10G tank. It puts out too much light at 12 hours per day. Hair algae is taking over.
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D
Hi:

Thanks for answering. This one?

White and Blue?

I guess it would have to be taken down to less hours per day?

Thanks!

dbw27
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C
That's the one. And yes, you'll most definitely want to take it down. I've just been too lazy to adjust the timer and I'm trying to get a moss wall to grow out quickly. But you'll want to do less, especially if you also use the lights that came with your tank.
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D
Coincidentally, I am also interested in trying to set up a moss wall. I am taking it slow though as I just started this tank. I do probably need more plants though. Right now I have moss needles, very tiny leaves, etc. swirling around to go in the filter. Is that normal for a planted tank? That has just been planted?

dbw27
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C
Yes, it's normal. Planted tanks are messy :)

Are you in STL? I have some Xmas moss I can spare.
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D
Yes, I am in Saint Louis. I would love some Christmas Moss! I wish to tie it to some driftwood and make it look like a tree, but I would also really like to make a moss wall. How do I go about obtaining it from you? Thank you so much!

Also, do you think the Marineland is bright enough for plants that carpet? Like baby tears or dwarf sagittaria? I was at the store today and the guy was unsure if it was strong enough.

dbw
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Aplomado
You may want to look at a fugeray... on that size tank you could grow a bunch of stuff.
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D
I could except I have a bowfront tank and I would need to get a piece of glass cut or something to size custom right?

That is what I want except I have a black hood and I can't leave the lid off because I want frogs. And I don't know... I am sort of stuck here I feel.

When I got the tank originally, my intention was to just do a fake tank with fake plants and stuff and gravel, but then I read online a lot after I set it up, and changed my mind. Then I re-did the whole thing. But with my bowfront (which I love anyway), I feel stuck with the lighting.

dbw
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dbw27 said:
Yes, I am in Saint Louis. I would love some Christmas Moss! I wish to tie it to some driftwood and make it look like a tree, but I would also really like to make a moss wall. How do I go about obtaining it from you? Thank you so much!

Also, do you think the Marineland is bright enough for plants that carpet? Like baby tears or dwarf sagittaria? I was at the store today and the guy was unsure if it was strong enough.

dbw
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Dwarf sag will grow in any conditions. Dwarf baby tears are the hardest plants I've ever tried to grow. I have dwarf hair grass, dwarf sag, and crypt wendtii in my tank with the Marineland Hidden LED and they're all doing well. If you want to stop by some day, I can show you my tanks and give you some moss and other plant clippings.
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