lighting question

[ElectricBlueSeanBurch]

So a 48" fixture on a 72" tank? Were you planning on staggering and covering the entire tank, or just blast one side?

If you put all the lights on one end of the tank, in addition to the LEDs you should be able to grow low and medium light plants. As said above, watts per gallon is just a rough guideline but when you throw in LEDs it's meaningless. But with all 3 on the same side you'd easily grow swords, java fern, anubus, hornwort, water sprite, etc.

If you don't want a lop sided lit tank and you spread them out you should still be able to grow low light plants like water sprite. You can also always grow floating plants as the light is way more intense on the surface. Water lettuce and duckweed would thrive.


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I have the LEDs staggered for full coverage. I want to center all the T8's. tank is drilled and has around 2700-3000gph so floating plants wouldn't really work. Plus lights will be mounted in my canopy around 12" over the tank...

 

[ElectricBlueSeanBurch]

Any other input? so far I have heard that I might be able to have basic plants AND I can probably keep low-medium light plants. Also is 6500k bulbs the best way to go?

 

[bbortko]

I was growing swords and green tiger lotus with a marineland doublebright in my 125. They might grow faster and bigger with more powerful lighting but should do fine. If you get swords or tiger lotus make sure to use root tabs since they are heavy root feeders.