[BlackSwan]

Does anyone have experience using adhesive flexible LED strips? Are there particular brands/models that are better for growing plants? I have seen a few advertised as grow lights that only have the red and blue spectrum, but I was hoping for more natural look; ideally like daylight.

I plan on using it to add some modified lighting to my Fluval Chi. For those of you who aren't familiar with the unit, it has a terrible little dim cluster of LEDs that only light a small portion of the middle of the tank. I don't want to ditch the box because I'm growing some Creeping Jenny and Wandering Jew in it, so I was planning on using the strip LEDs to make a DIY lighted trim addition.

I've seen that these strips commonly come in rolls. Can you trim them to the length you need, or are you stuck with the whole roll? I probably only need about 2-3 feet for my project.

A picture of the tank in question.

Please excuse the cloudy water. I just planted it today and the substrate needs to settle a bit. I plan on adding some additional plants in the the back left behind the driftwood. I was thinking maybe one of the shorter corkscrew varieties of Vallisneria or something similar. Constructive criticism and suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Bad Kitty]

You could always go with a stingray or planted plus clip on. Planted plus being the brighter of the 2.

Stingray
https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Sting...&qid=1473561189&sr=8-1&keywords=stingray+clip

Planted Plus
https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeR...9_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=7VM3VDTNJW2AXXYH5S9H

 

[BlackSwan]

@Bad Kitty - Thank you for the suggestion. I was considering that, but both the Creeping Jenny and Wandering Jew drape, and will likely block most of the light from above when they get larger. I was planning on using the adhesive LEDs to make a low profile strip that runs along both sides and the front of the tank, which will rest under the draping plants. I want to be sure the aquatic plants underneath can still get plenty of light.

 

[Bad Kitty]

I have a 10 gallon that has a dwarf lily that has 7 pads on one side mixed in with frog bit and from the top of the tank you can see nothing but lily pads and frog bit. Underneath that I have 2 anubias about 6 inches from the top of the water and I have crypt spiralis and parva and Italian vals on that side and everything grows great. They are completely shaded from direct light from a visual standpoint but still grow just fine. I think you would be fine, especially with a clip on because you can angle it as needed.

 

[BlackSwan]

@Bad Kitty - Thank you again for all the useful info. Your success with your tanks is encouraging. I think I'm going to take your advice and try the overhead lighting first. Worst case scenario, I can use it on one of my other tanks if it doesn't work out.

 

[Bad Kitty]

You're quite welcome and glad I could help. I am sure you will be fine and I do have a 16 inch planted plus and the lighting is magnificent. The Stingray is not quite as bright but does the job. I attached a pic of the top of my 10 gal so you can get an idea of cover. I removed the second light so you could get a better view. the whole left side is vals and c. spiralisis on that side.