My Amatitlania Nanolutea and friends journal

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

How much do you know about lights and planted tanks? (just asking as I odnt want to overstep my boundaries)

The difference of the lines is and I quote

True 660nm Deep Red LEDs
The Planted+ 24/7 CRV incorporates true 660nm Red LEDs - a spectrum that efficiently maximizes photosynthesis activity within plants as well as extending a pleasantly warm tone throughout one's aquarium.

I have not read from their website or product listing on Amazon etc that one line of lights are ment to be used with CO2.

If I may.

660 is the best spectrum of red to grow with but it isn't necessary. The fertilizer, light and co2 (if you're counting it into the equation) ratio has to be balanced to minimize algae and give the plants the maximum opportunity to grow. Co2 maximizes that growth period (by plants absorping of co2) but with a weak light it will not be able to efficiently absorb the co2. The reverse is also true. If you have high light but not enough co2 the plants will do what they can with the available light/co2/ferts but not maximize. Algae, on the other hand, doesn't care about co2. It'll just use the light to photosynthesize and thus can create an algae out break.

However this is an adjustable fixture so if you turned the power down a little you should be good to go.

I also wouldn't justify spending that much money on an aquarium light. But that's just a personal thing.

 

[Jexnell]

Honestly I don't know crap about plants.

I just wanted a good light for plants that I don't have to turn on and off all the time. So figured this would do all that for me. Really not much cost difference from the two. I need 2X 3foot lights to cover the 6ft tank. The HLCs are 92 each, CRVs 120. In my eyes thats not really a difference. But if I only need the HCLs for my use thats what I'll get.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Honestly I don't know crap about plants.

I just wanted a good light for plants that I don't have to turn on and off all the time. So figured this would do all that for me. Really not much cost difference from the two. I need 2X 3foot lights to cover the 6ft tank. The HLCs are 92 each, CRVs 120. In my eyes thats not really a difference. But if I only need the HCLs for my use thats what I'll get.

ok. Just checking

I mean you could go even cheaper (and forgo the timer) but there ant many light with built in timers.
184 and 220 is I big difference to me. Id prefer to spend that money on plant, hardscape, fish etc. What plants do you have? You probably only need the HLC although. But it's your money. You do what ever you want with it!

 

[Jexnell]

Cryptocoryne lutea Pot X2
Proserpinaca palustris X2
Sagittaria Chilensis (Sagittaria platyphylla) X10
Sagittaria Subulata (Sagittaria subulata) X10
Sword Radican Sword Pot (Echinodorus cordifolius) X2
Vallisneria Italian (Vallisneria spiralis) X10

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Cryptocoryne lutea Pot X2
Proserpinaca palustris X2
Sagittaria Chilensis (Sagittaria platyphylla) X10
Sagittaria Subulata (Sagittaria subulata) X10
Sword Radican Sword Pot (Echinodorus cordifolius) X2
Vallisneria Italian (Vallisneria spiralis) X10

Yeah. You'll do fine with the HLC.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

And to e clear you are NOT using co2 correct?

 

[Jexnell]

And to e clear you are NOT using co2 correct?

No co2, was looking into that and too spendy for the tank and valve, etc. Double the cost of those good lights was cheapest I found, unless I can find a used setup.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

No co2, was looking into that and too spendy for the tank and valve, etc. Double the cost of those good lights was cheapest I found, unless I can find a used setup.

You could do DIY co2. I even know someone who uses the HLC with DIY Co2 but if I were to do co2 I'd probably get that light you were looking at.

 

[angelcrze]

I agree, I have the HLC too and it's perfectly fine for my low tech setup. I love it actually. The CRV is better, it represents the sun spectrum much closer, and the 660 red is expensive to add so that's why it costs more to buy. But for low tech, the HLC is all you'll need. My tank is 26" deep btw.

You could get the CRV if it's not a big deal in price, but you don't NEED it for low tech. You can just set the intensity lower like dwarfcichlidlvr said, but you'll have all you need with less expensive HLC. And I like that the HLC uses a 4-way chip so the spectrum is spread out well (without separate colour beams shining down).

 

[Jexnell]