55 gallon planted tank lighting

[Magnus Jones]

Hello, I have a 55 gallon tank that I’m having lots of trouble growing plants in my tank with my 36” current USA pro plus. I’ve tried amazon sword, hygrophila, pennywort, Java fern, Java moss and others. The only ones I can keep alive are the Java ferns even though they don’t grow. The Java moss just gets taken over by algae. I have been fertilizing them but they still won’t stay alive. Can someone help guide me to a light that I can actually grow plants with that doesn’t break the bank?
Thanks, Magnus

 

[markstrimaran]

If you can soder, you can diy , some 640nm red leds, in with a few whites , and blues. All for less than $10.00 in parts.

 

[pescado209]

having a similar issue as well.

If you can soder, you can diy , some 640nm red leds, in with a few whites , and blues. All for less than $10.00 in parts.

would you mind linking the items you have used with success , I assume most 640nm red from China arnt true 640nm. if you have Amazon links even better.... thanks

 

[markstrimaran]

having a similar issue as well.


would you mind linking the items you have used with success , I assume most 640nm red from China arnt true 640nm. if you have Amazon links even better.... thanks

Electric alice on Ebay, from china. Arrives in a few weeks

The 660nm deep reds are tough to find.

The 640-660 are brite red, are often sold as deep reds, but will not grow algea. I got about 100 pieces from 3 different sellers, USA,China. Often 10% will be true deep reds.

The 620nm Is too orange. For plants.

I got a pile of 640nm. I am destructive testing waterproof prototypes with them.

 

[Magnus Jones]

I don’t really know how to do that, do you have any other ideas?

 

[markstrimaran]

You gave me an idea, 640nm and moss. It's the only water plant I grow except algea.

 

[markstrimaran]

I don’t really know how to do that, do you have any other ideas?

The 10 watt chips can be done with just a wire knot

 

[Magnus Jones]

Where do I buy them, where would I install them, and what level plants could I grow with them?

 

[markstrimaran]

Siliconed and epoxies to aluminum heat sink.

 

[markstrimaran]

View attachment 1335679
Siliconed and epoxies to aluminum heat sink.

Many other vendors, some with power supplies included.

It can get technical, but the basic idea is to use a 420nm blue a 640nm red and a green. All combined to make a white light, with minimal spectrum that algea can out compete the plants.

The newer blue green red single chips might be an option. LEDs are constantly changing. The 5050, 4020 chips are weak. For use in an aquarium.

The 10 watt chips put out about as much light as an incandesant 100 watt light bulb.
They can be simply epoxies to a metal heat sink, and mounted above the tank. Or sealed and submerged.