Aquarium Lights - different types - different needs

[Mr. Mom]

I guess the past few months I've been playing with different types of lights on my aquariums, and curious about peoples opinions and such ... or if you're even wondering which one you need maybe this will help. I've currently got 4 different light set-ups on 4 different tanks. All have had or have Anubias type plants in them at some point but I've never used CO2 ... other than liquid.

Tank #1 is a 29G and has 2x 6500k 10W 5"Bulbs

This tank has been running for close to a month, the anubias are growing but not thriving, new growth on the windelov, watersprite is thriving floating at the top of the tank, the hornwort looks great at the top ... bottom looks like crud (don't think thats normal) wateronion doing good. Using root tabs in this tank with liquid fertilizer and liquid CO2.

Tank #2 is 29G and has a T8 6700k

This tank was set-up the same time as tank #1 (except it took a thrashing at one point and needs repairs at the moment) anyhow the plants look way more vibrant in this tank vs. tank #1, the anubias looks good and healthy with new growth, the small sword up front may be lacking some nutrient but light is sufficient, the hornwort looks healthy throughout compared to tank #1. But I found the watersprite floating at top doesn't seem to grow as rapidly as tank #1. Again using root tabs with Liquid ferts and liquid CO2.

Tank #3 is a 55G with a T5 on it (10000k bulb with a 6700k bulb)

Now this tank had been my first attempt at plants (not currently housing plants, until a few issues sorted out) ... didn't use root tabs on my plants, was still learning. I did find my anubias were always having algae issues. Haven't had anything to that degree with tank #1 or #2. The watersprite truly flourished with light in this tank, but the wysteria didn't fair well and was battling algae (although I wasn't using root tabs), the windelov was first put in this tank and immediately started blackening. I had to cut it back to the root and slowly it started growing back again but thinner then previous. The windelov is now in tank #1 and has had a new shoot that's looking broader than previous shoots. I want to give plants another try in this tank, but I'll avoid lesser light plants like anubias unless I could provide some sort of diffuser shade along the top. I only used liquid fertilizers and liquid CO2, but it was my first attempt with plants and needs to be re-attempted ... I must admit for visual purposes, The colours that come out on the fish under this light is truly appealing ... stuff that I don't notice under normal light.

Tank #4 is a 30G with a Fluval LED 5200k 35W

I just picked this up a couple of days ago so its a trial in progress, as the plants were added today ... but I am already pleased. The blue (night light) feature is an added bonus in my household. There's an anubias as well as java moss, using root tabs (lesson learned) we've added a sword, 3 vals, a wysteria, water onion and an unknown. Plus trying the water sprite floating at the top. Liquid ferts and liquid CO2 as well.

Hopefully I'll get another attempt on the 55G with the T5, in the near future.

 

[Mr. Mom]

I was hoping to go a month before updating ... but screwed up. Didn't anticipate the growth of the watersprite floating on top of tank #4, after a couple weeks it had spread 3/4 of the way across, so we planted some (but forgot to take pics first). After 3 weeks, maintenance/trimming was needed. I gotta admit I do like this LED. But it kicked me into to gear to get my 55G with the T5 (tank #3) planted again.
So this past weekend we ended up planting my 55G again, made some changes on the other 3 ... and gonna give this another go.
Here's a couple pics of what growth we did see in the 3 weeks for tank #1 and tank #4.
Tank #1 29G (2x6500k 10W 5"Bulbs)

The hornwort did excellent covering a good portion of my surface after the 3 weeks, new growth on the anubias and windelov
Tank #4 30G (Fluval LED 5200k 35W)

Noticing some algae on the anubias, (a little rubbing fixes it), watersprite grows great both planted and floating and the bacopa grew a 1/3 its height in the 3 weeks.

 

[Mr. Mom]

As I'd said ... between the 19th and 20th we made some changes and managed to get some plants into the 55G again. Its a little project my son and I are doing as we don't really want to venture down the CO2 trail if possible. (Been reading a lot of the sticky's concerning non-CO2 tanks - biggest thing I see on it is light)
So I'll try to do this a little better. Pics were taken on Oct. 20/13 and I plan on letting things grow updating on a monthly basis (allowing plenty of time for growth between intervals). We utilized some of the clippings from tank #4 and purchased some cheap (got a deal) plants to start the 55G. A couple of them I've read are CO2 recommended, so I'm curious as to how they'll do.

Tank #1 29G (2x6500k 10W 5"Bulbs)

3 Anubias, Hornwort, A bit of Java Moss, Wateronion, Windelov, A clipping of Wisteria and Watersprite planted.

Tank #2 29G (T8 6700K)

Anubias, Cabomba, 2 Hornwort, Java Moss, Ludwigia, 2 types of Sword, Wateronion and Watersprite floating

Tank #3 55G (T5 10000k and 6700K bulbs)

2 Anubias, Bacopa (clippings), Cabomba, 2 Ludwigia, Wysteria (clippings) and Watersprite (planted and floating)

Tank #4 30G (Fluval LED 5200k 35W)

3 Anubias, 2 Bacopa, Java Moss, a Sword, 3 Vals, 2 Wateronion, Wisteria and Watersprite (planted and floating)

Well time to sit back and watch things grow ... must note I've already noticed some growth on the Cabomba in tank #3 after 2 days.

 

[mopani]

great thread love the wood on bottom pick

 

[Mr. Mom]

Had a another hiccup with this experiment ... We were absent during week 4, the tank was in my wife's care and some nutrients were lacking ... namely iron. The swords and ludwigia took the worst of it. Otherwise things are looking good.
During this time I did make some minor changes. Added some terrestrial plants to the surface of tanks #1 and #3 after week 1. At the end of week 2, I removed half the floating watersprite from tank #3, then added some spiral vals to tanks #1, #2 and #3.
At the end of week 3 I took these pics
Tank #1

Tank #2

Tank #3

Tank #4

Things were growing very well in all tanks, except #1. Plants like the anubias, windelov and hornwort were fine, but everything else was lacking light. The Cabomba and Ludwigia were doing well in both tanks #2 and #3. Mind you #2's growth was slower than #3's, as was expected due to the extreme difference in light.
Pics from the end of week 5
Tank #1

The planted watersprite eventually lost its root base and became floating watersprite ... it actually grew better in this tank floating.
Tank #2

Tank #3

Tank #4

All in all this helped me understand more as the whole conversion thing to figure out recommended light is too much for my old brain.
Tank #1 is perfect for plants that require little light such as the anubias and floating plants, but that's about it.
Tank #2 was much better for plant growth than Tank #1. The spiral Vals, hornwort and anubias look more vibrant and healthier than tank #1. Downfall growth is much slower than Tanks #3 and #4.
Tank #3 great growth but too much light for anubias, even when attached near lower parts of tank algae is an issue. Another thing I noticed, upon returning home after week 4, this was the tank with the most algae on its walls. In fact it was the only one I had to scrub it off of.
Tank #4 once again great growth, this is the tank the java moss grew the best in (it failed in both tank #1 and #2). The anubias near the top has an algae issue due to light, but those lower down are doing much better. If money wasn't an object, at the moment I'd invest in LEDs for all my tanks. But time will tell how the life/growth of the LED's last.
Throughout the 5 weeks, all tanks have been receiving 12 hrs of light a day. I've had to scrub the walls of tanks #1 and 2 once, tank #4 twice and tank #3 four times due to algae developing. The one time for all tanks was my fault due to dosing issues.