[Greggles91]

Hi all,

Just wondering if you could recommend a aquarium light for my 45 gallon planted tank?

I recently changed from 2x cheap eBay lights to 2x 30 watt 6500k led spot lights in order to try get a Monte Carlo carpet growing which kept failing on the old lights. Plants are growing great and Monte Carlo seems to be coming good but getting some green algae growth. I still want to change the lights again for 2 main reasons. One, colour just seems off (yellowish) and my red pants are washed out. Two, edges of tank are not getting enough light and this plants on edges aren't thriving.

I've already been recommended the aquael 100cm planted light by a local store but have noticed this is a 32 watt light compared to the 60 watts I'm currently running. Really don't want to get something and potentially go backwards. P.s I know watts are not a good measurement as compared to par ratings.

So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (price cap approx 300 Aus dollars, obviously if it can be done cheaper that's great). If you think I should just leave current lights that would be interesting to hear too.

Details about tank.

- 170L - 45 gallon
-100cm wide 37cm deep and 47cm high. Have a cannopy on top so light is pretty much at tank hight not suspended high above.

• medium planted
• full EI dosing
• co2 6 bps yellow drop checker
• 8 hour photoperiod.

Hope that's enough info. I've also included a pic.

Greg is

 

[Jekk]

Can you dim the current eBay lights Greggles? They look to be a bit strong for your system based on the algae.

My tank has similarities to yours and I use a Fluval 3.0 and an Aquaone plant Stripglo. I can vouch for both but the Stripglo is more in your budget. It has a silicone gel over the leds so is very water resistant when placed inside a hood. You’d need 2 tho in your set up to get coverage. It’s dimmable and is not bad with colour rendition. I’ve been happy with it.

 

[Greggles91]

Can you dim the current eBay lights Greggles? They look to be a bit strong for your system based on the algae.

My tank has similarities to yours and I use a Fluval 3.0 and an Aquaone plant Stripglo. I can vouch for both but the Stripglo is more in your budget. It has a silicone gel over the leds so is very water resistant when placed inside a hood. You’d need 2 tho in your set up to get coverage. It’s dimmable and is not bad with colour rendition. I’ve been happy with it.

Thanks for the reply, not dimmable algae is definitely a slow problem on glass and rocks but having said that I havent cleaned back of glass for about 6 months. Doesn't seem to be a problem on plants thankfully. Thinking of either adding some duckweed again (although can be a punish) or some mesh to reduce lighting a bit. Although growth has been great compared to last lights.

I'll have a look at that light but regarding the fluval it's definitely on my list. About $370 in aus. Just wondering if it's worth the 370 over what I have now.

 

[Jekk]

It may be, depending on what your goals are. I do enjoy the Fluval but if bringing out reds is one of your goals it may not be. Nice colour is something I’m still trying to figure out in the settings on mine. The automation and control is awesome but.

I love the way my Chihiros makes colour pop on my shrimp tank, but it’s not really suitable for under a hood.

 

[jeffkrol]

So 40" wide 14" deep tank and restricted height
Bit of a challenge for end to end coverage.

Your off color is probably mostly due to low cri white LEDs.

And you are in Australia where Amazon au seems to have nothing in stock.
https://www.amazon.com.au/driamor-P...be-98cf-5c9643c732e7&pd_rd_i=B09YH3HYCH&psc=1

You might be better off just diy- ing using those 5 meter rolls of stick on LEDs .
RGB or rgbw.

Btw where are the red/blue LEDs from in that picture?

 

[Greggles91]

So 40" wide 14" deep tank and restricted height
Bit of a challenge for end to end coverage.

Your off color is probably mostly due to low cri white LEDs.

And you are in Australia where Amazon au seems to have nothing in stock.
https://www.amazon.com.au/driamor-P...be-98cf-5c9643c732e7&pd_rd_i=B09YH3HYCH&psc=1

You might be better off just diy- ing using those 5 meter rolls of stick on LEDs .
RGB or rgbw.

Btw where are the red/blue LEDs from in that picture?

Thanks for the reply. That's is correct, in aus. We don't have a lot to choose from most of the time.

Forgot to add I got one single strip of red/blue eBay "grow light". Just trying to bring out some of the red. hardly doing anything, should probably just disconnect.

 

[Greggles91]

Went with the chihiros wrgb 2 slim and wow the colours are just amazing. Very happy with the colour and brightness.

Let's just hope it's bright enough to grow my plants!

 

[Greggles91]

And it looks much better in person than in the picture but here you go.

Plants are pearling which seems to be a good sign. They've never pearled much at all before

On another note, after 1 day with the new light my Alternanthera Reineckii – Telanthera has something going on. Is it possible for the new light to "burn" some plants if the lights too strong? Or could it just be a coincidence and a tank habitant have damaged them over night?

As the wrgb slim is 50% the power of the standard wrb I've been running the light at 100 percent.

Image attached.

 

[Jekk]

Big difference in colour! Looks great.

I can’t comment on why those leaves are melting, but I’d say definitely get rid of all affected leaves and see how the new growth looks when it comes in.

 

[Greggles91]

Thanks jekk, absolutely love the light.

Also noticed my ambulis are starting to turn brown on the tops. Photo below, although hard to tell. Any one willing to comment of this would be from too much light, not enough light or just adjusting to new lighting?

Currently have the lights on for a total of 8 hours.
1 hour sunrise 6 hours 100% and 1 hour sunset.

I thought id start with 100% as the slim is only 50% the power of the normal wrgb and my last lights where super bright.