[AquaAurora]

So I am planning out a tank for my husband's desk. We are going to go with the Mr.Aqua 12 gallon long (9.4 inches high, 36 inches long.. with substrate it will be about 7.4-8 inch to top of tank so pretty shallow).
I want to grow medium light plants, and will not have pressurized/diy CO2, but will dose Seachem Excel. This will be a species tank for dwarf puffers so keeping an algae eating army of ottos, nerite snails, and shirmp would most likely end with an overpriced lunch for the puffers and dead or very damaged ottos. So trying to keep algae blooms to a minimum!
Since this is going on a desk and will have a monitor above the tank (on a shelf/rack/stand) I want to keep the lights thin/minimum profile, so no shop lamps or bulky lighting.

I've looked into LEDS but am having a hard time finding a good one that won't end up being a high light algae nightmare.The only led listed in the par thread that's not too high light for this height is the Mareinland Doublebright, but I was interested in the Finnex line. The chart does not have data on the Finnex planted + or.. I can't recall the other Finnex model (not the "II" types). Does anyone know if they'd be medium or high light over such a shallow tank?

What do other Mr.Aqua 12g long owners use for medium light (that doesn't require a CO2 system)?

Do you have other medium light suggestions? Please share!

 

[Whjdm069]

I have read the planted plus par is about 20% higher than the fugeray. It has a few more led lights than the fugeray. That's why I chose the planted plus for my 10g. Those numbers don't take into account the red led lights.

 

[Whjdm069]

My lfs has the current led on there 12L with medium light plants. They do dose excel and ferts.

 

[AquaAurora]

Ok thank you for the info.


Do you mean the USA current satellite freshwater model (this)?

 

[Whjdm069]

The current satellite plus

 

[Bryk]

For something so shallow, you would have to raise pretty much any finnex fixture or face high light. I tried a planted+ on a 20L (12 inches) and it worked, but it was definitely medium to medium-high light, especially directly under the center of the fixture.

If you want to avoid raising it, I would go for a low PAR fixture such as the Current Satellite.

 

[AquaAurora]

For something so shallow, you would have to raise pretty much any finnex fixture or face high light. I tried a planted+ on a 20L (12 inches) and it worked, but it was definitely medium to medium-high light, especially directly under the center of the fixture.

If you want to avoid raising it, I would go for a low PAR fixture such as the Current Satellite.

Thank you for the info, yes I'd prefer not raising it if possible. DO you mean the "plus" or "freshwater" version of current satellite?

 

[AquaAurora]

satellite freshwater vrs freshwater +

for some reason my posts seem to be getting lost....
I contacted the USA Current satellite company about their freshwater led system, as they did not have par and lumes info on it (did find info on the "freshwater +").
They got back to me saying that don't have that info, but the lights are customizable so I can get it at whatever par I want... Well that's all well and good but I don't have the $300+ to spend on a par reader so I was kinda hoping for at least a "the freshwater + is higher (or lower) in par than the freshwater model" and just do a dumb/simple light setup (not crazy on the customizing)...
I might look more into the Finnex line instead since satellite can't give the info I need and I won't have access to a par reader.

 

[Chris_Produces]

Just an FYI, I wouldn't call the Sat+ fixture low PAR like I've seen here. I run it 14/15inches over the substrate and I'm able to grow an HC carpet just fine and all my Rotala has a nice pink/red hue to it.

 

[AquaAurora]

Just an FYI, I wouldn't call the Sat+ fixture low PAR like I've seen here. I run it 14/15inches over the substrate and I'm able to grow an HC carpet just fine and all my Rotala has a nice pink/red hue to it.

According to the company the Satellite freshwater + is 36 par at 12", I found on a forum (not official on their site) that the same light is 75 par at 6". Since I can't get exact info for the height mine would be at, I'm guessing its going to be at the bottom of "high light" or top of "medium light" which would need co2 that I don't want to be meddling with yet.

 

[Chris_Produces]

According to the company the Satellite freshwater + is 36 par at 12", I found on a forum (not official on their site) that the same light is 75 par at 6". Since I can't get exact info for the height mine would be at, I'm guessing its going to be at the bottom of "high light" or top of "medium light" which would need co2 that I don't want to be meddling with yet.

That's the beauty of the Sat+, it has lower light settings preprogrammed and not to mention customizable.

 

[OVT]

+1 ^^

Get Current USA LED+
(Yes, I did read this thread).

Edit: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?p=3787369

v3

 

[AquaAurora]

I'm little worried trying to mess with custom settings but I went ahead and bought it. Might make another thread asking for more par details on pre-set-settings or custom ones once it and the tank are here (for anyone with simular set ups or available par meter to test)

 

[OVT]

You made the right decision.

v3

 

[Chris_Produces]

You'll love it. I saw a thread with a guy who measured PAR on every setting. I'll try to find it or maybe just search on the forum. The Sat+ is super easy to use and save custom color combinations.

 

[AquaAurora]

You made the right decision.

v3

Hope so at $100 x.x
My 7 gallon cube is getting a cheap cfl bulb in a shop lamp fixture and chain to adjust height (and probably a simple wood "box" like shade on it to hide the lamp) so don't think more than $30 at most.

 

[PeterN1986]

I'm little worried trying to mess with custom settings but I went ahead and bought it. Might make another thread asking for more par details on pre-set-settings or custom ones once it and the tank are here (for anyone with simular set ups or available par meter to test)

All you need to do is dim it with the remote. Honestly I leave mine on full brightness full spectrum and I have no algae issues. I wouldn't get too caught up on its PAR data (or lack thereof).

 

[AquaAurora]

You'll love it. I saw a thread with a guy who measured PAR on every setting. I'll try to find it or maybe just search on the forum. The Sat+ is super easy to use and save custom color combinations.

On this forum I'll try diging around for that, it'd be very useful info ^^
Edit: tried looking for it but have had no luck yet :c

All you need to do is dim it with the remote. Honestly I leave mine on full brightness full spectrum and I have no algae issues. I wouldn't get too caught up on its PAR data (or lack thereof).

You leave it on max over a 12 gallon long (or equally shallow tank) without co2 injections (diy or otherwise)?
I'd be curious how much to dim to grow medium light plants happily and not a 3 foot long algae farm.

 

[jbig]

Hope so at $100 x.x
My 7 gallon cube is getting a cheap cfl bulb in a shop lamp fixture and chain to adjust height (and probably a simple wood "box" like shade on it to hide the lamp) so don't think more than $30 at most.

hey aquaaurora,

which length light did you go with for the 12g? i'm looking into picking one of these tanks up when marine depot restocks them

 

[Chris_Produces]

Here ya go, these should help you choose settings and then make adjustments from there.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=356961&highlight=satellite+plus

http://www.guitarfish.org/2013/05/30/satellite-freshwater-led-review-part-2-par-readings