4ft freshwater tank in progess

T5 lighting on freshwater planted tanks

Im using my canopy from my old 4ft reef which currently has
4 x 10k AND 2 x 22K lamps in it

the tank looks ok aesthetically to me
want to grow easyish plants like Vallis, Cabomba, Amazon Swords etc

would the current lighting suffice
or is it completely the wrong mix of colour spectrum for freshwater plants

Steve

 

it will work fine, one thing I noticed when raising plants with reef lighting is some plants turn extraordinarily green even with out carbon supplementation.

 

Thats good news sostoudt
Im not intending to go CO2 etc, hence wanting to purchase only known hardy plants

Steve

 

I don't think the plants will get as much use out of the 22K bulbs. I would use 5100K to 14000K bulbs in a freshwater planted tank. Most ornamental plants only grow in the top 6 foot or less in freshwater so you do not have the wave length absorption light in saltwater due to depth and water hardness.

I have used 6500K and 10000K bulbs on my planted tank and the plants have done very well. I think a mix on the bulb spectra is a good idea.

 

thanks 2 in 10
I do have access to some 8500K lamps out here, and also some Hagen growlights which are a red/ purple colour and remind me of the Grolux tubes I had many years ago in UK

Steve

 

I would use those as supplemental lighting especially if you are going to keep red colored plants. If the 8500K is white then I would mix it in with the 10000K. If it is red then treat it as a supplemental light.

I intend to change over to T5HO on my planted tank from PC this winter. I am going to use a mix of bulbs including one with some red in it. I only intend to use 4 tubes as I use Seachem Excel for my CO2. I will be reducing my wattage from 260 to 216 with this change. Wish I new what the PAR change will be.

 

If those are T5HO you will want to use less tubes or you will need to supplement with CO2 and quite possibly heavily.

 

thanks again John

I could use just 4 lamps even though its a 6 lamp canopy, as it has 3 sets of switches
will Seachem Excel provide CO2 in adequate amount should I stick with 6 lamps?

I dont want to be messing with CO2 tanks and bubble counters etc

Steve

 

It should since it is safe to 3 or 4 times the recommended dose. You might need to use more than recommended.

It also works well on killing black beard algae at the higher concentration.

 

thanks John

they named an algae after a pirate?
surely that should be in a saltwater set up?

Steve