Oky so I've read alot on the web about plant lighting, but it feels like I've learned nothing.
I was wondering if any of the planted pro's could help me with a list of technical info about plant lighting and help arrange the categories accordingly to importance in terms of plant growth.
First mentioned being most important and last mentioned least important as well as appropriate/correct measures for each i.e low;medium & high lighting setup's values for each category.
This is in terms of plant lighting only and regardless of Ferts, N-P-K, CO2, Gravel, Temp, pH, GH, KH, et cetera, so lets just say that these are at optimum levels.
Below I will start with what I think is important in terms of plant growth.
THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE, so please rearrange and/or add the categories and/or enter values you think is most accurate in terms of plant growth.
Low light: (L)
Medium Light: (M)
High Light: (H)
1. Spectral Power Distribution Curves (SPD):
(L)+(M)+(H): There's alot variation in SPD graphs for lights but a high value/spike in the red wavelength about 640 nanometers and high in blue at about 450 (nm).
I've heard chlorophyll's absorption only uses light in the red and blue and I also think the SPD curve is the most important part of plant lighting.
2. Colour Rendering Index (CRI):
(L) 80-85
(M) 85-90
(H) 90+
3. Lumen (lm):
Well I guess this is up to tank depth & volume. Although I don't think there is a lm/gal value, it would be nice if there is some rough estimate/ballpark figure.
So I'll use the values and calculations posted by WyldFya from ErrorS at Aquariacentral.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?73446-Lighting-a-Planted-Tank
lumens divided tank (depth*2) + tank width + tank length = value
(L) 50-150
(M) 150-250
(H) 250-350+
4. Colour Temperature, Degrees Kelvin (K):
(L)+(M)+(H): I understand that for all plant types it should be at 6500K.
5.Watts per Gallon (W/g):
Although outdated, I know as I have had more success with some 25W T8's than other 30W T8's, it is still a nice rough figure when u don't have a Lumen rating of a light.
(L) 2
(M) 3
(H) 4+
The reason I want to make a list like this is, because sometimes specialized plant growing lights aren't always available to all of us and then it is a wild goose chase, also some plant growing bulb's are expensive and so you have to know what values to look for when searching cheaper alternative.
So with a little halp from the experienced aquascapers the everyday plant noob like me can select the right bulb without wasting money or breaking the bank by knowing what values to look for.
Looking forward to you're replies.
I was wondering if any of the planted pro's could help me with a list of technical info about plant lighting and help arrange the categories accordingly to importance in terms of plant growth.
First mentioned being most important and last mentioned least important as well as appropriate/correct measures for each i.e low;medium & high lighting setup's values for each category.
This is in terms of plant lighting only and regardless of Ferts, N-P-K, CO2, Gravel, Temp, pH, GH, KH, et cetera, so lets just say that these are at optimum levels.
Below I will start with what I think is important in terms of plant growth.
THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE, so please rearrange and/or add the categories and/or enter values you think is most accurate in terms of plant growth.
Low light: (L)
Medium Light: (M)
High Light: (H)
1. Spectral Power Distribution Curves (SPD):
(L)+(M)+(H): There's alot variation in SPD graphs for lights but a high value/spike in the red wavelength about 640 nanometers and high in blue at about 450 (nm).
I've heard chlorophyll's absorption only uses light in the red and blue and I also think the SPD curve is the most important part of plant lighting.
2. Colour Rendering Index (CRI):
(L) 80-85
(M) 85-90
(H) 90+
3. Lumen (lm):
Well I guess this is up to tank depth & volume. Although I don't think there is a lm/gal value, it would be nice if there is some rough estimate/ballpark figure.
So I'll use the values and calculations posted by WyldFya from ErrorS at Aquariacentral.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?73446-Lighting-a-Planted-Tank
lumens divided tank (depth*2) + tank width + tank length = value
(L) 50-150
(M) 150-250
(H) 250-350+
4. Colour Temperature, Degrees Kelvin (K):
(L)+(M)+(H): I understand that for all plant types it should be at 6500K.
5.Watts per Gallon (W/g):
Although outdated, I know as I have had more success with some 25W T8's than other 30W T8's, it is still a nice rough figure when u don't have a Lumen rating of a light.
(L) 2
(M) 3
(H) 4+
The reason I want to make a list like this is, because sometimes specialized plant growing lights aren't always available to all of us and then it is a wild goose chase, also some plant growing bulb's are expensive and so you have to know what values to look for when searching cheaper alternative.
So with a little halp from the experienced aquascapers the everyday plant noob like me can select the right bulb without wasting money or breaking the bank by knowing what values to look for.
Looking forward to you're replies.
