(Part 3) Best aquarium lights according to redditors
We found 1,812 Reddit comments discussing the best aquarium lights. We ranked the 433 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 41-60. You can also go back to the previous section.
5.5 gallon tank from petco - 12 dollars (or if you can go today 10 gallon for 10 dollars plus tax)
Heater - 12 to 15 dollars (I like this one but there is also this one here)
Filter - 13 dollars to 25 dollars (It may need baffled or This one though it's a bit more expensive but I prefer it just remember a filter is just something to push water through it. Also can look into sponge filters)
Substrate - 0 for bare bottom or 10 dollars for some cheap sand at petco This sand to be exact.
Light - 42 dollars This is what I'd buy but you can find cheaper or just do grow lights in little plug ins
I'd keep at least 30 for plants but you can get some cheaper live plants or maybe find some cuttings for free.
Total is 47 dollars for a proper set up not including plants since I don't know what you can do in your area. With my over priced light for your set up it's 89
36 gallon bow front that I'm going to make a dart frog vivarium. Looking for recommendations on lighting. Planning on keeping bromeliads and maybe orchids as well as other terrestrial, trailing plants, and moss.
I was considering Finnex FugeRay Planted+ Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights, 36-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HUQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hpoQCbRZJDZQR
Also want to make a small 1/2"-1" deep pond in one of the corners. I was thinking about using slate and aquarium silicone to wall off an area, any suggestions would be great!
I'm going to build a custom background as well 😊
https://www.amazon.com/ABI-Aquarium-Light-10000K-Actinic/dp/B00CXTZN2Q
Check these and similar products out instead.
Here is a good brand of light, especially for the price. I have it on my ~22in high tank and it's low-medium light. Depending on what size of tank you have it will have closer to medium-high.
Another good light if you want to go with LEDs instead of fluorescent is the Finnex Ray II This should be high light IIRC
Also dude tone down the attitude; it's not our fault you can't do good research
Finnex makes a clip-on for planted tanks, The FugeRay-R. That should work fine for your 5 gallon tank, and it's cheaper than the Planted+
Aside from thanking everyone who replied, I want to take the time to update on whats going on.
After I posted, I was leaning into purchasing a Fluval Spec V to house Fishy. 170). I started looking for other options such as buying another tank, buying at a LFS or commissioning a tank.
A reputable tank maker quoted me US$45.00 to make a 15 Gallon tank, with the following dimension 16.25''x16.25''x13.25'' (LxWxH) made with .88 mm glass or aprox 1/3''.
In turn, I would have to buy a filter, a heater and light (as well as substrate and plants). Here is what Im leaning towards, advice would be very much appreciated, as its my first tank in about 10 years:
Heater: Eheim 25 watt.
Filter: Aquaclear HOB Power Filter 20.
Light: Finnex Stingray 16'.
An acquaintance suggested I buy this filter instead:
Aquaclear Power Head + Aquaclear Powerhead Attachment.
Even suggested I fit my tank with two of those instead of the HOB filter.
Being a noob, I dont really know much about those types of filters.
For plants Im thinking something like this:
Fluval Anubias 12'.
Fluval Lizard Tail.
Substrate: Im looking forward to adding real plants in the future.
Soil - ADA Africana.
Sand - something along that color.
I already own an APC UPS, similar to this one or even the same one (i dont really remember).
Again, any tips or suggestions are welcome.
Links to beginners sources for starting SW tanks are very one sided. Do search for it, browse, compare few of them and you will see.
You will need RO water, TDS meter to monitor its quality; salt water mix; place for mixing SW with vessel, heater and water pump; refractometer or floating glass hydrometer to measure salinity; test kits (ammonia, nitrites, nitrates for cycling and occasional problems, KH, Ca, Mg, high range pH); substrate is optional; instead of driftwood reef rock, live or dry, should be used for aquacaping and in-tank biomedia; watch for the adult size of livestock and if it has restrictions/problems.
Simplest fishless version is here and here. 4 gal is practical limit for full weekly water changes, anything large should use partial water changes.
More expensive, also small, corals only system is here, as an example of the hardware simplicity. You are free to make it as difficult as possible or expensive and automated, if you wish, of course, as in "52 weeks of reefkeeeping".
Your task is to keep tank clean and water parameters stable.
Good luck!
Thanks so much! The lamp is this one. I really like it, it's dimmable and has two different lenses (60 & 180 degrees).
i have a finnex fugeray 30" on my 29 gallon (which is the same length as a 20g long.) its growing all my plants really well so far. id recommend it. pick it up on amazon for about 84bucks.
So I ended up spending a bit more, and I got this combo instead. Still seemed like a good deal, and I feel more comfortable with having a dwarf puffer in 7.5 gallons as opposed to 4. After adding on an aquaclear 20, it was about $50 more than the other kit for almost twice the tank, a better light, and better filter.
I haven't picked any plants out yet, but I think I have some more options now with the Planted+ light instead of just the cliplight. This will be my first planted tank, so I'm a bit nervous about going with stuff too difficult, but I definitely want a carpet, so I may go with some Marsilea Hirsuta.
I have an 8G nano I will try to answer your questions.
My current cost is somewhere around $200 including sand, rock, aquaclear 70 refugium mod, light, refugium light, seachem purigen, heater and snail clean up crew.
I would actually buy some sand and not use the beach sand. Use the ocean direct live sand original grade its a great mix of fine and thick pieces with seashells in it.
anenome is not really good for a small tank, but there are a ton of easy to care for corals, green star polyps are quick growing and hardy, mushroom corals and zoas are the common ones. Tridacnid clams are pretty and fairly easy to care for as long as they have good lighting and food and quality water parameters i.e. ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are 0. Nitrates can be a little higher for the clam, green star polyps and mushrooms but any higher than 10 is pushing it.
As far as fish go you are kind of limited with size. You can get a goby/pistol shrimp pair, a single clown fish and some cleaner shrimp, a green chromis and cleaner shrimp, royal gramma and cleaner shrimp. If you like the pistol shrimp you can get a clown, chromis or dottyback along with the pistol shrimp. go here for more info on some common nano fish. make sure to read their minimum tank size requirements
The aquaclear 70 refugium is an excellent mod I am running it with seachem purigen, a clump of chaeto and a submersible light which is staggered 1 hour difference from my display light. i.e. refugium light on at 7, display off at 8. Display on at 9, refugium light off at 10. This helps prevent pH swing during the night. You can use a aqualcear 110 if you wish. I also found that you don't really need the divider between the intake section and the main part of the filter, just use the mesh part over the out take portion and you will be all good. In my 8g I didn't replace the impeller with a smaller version I did remove a small tab on the gray plastic part that reduces flow so that you can reduce flow even more, but I keep mine at max flow output and the corals seem to love it.
My parameters with the 9 pounds of live rock and 10 pounds of live sand with the refugium mod and seachem purigen is
ph-8.2
ammonia-0
nitrite - 0
nitrate -0
I do water changes about every other week but top off daily with RODI or salt water depending on the salinity levels, which I check at night time after the lights are out.
As far as lights go there is a wide variety you can get but I have the wave point 8 watt it provides excellent output for my corals. For you I would recommend the wave point 16 watt since it is a standard 10G tank There are other lights that would work well like a DIY Led array, Par 38 bulb or other clamp on LED's.
I bought my LR from petco.com sicne my LFS didnt have good quality rock. It took my tank about 1 week to spike ammonia and nitrite, then I added the seachem purigen and chaeto to reduce the nitrate levels which were at 40ppm. I also added a clean up crew at this point which I purchased from this awesome site. Performing 50% water changes twice within a week my nitrates were undetectable. Once ammonia and nitrite are 0 and nitrate is less than 20 you can add fish, but if you want to add corals try to keep your nitrates as low as possible.
during the cycle you will see algae which will be maintained through the clean up crew and eventually will be replaced with coraline algae (the purple, red, green cool looking stuff).
Its an aquarium setup from Amazon. There are dozens of rebranded ones from China for sale. This one has Prime though. I bought one for my BioCube 29 and it is no where near bright enough for that...maybe a 20g long though.
http://www.amazon.com/Ringlit%C2%AE-Touchable-Inductive-Submersible-Thermometer/dp/B008QVKBLS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394824342&sr=8-3&keywords=aquarium+led
/u/plowz is correct! I had the night light on to reduce stress. Except for taking the picture it was the only light in the room and at night it's a pretty neat ambience.
I have two 24" finnex fugeray planted+ on the tank and the plants have been loving it. https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Planted-Aquarium-Moonlights/dp/B00GH9HSI0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=fugeray+planted&qid=1568898812&sr=8-1 It has the normal daylight LEDs and the blue night time mode. Unlike the 24/7 planted+, you can't customize the LED lights but I run mine on a timer without an issue.
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Blue and White LEDs, 6W, Fits Aquariums 40cm in Length https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HI42E18/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ISJKDbCSRTGVT there you go mate , it’s white light so great for plant growth and low wattage!
Aqueon Planted Aquarium Clip-On LED Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DT31PZ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9D6ODb3N0BTBW
I think these are popular and I saved the link for a future mini tank:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075H47991
Beamswork 48" is $66 on Amazon. There's a timer for it if you want for $17 as well.
Thank you, my entire setup is below, I do 10-20% water changes weekly depending on water quality and nothing else
15 gallon ~15x15x15 aquarium
Penguin Biowheel HOB filter ( most here will say never use HOB but I've never had an issue in the 2.5 years I've had it)
Hydor Koralia Nano 240 powerhead
The light is a 12" wavepoint 16 watt LED, half super blue half daylight
http://www.amazon.com/Wave-point-12-Inch-16-Watt-DaylightMicro-Output/dp/B007ZK816S/ref=pd_sim_petsupplies_2?ie=UTF8&refRID=023TVC4Y08SYZT2GA6XC
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01HI42E18/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1488022467&sr=1-11
2 of those inside the lid. I graduate the light throughout the day, switching to half blue / full blue / off at night.
They're missing any red LEDs though so it's a little deficient in that end of the spectrum.
Marineland makes a pretty small LED light Here is a link, you would just need to figure out a way to rig it in place in the hood. If you're not growing any plants you could get some of those stick on LED strips like these for example and place them in the hood.
Ill be looking to buy a new light for the tank at the end of the month as this one flickers without prodding it around for a bit, Heres the light I was thinking Would this be suitable for getting them to carpet and moreso thrive than just be alive?
I may eventually dose co2 but would probably be from a diy kit as the pressurised canisters are costly for such a small tank, but that's only if they don't do well with the liquid co2.
I'm fine filling the tank up only enough to cover the plants if they'd be previously submerged but also fine just keeping the soil saturated with water. If the light will make them grow taller and not carpet then I'm more inclined to dry start them.
This is the tank so I can really do either way. It still needs to cycle so wont be having fish in it for a while either way.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HRZ4
Select your preferred size. I love mine (48" on 55g)!
I getting the Finnex fugeRay Planted
Might be another idea for you.
A standard 5.5 gallon would be my choice. You can outfit it with a glass top and LED lighting, along with the filter and heater of your choice.
If you're looking for a kit, the Fluval Spec V is a reasonable choice. The filter is often said to be a bit too much flow for fighters; but it's not hard to modify it to reduce the power of the jet.
That fixture is either a cheapo piece of junk, or it has WAAAAAYY too much power for planted fresh. I know you want to shop and read some huge review, but the thing you want is this: http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-24-Inch/dp/B008RMFDEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410889952&sr=8-1&keywords=finnex+ray2
I've been where you are and I've read way too much for my own good. There isn't anything that beats it for the price.
Sweet little tank! I have a 2.5 also, what light is that?
I'm thinking about a finnex planted +, but not sure if it is worth it.
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Planted-Aquarium-Moonlights/dp/B00GH9HUQ0
It's a 12" finnex planted+ with acrylic risers that I made
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HRZ4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_j0y0xbMXR79X0
Local pick up in Escondido, CA (Daily) and San Juan Capistrano, CA (Sundays only)
Shipping : I'm not too familiar with shipping large items, I assume it would pretty ex,pensive. If someone could walk me through it then I'll ship it out for you.
$55 | 36" Finnex Fugeray Planted Plus - Works great as you can tell by the photos. I own this old model and the newer 24/7 model. I honestly can't find a light output difference between Original Planted plus and 24/7. | https://imgur.com/gallery/FdpSY | This light sells for $114 new on Amazon | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HUQ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_v9K0AbFH4JM2K
SOLD
$20 | 30" Finnex Stingray | Fully functional light, pretty obvious that this light does not fit this tank. I can take photos of it on a 20L tomorrow if you'd like.| https://imgur.com/a/xqV3W | Selling on Amazon for $52 | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAFQ6CI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E-K0Ab3KYKS9VYou can also look into setting up a Walsted method tank i.e. a dirted tank. It’s my current obsession.
You basically put in a 1-2” layer of organic soil (no added fertilizer), another 1-2” of plain substrate (from Petco) and a decent LED light (I’ve got this one:
LED Aquarium Lighting Nano Fish... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H47991?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) on a 10 Gallon tank with some low to moderate light plants (like wisteria, java fern, Anubias and Amazon sword) and a sponge filter and it’s doing great. No need for CO2 or liquid fertilizers. What size tank do you have?
This is the one i plant to order for my 6-Gallon
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H47991/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jvELBbKEQFWWV
From what i’ve read and seen, it’s really bright and won’t break the bank too much
LED's would be amazing! I'm looking at this one right now but I wouldn't be able to get it till February and I don't want to leave half my tank without light that long...
If you want a dimmable LED at a nice price point (and form factor), then I recommend something like the Finnex Planted+ 24/7. In this case you don't need to use the 24/7 cycle, it does allow you to dim down the light intensity to your liking (you do lose 24/7 programming but it gives you a dimmable LED). For a 36" light right now on amazon is about $118, a little over your budget.
It's the Asta 20 from Amazon. I've heard people say it's a Kessil knock off. Pretty bright for $40 though!
Fair enough - shows why I'm a biology person and not a chemistry person. lol
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I was discussing this topic with a colleague today (physics/chemistry teacher and avid potter), and he was explaining to me the chemistry of clay and explaining it's aluminum content. So that all makes sense now, but I just still don't fully understand how the aluminum could move from the form found in clay (or Flourite) to the plants. I guess I need to do some more research on that aspect of all of this...
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Also, I crunched the numbers and found that 10 µM = 3,703.7 mg/kg and 75 µM = 27,777.8 mg/kg. Now compare that to the Seachem products: 10,210 mg/kg (Mineral), 33,150 mg/kg (Black), and 15,710 mg/kg (Red). Again, this leaves me to look into what the chemical processes are and how the aluminum is both fixed and able to move between the involved components.
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Of course one of the first things that I came across was all of the ADA stuff but...
So with that in mind, I've gotten to the point where I think I'm going to layer my substrate and aim for a Walstad Method-esque approach. I'm currently planning on doing a clay layer to assist with CEC, iron needs, and root attachment; a layer of Rhyzomat with Flora-spore to further encourage strong root growth; and I'm still debating about how I want to set up the top layer.
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I already purchased an 8 kg (17.6 lbs) bag of Fluval Stratum Plants that I plan to mix with some other leftover aquasoil that a friend passed on to me (no idea what brand it is exactly, though). I've thought about putting down a layer of the aquasoils capped with Black Diamond blasting sand but I've also thought about doing the opposite (soil on sand). Suggestions?
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Also, for reference, I'll be running an overflow sump and I have two 4 ft Beamsworks lights (DA FPEC and DA 6500K discus). I'm still figuring out if I'll use ferts or not and I have no intention of using CO2 in the near future.
Aqueon Planted Aquarium Clip-On LED Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DT31PZ8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_h8F7CbWWE95SQ
I think the light you linked is too long for the Spec V, which is 17.2" long vs the light which is, at a minimum, 18" with the bracket fully retracted.
I have a Spec III which is half the size, and I use this light primarily along with this flexlight for spot light and to counterbalance the blue of the Wave-point. It has been more than enough for growing SPS (montipora and pocillopora) so I think the same combo would work for you on a Spec V, or even just the Wave-point if you're doing softies. Having two lights looks a little goofy but it works well, and the nice thing about both lights is that they clamp on to the tank and are easy to adjust and position just right. http://imgur.com/2O1lcNW
Wave-point also has this longer version which would probably be ideal for a Spec V.
https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-6500K-Aquarium-Freshwater-Discus/dp/B016P96UA8/ref=sr_1_45?crid=1OI7CNYGKLM1C&keywords=led+aquarium+light&qid=1551286539&s=gateway&sprefix=led+aquarium+%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-45
these will grow almost anything.
Wow, thank you! I appreciate it. I'll break it down for you if you're curious.
Fish:
Plants:
Tank:
I think its most likely the fact that the bulb just isnt strong enough. I would highly suggest upgrading the light. Remove the heat as its unnecessary. Look at either 2xt5 cool white bulbs 6500-8000k. Alternatively look at a decent aquarium plant LED. Fluval do a plants 3.0 light, Arcadia do jungle dawn strips and Beamswork do budged options. They would give you better results for the sundew. For the VFT you definitely want powerful t5s, but the best option is outside as itll want to go dormant in the upcoming winter
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Lights
Beamswork https://www.amazon.co.uk/NICREW-Bright-Aquarium-Aquariums-Length/dp/B01HI42E18/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2QBE70UWHXV7I&keywords=beamswork+led+aquarium+light&qid=1569782738&s=gateway&sprefix=beamswork%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-5
Fluval
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fluval-Plant-Spectrum-Bluetooth-LED/dp/B07BBWVDMS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=LBCJ4SX8VTU8&keywords=fluval+plant+3.0&qid=1569782789&s=gateway&sprefix=fluval+plan%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-1
Arcadia
screw bulb
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcadia-Jungle-Vollspektrum-strong-growth/dp/B01BMYCS16/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2VZAHRJLVUXLJ&keywords=arcadia+jungle+dawn&qid=1569782819&s=gateway&sprefix=arcadia+jungle%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-2
strip light
https://www.arcadiareptile.com/jungledawn-ledbar/
It's been a while since I removed the built-in light fixture, but I believe it came out cleanly by removing a few screws.
Maybe somebody else can advise if this wasn't appropriate, but I just used some aquarium silicone sealant to affix the new fixture to the inner roof of the hood afterwards. Seems pretty solid but it's only been four months. At least I don't have 120v dangling above my tank anymore in case it does fall, though.
16" Finnex Stingray, by the way. Now I'm just waiting for the pump to die so I can replace the whole filter.
I have a very simple growth space, since most of my orchids are generic NOID. My husband and I share the greenhouse, where he has carnivores plants on the top shelf and I get the bottom shelf for my orchids. We lined our greenhouse with foil to help retain some of the heat and light. We also have the greenhouse set up on an 9(?) hour automatic timer with a monitor that automatically turns on the humidifier if it drops below 60%.
Overall, all the den set up in the back and oncidium, Miltoniopsis & Zygo in the front.The fan is set to the left side of the greenhouse and blowing diagonally across due to a temporary overcrowded greenhouse. I hadn’t figure out where to put my Maui lollipop yet, since it’s so small compare to the other ones
The overall condition is intermediate, humidity 70-80%, temp between 55-80F for night and day difference. The light is about medium shades?
All of my phals are grown on windowsill!
I would love some suggestions! So far everything has worked out, except one den’s leaves is turning yellow at the tips right now
Java moss is great for beginners, best thing you can do for it is provide regularly (weekly) water changes to the tank, which you should be doing anyway. To clean it when it accumulates excess food or whatever, just pull it out, swish it around in a bucket of aquarium water you've already pulled from the tank to dislodge any debris, then squeeze it gently and place back in the tank. I grow it and most of my live plants under [these Marineland LED bar lights.] (https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Aquarium-11-Inch-Aquariums-Inches/dp/B004HSYGFQ)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0HMWSG/ref=twister_B00U0WT80G?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
This one is slightly weaker at 24" than the planted+ and the ray2
and would definitely put you in the medium light category as per this chart
http://i.imgur.com/6dV53ZW.png
What size tank is it? My tank is a 8 gallon and my corals have been doing great with this light that was 20 bucks. https://www.amazon.com/ABI-Aquarium-Light-10000K-Actinic/dp/B00CXTZN2Q
For a 5 gallon reef all you would need is some live rock from your fowlr, a small 50 watt heater, a small circulation pump like a hydor 240 and a light like this would grow pretty much any coral in a 5 gallon.
As bortko76 recommended, get a glass top such as the 30" Versa-Top, I picked one up at Petsmart for my 29g. Eheim canisters are good. I'm running an Eheim 2236.
For led lights, take a look at the Fugeray 30". These work very well for low light plants. The Ray 2 is available if you want to do a brighter light.
I haven't used this specific tank for shrimps, but I do have one for bettas AND have other shrimp tanks. If you're super serious and have about $70 to spend, it can be converted into the easiest shrimp tank ever!
Ditch the cover; the best setup for shrimp involves live plants, and the lighting under there unfortunately won't support it. For that size tank, a Finnex Ultra Slim would be ideal. It'll grow literally any aquatic plant you could possibly buy like weeds. For filtration I'd recommend a Tom mini; it's gentle, can't suck up any babies, and dead quiet.
I know it seems pricey at first but as a hobbyist you probably already know that the setup cost is always the most important. It'll be almost foolproof, trust me. I can PM you examples of my tanks if you want.
Links:
http://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Internal-Filter-45gph-adjustable/dp/B00176GKM8/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1383202386&sr=1-1&keywords=tom+mini+filter
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Fugeray-R-Ultra-Aquarium-Fixture/dp/B00BP6QGIS/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1383202399&sr=1-2&keywords=finnex+fugeray
I said some of this elsewhere but for lighting I have the finnex fugeray in 10" As well as a Marineland Penguin 100 filter. pretty basic, ya know. I have a diy CO2 system going using a fluval diffuser which is a really good diffuser. I also have a sponge wrapped around the intake of the filter to protect my invertibrates
For substrate, I just have some black diamond blasted sand. I have a piece of mopani driftwood that I searched months for! Found it in Petco, funny enough in their reptile section, though it said for aquarium use.
flora includes: Water sprite, Baby tears, Dwarf baby tears, Microsword, Duckweed, and a couple others' whose names I cant remember right now.
fauna includes: 1 oto, 6 cherry shrimp (so far!), one nerite snail, and a handful of malaysian trumpet snails. Very happy crew.
I dose with excel about once a week, and feed the shrimp part of an algea wafer every few days.
I've been using the Finnex fugeray 30 inch for my 20 long. Its pricey, but comes highly recommended among hobbyists, and looks beautiful.
Finnex Fugeray 30"
This is the light I use for my 5 gallon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BP6QGIS/ref=pe_309540_26725410_item
For $40 bucks, you get great lighting, and a switch that turns on all the LEDs, or just the red ones.
It hangs, though, so if your tank has a plastic frame around the edges, you may have to mod it.
These lights are great for nano's. Bright, but dimmable.
Of course! I got the jar from walmart for about $10. There is about an inch and a half of gravel that I got from petco. The driftwood is some hardwood that I found by my local lake and soaked in a washing soda solution, then a bleach solution, baked in my oven, and finally soaked in water countless times to get the chemicals out. The filter consists of [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LV2KUS/ref=oh_details_o00_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) powerhead along with a fluval prefilter sponge. For lighting, I just got [this] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008QVKBLS/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and stuck it on my english textbook that I never use. The plant to the left if the filter is an amazon sword, to the right of the filter is a java fern, and in the front is something else that I can't remember the name of. Shortly after I took this picture, my friend brought me some duckweed that she smuggled out of the LFS where she works (I know some people hate duckweed, but IMO it is the greatest aquarium plant in the world). In all I probably spent about $60. I plan on adding maybe a half dozen RCS and a couple bamboo shrimp since there is a very strong current. I'll make sure to post an update once everything is done!
Your tank is looking great! I honestly just got rid of the filter/light on my chi this morning; replaced it with this light and this filter. It's already much better!
I also check out this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007ZK816S/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SS115&simLd=1
I had the freshwater version on my mini planted tank and it worked great and looked amazing.
If you want something high light
If you want something cheap and just to illuminate and maybe grow some low light plants
Hello!
I hope you guys could please help me out with some issues that I am having with my nearly cycled tank. I just added these plants about a few weeks ago, and while some show signs of growing, others aren't looking too good. I have an Imgur album linked showing all the plants that I am having issues with.
Tank Specs/Parameters:
I'm still kind of cycling (fishless cycle so dosing ammonia), but my Nitrates are VERY VERY high. Trying to reduce it by doing water changes. The reason I say kind of cycling, when I got my water tested at my LFS, they said it was cycled, just needed to get nitrates down.
Light: Beamswork DA 6500K 0.50W Series LED
Substrate: Eco Complete
Water temp: 75 degress
Issues:
If anyone could offer any help/suggestions, it would be GREATLY appreciated. My original goal was to go for a low tech/low light set up, but I think I may have veered off a bit and bit off more than I could chew, plant choice wise.
My plants love the hell out of this light: http://amzn.com/B00GH9HUQ0
Currently have a flourescent light bulb tank light from my marineland all in one 29g bf kit that's about 9 years old, currently fishless cycling a 46g bf tank, and am currently proving to myself (and my girlfriend, so help me out here) that i can keep fish alive for a long time (she had bad experiences when she was little and her fish would always die, and 7-9 years ago i didnt do my research and knew nothing of the nitrate cycle).
Currently have a slightly overstocked goldfish tank in the 29g, and will be giving a few fish away here shortly and spacing them out into the 46g also. But in terms of energy saving, i wanna get rid of my flourescent bulb tank light, and the new 46g doesnt have a tank light.
So far i think it's either going to be this Fluval or this Current USA or this Finnex 24/7
or this Finnex too
A little more background, the old 29g is in need of a facelift, it's got the blue gravel from 9 years ago and some sun/flourescent light bulb and quite possibly bleached/vinegar'd decorations (im not sure how my father cleaned the tank in my absence after i moved out of his home and went to school) however the decorations look terrible like all the color on alot of surfaces is gone and they are starting to look white.
I wanna do a planted tank, been reading up on substrates, and would love to do sand, but then i also see that sand can't hold certain plants well and you need some other substrate to assist.
In terms of actual species of plants, im lost. There's so many to pick from. I wanna probably do some sort of carpetting plant and then some vertical ones too obviously, and the tank in dire need of a facelift, ill probably go towards driftwood and stones or possibly go out and buy another fake deco from petsmart (not that i really want to, id love a more natural scape if i can).
I have a rubber lip pleco that will be transfering to the 46g when it's finished cycling and a clown pleco that will be staying in the 29g, my goal is to do a tropical tank of some sort. I keep trying to get the girlfriend involved in picking out fish, but so far she's a sucker for the neon colored ones, which are fine.
TLDR - need help deciding between one of the two lights for both of my tanks, im lost and slightly nervous of putting plants in my tanks, there's a lot to pick from and afraid of not doing a good enough job and killing them off as soon as i put them in the tank, also have an empty cavass in the 46g and the 29g needs a facelift as well. Help!
~Much love, thanks for your patience in reading this all, i appreciate any and all suggestions/links/directions you can offer :)
EDIT: Found a Finnex LED light, and added it to see what you guys think, the reviews/warranty is slightly unnerving, also found a 2nd Finnex light
Which light? Is it this one? Aqueon Planted Aquarium Clio-On
Ok I will leave it in the small coral tank for now and turn off the 240 gph powerhead and plant light all together. That will leave a 5-20 Gallon AquaClear HOB filter and the finnex light only. https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Stingray-Aquarium-Light-16-Inch/dp/B00NAFQ97A
Do you think it will be enough light and flow in a 5.5 gallon tank for them? It was opening the pink xenia.
Also, do I need to do water changes with no fish in the tank or should I just clean the filter occasionally?
Finally, Thank you for all the help.
I got you. I would skip over the Nicrew all together and just opt for something more expensive that will get the job done but is still in your price range. I have had the Nicrew, lights in between the Nicrew and what I am about to recommend, and then the lights I am recommending are now on all my tanks. There is SIGNIFICANT difference in plant growth even in my suuuuper low-tech tanks.
The main reason I suggest these lights is they contain true 660nm Red LED lights which are crucial to plant photosynthesis. Without this specific red spectrum most plants have significant difficulty utilizing the light, no matter how strong it is. Here is a picture of one of my tanks running this light: https://i.imgur.com/hYhcp9Z.jpg
These are freaking awesome. Extremely easy to use, High level of customization, and 2 outlets on each timer. I can't recommend them enough.
I bought this light almost 2 years ago and it has proven well to grow plants and algae for me. Your kit may already have the same type of led just in a different configuration so perhaps don't bother unless you want an upgrade and you can compare the two yourself. I only have one of those lights but its paired with a step up into the mid range of their lights IMO, the Marineland Advanced which I have a 48" on my 55 and 30" on my 29 with basic led filling the gap. If you do buy a new light you'll need a glass top for it, Finnex is another good brand with a few options for low to high light plants.
Substrate could be any good pea sized gravel and if you want to up the nutrient power you could go with a walstad type setup, a good way to start would be with a very thin layer of miracle grow organic potting soil. My 10 gallon was also set up the same way, the top layer of substrate is eco complete filled to not even an inch from the bottom of the tank and a thin layer of hand sprinkled mix of potting soil and ground up red clay. With a very thin layer of both dirt and gravel I can avoid swamp gas build and also the worst of the algae. You may want to avoid eco complete for cory fish they could cut their barbels up and depending on how deep you put the dirt and much you use they could potentially stir it up. I think you should be fine with just a small amount as long as you dont upset the gravel as much like during a water change.
I would suggest going with some hardy crypts and rotala rotundifolia/indica both fairly good beginner plants. If you do the switch over keep the media and whatever else is in the tank right now to help cycle the tank. The dirt will give off an ammonia spike but with all the beneficial surfaces and the same filter things should transition over nicely. I dirted my friend's tank last year and we kept the gravel bacterial mostly alive and also left his filters untouched, a week later there were no signs of ammonia and when tested they were tolerable with daily water changes. Ferns and mosses on wood to clear up ground level swimming space, floating plants even to soak up excess nutrients.
Good brand lights Marineland and Finnex, my 10 gallon gets by with high output t5, filters I like are aquaclear hang on the back filters and sunsun or eheim canister filters, DICI solenoids for co2 injection, Rhinox brass check valvues for co2 and IDS inline co2 diffusers. If you do jump into co2, the solenoid and co2 tank both ran me about $125 but I only need a refill every year and a half which is less than $20.
Its all in the dirt
I didn't even think about that. Although I'm about to set up another 5.5 gallon tank with smaller gravel, if I have to I can move him between the two?
The light is this from Marineland --> http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-LED-Aquarium-Light-11-Inch/dp/B004HSYGFQ/ref=sr_1_15?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1398378771&sr=1-15
It's honestly a little too small for a 10 gallon tank. I might be adding a separate light later on to make sure it covers the entire tank. I'll see if I need it. The blue works fantastically though. It has 2 led blue lights. I just wish it spread out over the whole tank on the white part. I still like it though, if it's not a bit cheaply made on the switch. If I remember I'll let you know a few months down the road if I still like it ;)
7.5 Gallon Betta/Tetra Tank
If your light fixture supports two bulbs, I would go with a pair of these to keep things under a budget
If it only supports one bulb and you are wanting to do a planted tank, I would look at another lighting option, probably an LED fixture like this. I use one of these for my 20 long and have great growth with zero algae.
Additionally, and you might already have everything, I would invest in a filter and a heater as well. Also drain the water and put the tank on a sturdy shelf for optimal viewing (and so you don't accidentally kick it... yes I've made that mistake before with a temporary tank). A filled 10 gallon tank can easily tip the scales over 120 pounds.
Edit: Welcome to the hobby! May it slowly take over your room, house, and life if all goes well.
I do have a co2 system in place. So you would recommend this
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-30-Inch/dp/B00BDDIPAU/ref=sr_1_1_m?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462303109&sr=1-1&keywords=finnex+ray+2
over what I have in my original post?
You didn't sound rude at all! And best of luck with your tank adventures.
The light is this: http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Fugeray-R-Ultra-Aquarium-Fixture/dp/B00BP6QGIS
And yes, the DHG is growing very nicely. I got a small package of it from Petco, the kind that comes in a gel around the roots, and instead of cutting it into tiny pieces as is recommended, I broke it into about 6 large chunks. They've grown very well under that light and it looks like an almost solid mass now. I'll post pics in the morning!
I just saw that the Finnex Fugeray planted lights are on sale, and from what I can see with reviews, they are incredible:
http://www.amazon.ca/Finnex-AL-R36WM-36-Inch-Aquarium-Moonlights/dp/B00GH9HUQ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1409932535&sr=1-1&keywords=finnex+fugeray+36
I am going to buy one of these, since it's way cheaper than what you can get them for in the US. Though you might need a Canadian shipping address, I'm going to see
Heres a good list of plants that you can read up on
Heres another good easy plants list
another list go easy plants/details
Easiest plants - Java moss, Anubias plants, Java Fern
For substrate i'd recommend going for ... 2 routes to use
After you do all that and pick up w.e plants you like. You need to buy liquid fertilizers to dose/make your plants healthier.
You can also go the CO2 route but if this is expensive, go for the cheap route and buy Seachem Excel (liquid co2)
Lighting:
This is the best kind of lighting you can grab
Or this one
I can vouch for the Planted+ I have that and it grows my plants really well/amazing, down side you'll have algae (but thats what algae cleaners are for ;)) Also I use sand + flourish tabs for rooted plants.
Tip:
Root plants need flourish tabs (if you just go the sandroute) but if you grab the eco complete you wont really need tabs since thats already fertilizers.
Plants that dont need to be buried in the substrate (anubias plants/java fern) youll need liquid ferts
If you do go for anubias/java fern/java moss - buy driftwood and tie them down with some fishing line (they do best when tied to driftwood)
This is a good entry level light.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HSI0/ref=twister_B00HIE3M6U?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I got this one and it works great with my 5 gallon low tech. Very bright, and it can switch to blue only for night viewing if that's your thing.
I am trying to decide between these two:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GH9HSI0/?coliid=IS63UYPU585PA&colid=35BZPHCLURD0R&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
and
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAFQ6FK/?coliid=IH2ZEINNYWJAS&colid=35BZPHCLURD0R&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
For the CFL's, they should have them at the big chain stores or your local place. PetSmart, PetCo. PetCo looks cheaper right now, since it's 25% off.
The 50/50 one linked there is the one I've used before (long time ago) and I had good luck growing plants with it. They will also have one that's closer to incandescent colors, which will make red/orange fish look a bit more intensely colored but isn't as good for plants. If your fixture uses two bulbs, one of each will give you a good balance of the two.
What's the dimensions on your 5g? Our little rimless 10g, the finnex light for it cost $25 or so. They sell them at 50% off pretty regularly.
I have this tank I bought from Amazon that is a square cube that is a bit bigger than you are looking for at 7.5 gallons but has been a great tank combo for me.
Amazon Link
Here are a couple shots of my cube set-up from the top and front view.
It is a nice little low iron cube.
I use my old aquarium lights as plant lights. Nice and white. The ones I have are Finnex Ray 2, rated for high lighted tanks. Seems to be a really good light 1 year later on my vivarium. https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-30-Inch/dp/B00BDDIPAU
​
I also keep one above my plant table to supplement the sunlight since my neighbor has a big tarp covered area blocking a good portion of the window.
Thanks for the reply!
After a quick glance, it looks like CO2Art is more in my price range at the moment. I didn't know about the electronic solenoid; thank you very much for mentioning that!
For lights, I'm leaning toward doing two 36" Finnex Planted+ 24/7; I have one on my 30g and it seems to do alright. My friend is adamant that I need bigger, better lights, but he's recommending $300+ lights (each) that are just way too out of my current price range.
//edit: Followup - I believe this would fit my needs; would you agree? The in-line would be going on a Fluval FX4.
I had all of my current corals in a 5g fluval spec and I used a Wave-point 12-Inch 16-Watt Super Blue and DaylightMicro Sun LED High Output Clamp Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZK816S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ftlOybHXRMNXM on it. Paired with an actinic marine land strip it looked decent though the colors faded over time...
Which led me to believe I wasn't getting enough blue spectrum. Is the wavepoint and actinic strip combo enough for the 12? Or could I stand to get more light in there?
If I need more light would this suffice going on top of the glass on the edge? VIPARSPECTRA Timer Control 165W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Grow Fish Tank https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UMXAR5S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lElOyb5RS6Z9J
I completely forgot to mention my lighting.
I use a Beamswork 48" DA 120 6500K LED... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B016P96UA8?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf
I also use a fluval 406 canister filter. I clean my canister once a month and only the mechanical filtration. I don’t touch my bio balls so it doesn’t mess with the bacteria. My ammonia and nitrites are always good. The nitrate hovers between 10 and 20 ppm. Can petco/persmart check for phosphates?
I have a Cobalt Aquatics 30003 Mj1200 Powerhead Powerhead/Pump https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005QRHEJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_sPA.BbN4YVB2D that I use during and after a water change with a sponge to help clear up my tank. It feels too powerful to leave on all the time though? Idk.
I’ve had this tank running for a little over a year. Halfway through it spring a leak and I tore the tank down and rebuilt it. No leaks since. I’d love to have a lot more plants but I can’t even get these to flourish.
[An Aqueon-branded light (planted version) ] (https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Freshwater-Aquarium-Clip-Light/dp/B07DT31PZ8/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=aqueon%2Blight&qid=1558312085&s=gateway&sr=8-5&th=1) . Will likely upgrade it to something a bit better in the future, but it is a decent light for a small tank and for the price.
Are you using CO2?
This is the one I almost bought.
NICREW Super Bright LED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Blue and White LEDs, 6W, Fits Aquariums 40cm in Length https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HI42E18/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_7npaCb6GZVNDB
I'll be having my lights on 6-8 hrs a day since my tank is right next to my room window and receiving semi-indirect sunlight for several hours while I'm at work. Currently using this LED Light I got from Amazon and my current plants are growing really well with that schedule.
It'a a Marineland LED.
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Aquarium-Moonlights-20-Inch/dp/B008K1YJSU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418405435&sr=8-3&keywords=20+inch+finnex
Maybe this? Someone on here can probably give better advice but it really depends on what you want to keep and want to spend. If you want lower light plants ebay has some cheap fixtures...
I think I have the same 125. Petsmart? I put 2 of these lights on it. They look so much better than stock. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0HMWSG/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_F-phybAMBRH4E
Finnex Fugeray is a fairly affordable option at 50 USD for the 16" model. They're bright LEDs that can be used for low-medium light plants with minimal power costs to keep it running.
I'm not entirely sure about covering for your tank, would need the rest of the dimensions/shape. If you're looking to just prevent jumpers, you could look into egg crate/light dispersers from your local hardware store.
As far as lighting, I love the Finnex FugeRay series. It has done my plants a world of good, and LED lights really make your aquarium look great. Hygros start to turn a pretty purple/red on their leaves in high lighting, so mine have started that on the top leaves! Also, I keep my light on for far longer than most people suggest. Since I have shrimp and otos, I have no problems with algae from it, and my plants are growing great. A 30-inch FugeRay is what you would use for a 20 long.
With heating, I would suggest this Fluval. It is digital which lets you be precise in your temperature.
As far as algae like I mentioned earlier, I have no problem with algae from my plants and algae eaters. I usually have my light on for roughly 14 hours per day, and have no problems. It also eliminated the brown algae that I had in my tank at first.
I would be wary of having that many platys. They breed like rabbits, so unless you have a local lfs that purchases fish or takes donations, you will soon overrun your tank with them, and I don't think any of your current stock will eat the fry except the platys. You will still have many that survive. Personally, I would decrease your platys and add more tetras. It's better to have a bigger school with shoaling species.
Definitely get an aeration system. Your fish will need it. I also suggest you get more than one hygro. They really help with nitrate levels, and usually turn two different colors with high light exposure.
As far as shorter, foreground, bushy plants, you can try some micro swords, dwarf baby tears, and some marimo moss balls as possibilities.
Wave-point 12-Inch 16-Watt Super Blue and DaylightMicro Sun LED High Output Clamp Light https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007ZK816S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.gSXDbDV2YG6G
No filtration besides the foam that came with the tank and rarely a little carbon bag.
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Stingray-Aquarium-Light-16-Inch/dp/B00NAFQ97A
Slightly less light output/PAR than the Planted+, at a much more reasonable price. I use a 20" one on my 10-gallon low-tech (dirted with only Excel dosing) and have had great success.
Here are some pictures of someone using a 16" Stingray on a 5.5-gallon tank.
https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-FSPEC-Aquarium-Light-Freshwater/dp/B01LFF0878/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1520120765&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=beamswork&psc=1
_____
https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-6500K-Aquarium-Freshwater-Discus/dp/B016P96UA8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1520120765&sr=8-6&keywords=beamswork&dpID=51qWKmCc9xL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch
_____
Either one
For indoor growing I would stick to various tropical plants, sundews, butterworts should be fine. You can probably grow some pitchers too, again, just stick to a tropical variety.
For the medium, just check the species, most like the same soil and conditions, but not all. I'd pick species that all like the same conditions (the Mexican butterworts like it more alkaline and better draining).
As for lighting, I'd pick something that is either near daylight spectrum (~5770k), or a "grow" bulb. I use a Finnex Ray2 because it's really bright and looks nice, but it's not cheap. My VFT's are very deep red under that and my light meter says it's brighter at 6 inches than the pair of T8 bulbs is with the meter touching the bulb. 10000k is basically blue, you don't want that, 7000k is the high end, it's not too bad. If you go with the LED option, there are loads of purple grow lights. These are special lights that only put out light plants need. The LEDs are narrow band and tend to be higher efficiency, and they are of colors that the plants convert better. The result is that the same power level can feel many times brighter to a plant but not to you. If you're looking for efficiency this is the best, but the plants absorb all the light and your plants will look black under the very bright lights. If you want your plants to look good, this is not the right choice. You might consider mixing these with a white light to give you colors if you want it to look ok.
Diy co2, 5 gal, eco complete w/root tabs. I have this lighting also.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BP6QGIS/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8
definitely more lights.. you can order via Amazon.com
i would go with LED and for the 6500k ,, i got one of this cheapy for my 2.5g shrimp..
Are those tanks 24" deep and 17" high? If they are only 17" high, it should be fairly easy to get medium light with the Marineland Double Bright or Finnex FugeRay LED fixtures. The Marineland can be easily modified by connecting two sets and doubling its length. Not sure about the Finnex, may need to suspend it for the 140g. If the aquariums are 24" high, you'll need something more powerful like a Finnex Ray2, DIY LED or several T5HO.
Here's a handy reference for general light levels. If your tanks really are 24" deep, you'll need to suspend the lights above the tank to spread the light across the breadth of the tank. LEDs are a different beast and it's difficult to tell just how much light you'll get depending on how they are setup, but high quality LED fixtures are generally comparable to a pair of T5HO.
As for filters, the Eheim Classic 2217 or Fluval 406 canister filters should work for the 60g depending on the bio-load. It's generally best to get a filter that is rated for twice your tanks volume.
I'd highly recommend considering a wet-dry sump for the 140g since it will be much cheaper and more effective than any comparable canister.
None. At best they're an estimate for flourescents on larger tanks, at worst wpg is completely inaccurate.
I would go with http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-24-Inch/dp/B008RMFDEG
and do either 24 or 18 inch version depending on how much of your tank you want lit. with those lights, any plant you want can be grown.
Thank you for your thorough reply! I didnt know that rimless tanks are more finicky and require padding in addition to the other factors. If I'm intending to have a lid, it seems like it defeats the purpose of a rimless tank.
In regards to the hinged glass lid is this what you were referring to? .
I'll look into going the HOB route, I didnt know the quietflow didnt have a flow rate adjustment capabilities, thats a big downside personally. I'll look into the AquaClear series.
As for lights, I've done some more research and I'm leaning toward the Finnex FugeRay Planted+. Thoughts on this model?
Thanks again.
It's a finnex clilp on. This one.
My thought on this, is why not wait for the Finnex Planted+ that comes out in about 2 months? It's about $20 more right now and looks like it's going to be phenomenal.
I don't have that exact one, but I did buy another similar finnex on amazon 3 months ago, and I love it. This one also has the planted+ led. The glass is super clear, and the seals are really cleanly done.
As I'm writing this, i've just seen that you also have chosen to get it. just a warning, the light is pretty strong for that tank even for how small it is. I wasn't expecting it to be so strong, so i'd either raise it up or use a lower intensity light if you wanna go low tech. atm, im using a dual lighting setup using the planted+ and an ikea lamp for different hours of the day to combat the outbreak but also allowing my pps pro dosing to be more efficiently used up.
Here's my progress on my first planted tank http://imgur.com/a/PL6rV
Thanks. You are very right about that one. My tank is roughly 22" deep and [This] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GH9HUQ0/ref=oh_details_o01_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) light has been doing exceptionally well.
+1 for wavepoint, also try these, they're super cheap so even if you need more than one you'll be saving money http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CXTZN2Q/ref=cm_cr_arp_mb_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8
getting these! I think it'll fit my tank.. lol http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0HMWSG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Tank is custom built, the light is a Finnex fugeray http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008K1YJSU/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007URO5QG/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1469470581&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=finnex+light&dpPl=1&dpID=31URcpHRgDL&ref=plSrch
That one.
I have an extra one of these laying around: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004HSYGFQ?vs=1
This would use less energy than the fluorescent I believe, but I'm pretty sure I need to limit my plant options.
I'm kinda on a budget. Would these work? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008K1YJSU/ref=pd_aw_sbs_3/182-0453523-9543114?pi=SL500_SS115&simLd=1
I have this bulb over my 5.5 zoa garden. My zoas are happy and its affordable. Though the bulb is bigger than it looks. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CXTZN2Q/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Thanks for the quick response! I might hold off on the CO2 then and add it in the future when I become more experienced. I do have a piece of driftwood from my fluval edge 6 gallon that I can use instead of the seiryu stones. As for the betta, I have seen some people successfully keep it with RCS but I'm still deciding on if I want to risk it or not.
Some questions about lighting - how does the stock light for the fluval spec v fare for keeping low light plants? It could save some money and I could hold off on buying a finnex light for now. If that won't work, I also have looked into this finnex stingray , a cheaper option. Will the stingray suffice for keeping monte carlo with the CO2 system I was planning to use?
No cO2, correct. Lights are these purchased in Jan 2015.
This Hagen Fluval LED 24-Inch Daylight/Plant Lamp, 25-watt
has served my 30gal low-light planted tank well. Here's a pic of it in action: My 30g!
I also have this Finnex FugeRay Aquarium LED Light Plus Moonlights on my 5gal tank.
Honestly, I prefer the Fluval, due to it's ease-of-use and the way the light colors the water. But the Finnex has a nice, well-built mechanical look. YMMV.
Finnex tank and FugeRAY Planted+ lighting
EHEIM Classic 250 (I have it going at about 3/4 max flow)
CaribSea substrate
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007ZK816S/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1418946229&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40
This is the light I use on a marineland contour 5 aquarium. Everything is open and happy including softies and lps, some of the reviews try sps but I'm not a fan so I don't have a first hand account. My main gripe is no on off switch (its on a timer anyways). It's a blueish light for sure and you don't have a nighttime setting is also a bummer. But for the price I'm happy!
I won an auction for the betta at the end of the album; and decided I needed to set a new tank up for him instead of putting him in my community tank or Endler breeding tank.
The tank is an Aqueon Evolve 4 Gallon and the light is a Finnex Fugeray 10". I'm just using the stock filter; which is questionable as to if it will be too powerful for the betta...
I'm intending to go fairly low-tech. I'll probably keep the Rotala in there and find some variety of Anubis. I don't really have any experience with low-tech tanks.. so any suggestions would be more than welcome!
I have two light fixtures right now while I wait for the finnex ray 2 i have a fluorescent bulb in the back and an led light in the front. They've done a below average job with the plants sadly.
Well that 20 has anubias, dwarf sagitarria, pennywort, some moss, some duckweed, and ill put in some moss balls too. this is the light I'm using for the 20, and yes it is a 20 high
Okay thanks, I ended up going with a bag of eco-complete off of amazon. For the light I went with this:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008QVKBLS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Would that work for plants?
For my 5.5 gallon I use a clamp desk light (13$ at Office Depot) with a 23 watt daylight cfl. I keep it on an 8 hour photo period and aside from the normal bit of brown glass algae at the start (went away after a week) it's done well for my plants. I had a finnex fugeray-r clip on LED (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BP6QGIS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) that worked okay but was a few inches shorter than my tanks width and had no pivot. As for a filter, you will have at least a cord... these things need electricity. Try placing it on the side instead of the front/back. I'm using a Aquaclear 20 on mine with a fluval prefilter sponge. I can also suggest a Zoo Med 501 if you like a canister filter more.
Link to a 20"
Link to a 16"
I've had the 18" Ray2 on my 20" 10 and 15 gallon tall tanks. However it won't reach the edges so I used a glass top. The legs can be moved is to fit smaller tanks but not out to fit larger ones.