(Part 3) Reddit mentions: The best aquarium lights

I would highly suggest you stay away from the integrated kit approach and buy components. As someone currently trying to overcome an Eclipse system, the burdens far outweigh the benefit of integrations and ease. There's more than enough on getting adequate components here, and I would be happy to help you out with the decision, as would others.

Seeing as how you (thankfully) seem to like to take your time and do this right, I offer you some suggestions:

• Whatever tank you want. They're not going to have the greatest selection at Petsmart, but if you find something you like, get it. There's other places online that will ship the tank, but this is probably your best bet to get locally. Though the LFS isn't stocked very well, they might have a number of respectable tanks. Make this decision count-- you will be stuck with it for a long long time, and the ability for your tank to grow with your tools/abilities is crucial.
  
  
• Just pony up the money and get an Eheim Classic. For a 20G, you'll probably want to get this one. If you're getting anything larger than a desktop tank (and, BTW, that's a pretty good one), you'll need a real filter. This may seem excessive, but the dainty POS filters that come in kits ALWAYS wind up biting you in the ass. There are people here that are still using the same Eheim Classic that they purchased 15 years ago. It's a standard for a reason-- it's effective and reliable. Pay for it once and you'll never have to buy another unless you really move up in size. If you really don't want to go that expensive, the best bet is to stick with an Aquaclear filter. For the price, these things do a bang-up job!
  
  
• Just don't skimp on a heater. This will do you well, and it's not too expensive. You don't want your fish either roasting to death or accidentally freezing in the middle of winter. Hagen is a good brand to go to here.
  
  
• LED lights these days are great, and have hit a point where the ROI is seen far earlier than previously, and I'm talking about a year. When you get fluorescent tube fixtures, you use more power and have to replace the lights at least every year, and some replace them every 6mo. It depends on how much light you need, but again, I feel you need to recognize that you will grow with this tank, and buying a lighting system now that is cheaper but unable to grow plants will wind up costing you way more in the long run than just getting an LED fixture for 60% more that will last you years and require very little money after the initial purchase. For a first-time tank, I'd suggest a Marineland Singlebright if you really never envision yourself growing plants (which is half the fun in a tank these days), or a Marineland Doublebright if you'd like to grow plants and want an easy, cheaper option now. Know that those two fixtures are the lower end of the LED lighting bars, and you would do well with something like an Ecoxotic Stunner, where you can start with a fixture or two and then add on to the circuit later when you want more light for more plants. Also note the size of all of these fixtures have to be in line with the size of your tank-- there's no universal size.
  
  
• Note, also, that if your LFS sucks in the stock department, and Petco irks you as much as a lot of people here, there's many places where you can order fish and plants online. I haven't heard any horror stories with the big guys, so maybe check them out. Unfortunately, my LFS's are great, so I've never had to resort to these means. I've heard good things about aquabid, and really, you should join plantedtank.net and see what you can find either locally or on the buy/sell/trade forum. Also, joining a local aquatic org can open you up to a ton of CHEAP possibilities.
  
  Good luck. There's lot to research and plan, as well as to spend on, but getting a good setup is so rewarding and relaxing, that it pays back in spades.

For indoor growing I would stick to various tropical plants, sundews, butterworts should be fine. You can probably grow some pitchers too, again, just stick to a tropical variety.

For the medium, just check the species, most like the same soil and conditions, but not all. I'd pick species that all like the same conditions (the Mexican butterworts like it more alkaline and better draining).

As for lighting, I'd pick something that is either near daylight spectrum (~5770k), or a "grow" bulb. I use a Finnex Ray2 because it's really bright and looks nice, but it's not cheap. My VFT's are very deep red under that and my light meter says it's brighter at 6 inches than the pair of T8 bulbs is with the meter touching the bulb. 10000k is basically blue, you don't want that, 7000k is the high end, it's not too bad. If you go with the LED option, there are loads of purple grow lights. These are special lights that only put out light plants need. The LEDs are narrow band and tend to be higher efficiency, and they are of colors that the plants convert better. The result is that the same power level can feel many times brighter to a plant but not to you. If you're looking for efficiency this is the best, but the plants absorb all the light and your plants will look black under the very bright lights. If you want your plants to look good, this is not the right choice. You might consider mixing these with a white light to give you colors if you want it to look ok.

Hey! I run a 10 gallon planted tank that is definitely easy for beginners. It's all super low-tech.

1. Substrate is just new gravel you might want to use. Some folks might suggest soil, more finely crushed gravel, or sand, etc. It's honestly more of a personal choice if you only use more hardy plants. I just use finer gravel I got from the LFS.
   
   
2. Anything petco/petsmart sells would be fine. So anubias, water ferns, etc. I know some bettas love broad leaves, some like thick, tall plants they can hide around/in. There's really no bad plant, imo!
   
   
3. Again, anything that is at a chain pet store. If you go to a locally owned fish store they will have harder to care for plants that will require more intense lighting, C02 dosing, more regular nutrient dosing, etc. The hardiest and easiest plants will be Water Wisteria, Anubias, Java Moss, Java Fern, African Water Fern, Amazon Sword, etc. I'd google low light plants and just pick what you like :)
   
   
4. I'd suggest investing in a full spectrum LED. Plants need "colors" in their lights to survive and full spectrum implies it has white, red, green, and blue light. Most people use lights that have a 6,500K (Kelvins) rating or "daylight" brightness. Anything over 10,000K is for coral aquariums, I think. I don't know my saltwater tanks LOL. Lower Kelvin rating has a more red hue, higher kelvin rating has a more blue hue. Anything less than ~5,000K might not grow your plants well from what I understand. If you have some extra bucks to swing, I'd suggest this light (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0HMWHW/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER) or something very similar to it. This one is cool because it has custom lighting options as well as a day/night cycle. LED is the best way to go for your money in my opinion. No bulb changes, cooler lighting options, doesn't give off heat, etc. You do NOT need to worry about C02 if you have all low tech plants. I don't mess with C02. Low C02 + too much light (over 7,000K-8,000K) will cause algae from what I understand. You can buy a tiny bottle of like seachem flourish if you want to be able to micro dose nutrients like potassium, etc. I'll link to this little guide of plant growth that will show you what to look for in case of a nutrient deficiency. Here (http://aquathusiast.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Freshwater-Plant-Nutrient-Deficiency.png)
   
   
5. Just let 'em be! Low tech doesn't need anything special. Have your regular day/night cycle, good 6,500-7,000K lights, and they should be fine. I have the worst green thumb in the world and still manage to have plant growth :)
   
   
6. I would say so. Your tank definitely does. I know of some people who planted their tanks so well they don't even need to do water changes. I don't know how they managed that. Witch craft, probably.
   
   
7. Adding plants shouldn't affect the cycle as far as I know? You will deal with plant debris, biofilm (oily like thing at water surface), etc but it's all natural. Someone else might have more knowledge on this. I didn't see any difference in my cycle.
   
   
8. You don't NEED one, but that cool LED I linked above does have a night cycle ;) As long as they have 6-8 or 8-10 hours to photosynthesize properly during the day they should be fine.
   
   
9. Like for moving to a new house, etc? Bag them in enough tank water that they are submerged. Low tech plants are super hardy, I promise :) Some plants might go into "shock" but will quickly revive with proper conditions again.
   
   
10. They might nibble at them! Especially any hanging plants such as dwarf water lettuce. My little guy doesn't ever "eat" them though.
    
    I think I covered everything but I will add more if anything else pops up in my mind. Getting into mid or high tech planted tanks is a little overwhelming so I'd definitely suggest taking it one step at a time. It's a learning process but it's fun.

Fair enough - shows why I'm a biology person and not a chemistry person. lol

​

I was discussing this topic with a colleague today (physics/chemistry teacher and avid potter), and he was explaining to me the chemistry of clay and explaining it's aluminum content. So that all makes sense now, but I just still don't fully understand how the aluminum could move from the form found in clay (or Flourite) to the plants. I guess I need to do some more research on that aspect of all of this...

​

Also, I crunched the numbers and found that 10 µM = 3,703.7 mg/kg and 75 µM = 27,777.8 mg/kg. Now compare that to the Seachem products: 10,210 mg/kg (Mineral), 33,150 mg/kg (Black), and 15,710 mg/kg (Red). Again, this leaves me to look into what the chemical processes are and how the aluminum is both fixed and able to move between the involved components.

​

Of course one of the first things that I came across was all of the ADA stuff but...

1. I don't have money like that. Again, I'm a teacher... lol
   
2. I originally wanted to create a true biotope and have every aspect as true as possible to the organisms' native area.
   
   So with that in mind, I've gotten to the point where I think I'm going to layer my substrate and aim for a Walstad Method-esque approach. I'm currently planning on doing a clay layer to assist with CEC, iron needs, and root attachment; a layer of Rhyzomat with Flora-spore to further encourage strong root growth; and I'm still debating about how I want to set up the top layer.
   
   ​
   
   I already purchased an 8 kg (17.6 lbs) bag of Fluval Stratum Plants that I plan to mix with some other leftover aquasoil that a friend passed on to me (no idea what brand it is exactly, though). I've thought about putting down a layer of the aquasoils capped with Black Diamond blasting sand but I've also thought about doing the opposite (soil on sand). Suggestions?
   
   ​
   
   Also, for reference, I'll be running an overflow sump and I have two 4 ft Beamsworks lights (DA FPEC and DA 6500K discus). I'm still figuring out if I'll use ferts or not and I have no intention of using CO2 in the near future.

Okay say you want to start with a 10g due to space constraints. Thats okay, its a nice starter size. Easy to work with space, easy water changes, just not a lot of livestock but thats okay we can concentrate on plants.


10g: $14

Stand: ..depending on what kind you get, used, material, etc etc lets say $25-40

Glass top: maybe $20 or so http://www.amazon.com/All-Glass-Aquarium-AAG29020-20-Inch/dp/B0002AS7ZI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398525732&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+top

Light: also depends on what kind you get. Low easy set up? A light might just be $20. Something higher power? $50+~~~? I have a fugeray on my 10g http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Aquarium-Moonlights-12-Inch/dp/B007URQQMC



Substrate: I'd keep it basic and stick with ecocomplete, fluorite, or whatever popular commercial ones are out there. $20 a bag.

Root tabs, fertilizer, CO2 supplement: Dont need it, helpful, $15-20+

Driftwood: You can get nice cheap ones like malaysian and mopani starting at $4-10... depending on size. Then theres fancier ones like manzanita, grapewood, etc that can be $20 a piece.


Heater: $20

Thermometer: $2-4

Liquid Test kit: for checking water parameters, highly recommended. $30

Tetra safestart or bottle of ammonia: To either jumpstart cycle or doing a fishless cycle $4-10

Filter: Really depends on what you are planning to get too. If you are doing simple, low amount of fish, like 5-8 little ones or shrimp.. no problem with getting a basic 10g aqueon or tetra filter.. $16-20 If you know you'll be putting in a lil bit more or want a bit more customization, the aquaclears are very very nice $20-30. For SUPER cleaning, a canister filter (theres many different brands) but the price does go up and it needs to be placed under the tank- like in the tank stand. $50-100. Getting filters rated for higher than your tank is a good idea, but something TOO high will cause crazy water flow issues. I had a 20g with a aquaclear filter for a 110g tank and it worked fine for me. But the water coming out of the filter might have blown stem plants all crazy if I had plants in there.




Plants: $1-?? depending on quantity, quality, rarity. I often buy from local sellers or hobbyists at theplantedtank forums.
Fish: ??? up to you

CO2 setup: Optional. Can be DIY yeast set up which costs a few bucks to hundreds of dollars for fancy equipment.

I'm going to make this list assuming that you have Amazon in your area and that either you or someone you know has Amazon Prime. If not, then think of this as more of a template that you can tweak using what you have available to you:

• Tank: Finnex Rimless - This isn't a prefab as much as it is just a blank slate. 7.5 gallons is ample room for a nice little shrimp colony, the tank itself is quite attractive and Finnex is one of my more favored brands for LEDs.
  
  
• Filtration: Depending on your personal preference, I tried/like both the Tom Mini Filter and Deep Blue Biomaxx Nano. They're both quiet, gentle and have few moving parts for easy maintenance and cleaning. It just depends on whether you like submersible or HOB style filters, though if using the Biomaxx I'd suggest wrapping the intake with coarse filter pads or a sponge.
  
  
• Substrate: Eco-Complete - You'll probably be able to grow just about any plant you desire in this stuff, it's dirt cheap compared to other brands and is just as easy to use as plain old normal gravel. One bag should be all you need.
  
  Hopefully you have Amazon Prime available to you where you are, and if so none of this requires any shipping charge. If you do at most this will cost you $115.79, leaving you lots of money to spend on shrimp and plants! Hope this was helpful to you, best of luck!

Bleu has been happily living on my desk in my home office for about 2 weeks, the tank has been setup for about a month. He's currently the only inhabitant and I will likely be adding a few striped khuli loaches or some shrimp in the near future I haven't decied which direction to go yet. I also am trying to track down some floating plants but haven't had any luck at my LFS or Petsmart, I might check Petco in a larger city this weekend that's about an hour away or some LFS in that area.



Equipment:

10 Gallon tank from Petco $1/gallon sale

Aqueon 06105 Pro Heaters Submersible Aquarium Heater, 50-Watt

Marina Stainless Steel Thermometer

Perfecto Manufacturing APF33200 Glass Canopy Aquarium, 20-Inch

Marineland Single Bright LED Lighting System 18-24-Inch

Quantity 2 Marina S10 Power Filter

Penn Plax Hide-Away Stackable Stone Aquarium Ornament

Natural sand substrate

1 Java Fern

1 Wisteria (I think...)

I'm going to move the Java Fern today I read last night you aren't supposed to bury the Rhizome so I need to get it attached to a rock or piece of drift wood. I think a decent size piece of drift wood would help the barren look as well on the right until I can get some additional plants. The tank itself has been doing great the filters are very low current which is perfect for Bleu. I've been using the API freshwater master test kit to keep an eye on things and doing about a 25% water change every two weeks.

• edit: I'm using some filter floss and ceramic in one of the S10 filters with some filter sponge and the original filters in the other plus some filter floss in the output

So, here's my journey thus far...

Star date 4-25-2013#

There's a knock at the door, rushed footsteps, and the sound of the USPS truck speeding away. I go outside to find a note saying the mailman knocked and I wasn't home, and that I can wait until tomorrow or pick my package up.

I go to USPS hours later, when my package was returned, and take it home to give my 20G Long the business.

The package contains Riccia Fluitans, Lilaeopsis Mauritiana (Micro Sword), and Nymphaea stellata (Dwarf Lilly Plant).

I'm excited, as I've always sucked with fish, but my recent adventures with Aquaponics has given me confidence, now that I understand that I'm essentially taking care of the water and the bacteria.

Petco had a sale, $1 per gallon, so I picked up a 20G Long. One thing that I learned from aquaponics, is that fish usually prefer length to depth. I got a glass lid, some organic potting soil, and I went to a local hardware store and got 50lbs of pool filter sand for $10.

So, I made a 3" deep layer of miracle grow, poured some water from my aquaponics fishtank in there (enough to get it wet), then pulled my plants out.

The Dwarf Lilly Plants looked like two chestnuts with a tiny little stem coming out. When I tried planting them, I broke the stem on one, and the other just flopped over. I thought, "Well, that's a load of crap." because I figured I had just wasted $8. But I figured that plants were resilient and I'd wait them out.

When I took the Micro Sword out, I saw that they were planted in rockwool, which was super annoying to get them out of. I didn't know exactly how to do it, but I just started stripping it away, layer by layer. It worked, mostly. Did some damage to the root systems, but it happens.

I planted these in the back left corner of the tank, and then realized, I should have capped the dirt. So, I started pouring a layer of sand in there, around an inch or so across the top.

Next, I had my Riccia Fluitans to "plant". I was surprised that I couldn't really find any "roots" for these guys, but I figured they'd come out eventually. I later was told that they are actually a MOSS, and to carpet with them, they pretty much have to be adhered to something (a mesh net, or the like).

Star Date 5-15-2013#

My Dwarf Lilly Plants are growing! But so is mold!! It's gray. I leave it, and I pour more water in the tank, too much. Now there's an algae problem. My Riccia Fluitans isn't doing ANYTHING just sitting across the sand, in little lumps, being lame. I start to push on the substrate and gas bubbles escape. They smell terrible, but I like to blame it on the nanny, and tell her to please "mind herself".

Star Date 6-1-2013#

My realization that the Riccia Fluitans isn't going to be as cool as I thought has sunk in. I'm going to order some Dwarf Baby Tears. Also, at some point I picked up a Finnex Fugeray 30" light. Pretty stellar buy, worth it.

Star Date 6-4-2013#

Dwarf Baby Tears are here, and planted. I decided to kill the mold: 4 parts water to 1 part hydrogen peroxide. I move the Riccia Fluitans to the corner of the tank, I'm going to turn my driftwood into a Bonzai tree clone when I fill it. The Riccia Fluitans has survived thus far, and they should be okay in the corner.

Star Date 6-8-2013#

Looking over what I should fill my tank with. Currently, I'm looking at some (12) Harlequin Rasbora (they take up the top portion of the tank), a Black Veil Angel Fish (as a predator fish, to encourage schooling of the Harlequin Rasbora), with some Japonica Amano and Red Cherry Shrimp on the bottom, maybe a Hammers Cobalt Blue Lobster as well. Was considering an African Dwarf Frog, too, but maybe later on. I hear they're difficult to get to eat, unless you baby them.

The concern I have with the Black Veil Angel Fish is that the recommended tank size is 30G, but I only have a 20G tank. So I don't know if that would be cruel.

I'm also thinking about getting a filtration system. I'd like to stay away from CO2 injection, as well. Need to also figure out what to feed my fish and possible invertebrates.

If your light fixture supports two bulbs, I would go with a pair of these to keep things under a budget

If it only supports one bulb and you are wanting to do a planted tank, I would look at another lighting option, probably an LED fixture like this. I use one of these for my 20 long and have great growth with zero algae.

Additionally, and you might already have everything, I would invest in a filter and a heater as well. Also drain the water and put the tank on a sturdy shelf for optimal viewing (and so you don't accidentally kick it... yes I've made that mistake before with a temporary tank). A filled 10 gallon tank can easily tip the scales over 120 pounds.

Edit: Welcome to the hobby! May it slowly take over your room, house, and life if all goes well.

I don't have that exact one, but I did buy another similar finnex on amazon 3 months ago, and I love it. This one also has the planted+ led. The glass is super clear, and the seals are really cleanly done.

As I'm writing this, i've just seen that you also have chosen to get it. just a warning, the light is pretty strong for that tank even for how small it is. I wasn't expecting it to be so strong, so i'd either raise it up or use a lower intensity light if you wanna go low tech. atm, im using a dual lighting setup using the planted+ and an ikea lamp for different hours of the day to combat the outbreak but also allowing my pps pro dosing to be more efficiently used up.

Here's my progress on my first planted tank http://imgur.com/a/PL6rV

The Fluval Chi might be a good tank, but might be more difficult to find a good light to fit it.

I'd recommend the ADA substrate system. It's more expensive than Fluval but ultimately worth it.

As for a filter, the tank I've suggested has one built in, but if you don't go for that, then YES! If you've got critters in it, filter the water. (Also get a heater!)

I'm currently running a Fluval Spec 19L using a combination of this substrate, along with the power sand and some other substrate additives (all sold on that site). I'm growing HC Cuba (dwarf baby tears) and it's doing well with plentiful CO2 using one of these and lots of light with two of these.

You didn't sound rude at all! And best of luck with your tank adventures.

The light is this: http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Fugeray-R-Ultra-Aquarium-Fixture/dp/B00BP6QGIS

And yes, the DHG is growing very nicely. I got a small package of it from Petco, the kind that comes in a gel around the roots, and instead of cutting it into tiny pieces as is recommended, I broke it into about 6 large chunks. They've grown very well under that light and it looks like an almost solid mass now. I'll post pics in the morning!

I have a finnex fugeray planted+ on mine that does a good job growing plants, but the beamswork DA FSPEC gives you way more bang for the buck. I'd grab that, a timer, and a dimmer in case its too bright and giving you algae.


There are a couple southeast asian biotope ideas here. Just research the specific fish you want so you can provide their requirements. Like hillstream loaches need a strong directional current, cooler water, and be kept in groups of 6+

If you're interested in the LED route, I've had great success with this light so far! I've had this set up for about a month Finnex Stingray Aquarium LED Light, 48-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NAFQ99I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_4DCAIKdF44v6m

Just look at the fantastic progress my Perle has made in the past couple weeks https://i.imgur.com/UPnC1BW_d.jpg?maxwidth=640&shape=thumb&fidelity=high

I have a very simple growth space, since most of my orchids are generic NOID. My husband and I share the greenhouse, where he has carnivores plants on the top shelf and I get the bottom shelf for my orchids. We lined our greenhouse with foil to help retain some of the heat and light. We also have the greenhouse set up on an 9(?) hour automatic timer with a monitor that automatically turns on the humidifier if it drops below 60%.

Overall, all the den set up in the back and oncidium, Miltoniopsis & Zygo in the front.The fan is set to the left side of the greenhouse and blowing diagonally across due to a temporary overcrowded greenhouse. I hadn’t figure out where to put my Maui lollipop yet, since it’s so small compare to the other ones

The overall condition is intermediate, humidity 70-80%, temp between 55-80F for night and day difference. The light is about medium shades?

• Greenhouse
  
  
• 2 Lights
  
  
• humidifier
  
  
• fan
  
  All of my phals are grown on windowsill!
  
  I would love some suggestions! So far everything has worked out, except one den’s leaves is turning yellow at the tips right now

No problem. Give these threads a read and you will understand PAR sufficiently link 1 link 2

At 10000K you're a bit high for most freshwater purposes. Although it is far worse to be low than high. If you can, aim for around 7000K.

That par is low for plants at your substrate. You want to be at least 30 par at your substrate. This would explain some of your algae problems, as insufficient light can cause algae the same as too much light. Insufficient light leads to an imbalance of nutrients where your plants won't be able to take full advantage of nutrients, which is where opportunistic algae will gladly step in.

I have a finnex planted+ 24/7 on my 10 gallon. The nice thing about that one is the intensity is adjustable. Note that you'll probably need a different length and that generally PAR will increase with length since more bulbs are added.

I just put a finnex fugeray on a 55 gallon, but it is really too early to give an accurate statement to its quality since I haven't had it very long and my tank is not yet established. I basically got it because I was satisfied with my other finnex product. So far it looks extremely bright so I think it will do.

And finally I should just reiterate, you will probably have to drop a chunk of change on a quality light. There are many LEDs out there that look bright to us but don't have sufficient penetration for plants. Yet marketers will gladly tell you they are. Make sure you find those readings otherwise don't bother!

If your planning to do a carpeted tank like I “thought” I could do, make sure to not add large aggregate substrate as it will make carpeting difficult if not impossible. I do weekly water changes of about 30-40%.

My stocking is 7 (used to have eight) neon tetras, one clown pleco, one albino bristlenose pleco, and one Werner killifish. Since I have a relatively high stocking with so much live algae and microorganisms, my plecos produce a lot of waste, so I feel the need to do regular and relatively large water changes.

I’ve bought like three different lights trying to find a good cheap one that does the job and promotes strong plant growth and i have settled on this one light. I really like it and it has a plug that you can connect a timer to control both, day and night lights if you want to.

Here is the link:

Light:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019YXYO1E?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Timer:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00EDMOHH8?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

No problem, doesn't hurt to restate. I asked because there are a few different 15's - tall, long, and one in the middle. The tall one requires brighter lights to get the same effect.

Usually, for fluorescents it's actually cheaper to get grow lights than aquarium lights - the fixture may not be as elegant but if you're OK with it, it will save some money.

If you want medium or low light in a tank that short, a single T5HO or low power LED would work. Here and here are a couple options. You're kinda unfortunate with that size since the standard T5 bulb sizes are 22" - it will stick over the edges of the tank and be annoyingly bright.

For "high" light, which you really need for a good carpet, a dual 20" T5HO fixture like this would work well and actually be a little cheaper than the grow light options, but with the nonstandard bulb sizes sometimes they really gouge you on replacement bulbs.

Beamswork DA 6500K 0.50W Series LED Pent Aquarium Light Freshwater Plant Discus (90c... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYELCSA/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_rYfMBbT1TGHVK

Very happy! I do have a dimmer which in my mind is a must for this or else it is very bright. I went with the Current USA online dinner on amazon.

Went from 8 jungle Val 3 months ago to “I can’t count how many anymore” haha.

Thanks so much for you help and advice, it is definitely appreciated. Would you be able to give your thoughts if I added this to my tank?

https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Hidden-Strip-Light-17-Inch/dp/B0081FXWF6

Tank Size: Standard 10 gallon.

Light type: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFF07BU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
24"
Your photoperiod or schedule (when are you lights on, and when are they off?): After about a year of having this light, 6 hours is too much (algae problems) but 4 hours works well for me.

Filtration including gallons per hour:
Aqua Clear 20
Substrate:
Flourite black
CO2 (and how it's distributed):
Pressurized paintball co2 with a diffuser.

Fertilization or dosing, if any: ei dosing once a week.

Tank stock: 4 female baby bettas

So my question is that where is my optimal placement of the diffuser? Should I move my filter? Do I need a powerhead (the tank is so small so idk)? The reason I ask is because I just see all the co2 go straight up. The drop checker doesnt turn any other color than blue (which I know you want it in the green but Im afraid to gas my fish, Bubbles per sec are about 1.5)

AquaBid is just eBay but for fish. Just be careful with who you buy it from. International shipments will require you to work out transshipper stuff, which might be your actual question? I would justbuy domestically. If you're in the US, Guppy Train breeds some nice ones.

This NICREW light:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C84SLRO/

With this dimmer+ramp timer combo:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KYLX2P6/

Start off with the dimmer to around 50% since it's around 59 PAR by default and you're getting really easy plants. Adjust the dimmer as needed to avoid algae/promote plant growth.

Ocean Revive

I've had really good luck with mine so far. i have a 29g aga and it has a timer for blues and whites and I have a mixed reef tank and it takes good care of everything on low settings.

As other people have said it all really depends on what light your going for. Something I always have to recommend though since it's treated me so well are the new Beamswork LED's. Make sure you get the 6500K Full Spectrum light but they would be great fine for any low-mid level plant and are extremely reasonably priced.

This light in particular

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 for $80. You don't have to use the 24/7 mode, just adjust it to your liking and put it on a timer.

On my 10 gallon I have this cheap Chinese alternative and it works great, the 24/7 colors aren't as pretty as the Finnex but it's certainly bright and adjustable.

I don't know if its possible to stop the order, but you should just get dry ferts from GLA or NiloCG. They are much cheaper and much easier to dose correctly.

You should go for the Beamswork DA FSPEC. You can see the PAR data here. Keep in mind you may have algae issues at the start until you get your CO2 worked out and sufficient plant mass.

Here's the light, seems like it's programmable. Another thing I'm trying to make sense of is using the sump . I know I need a return pump and from what I've gathered it should be about 200 gph. Don't fully understand the filter sock part. Also the middle chamber should have the skimmer and macroalgae?

There's a supposedly pretty good shop near me for saltwater. I'll probably go check it out this weekend as well. Go that route for water until
I have some extra for the RO/DI system.

I'm just starting to build a new 20high and picked up this nice LED on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N4FS6ZU
It got some pretty nice reviews for an affordable price
Hope this helps

Flow might be the problem, in so far as it's directed towards one side, and the other might not be getting enough. I did remove approximately half of what is in there currently to try to improve the flow, but it may be my design more than any blockage.

The light is this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GFTK7CQ

I can't really say if it's better or worse than any other light, since it's the only one I've owned. For the price point though, I'm very happy with it. It does have the digital timer/remote with it. In the pictures I posted, I had the whites up to 100%, and the blues at 0%. I'll post more pictures of different light settings when I get home if you'd like.

I have this tank I bought from Amazon that is a square cube that is a bit bigger than you are looking for at 7.5 gallons but has been a great tank combo for me.
Amazon Link

Here are a couple shots of my cube set-up from the top and front view.

It is a nice little low iron cube.

I am pretty sure this is the one I have but make sure you measure your tank before purchasing one!

Plants use CO2 in photosynthesis, and for the DIY I made it from this website and it works like a charm.

You may have to adjust for your tank size.

I've been using the Finnex fugeray 30 inch for my 20 long. Its pricey, but comes highly recommended among hobbyists, and looks beautiful.
Finnex Fugeray 30"

Depends on your size tank. I'm going with oceanrevives on my new tank build. A 40 breeder. https://www.amazon.com/OceanRevive®-Arctic-T247-Spectrum-Dimmable-Aquarium/dp/B00YOYD3K2/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=oceanrevive&qid=1551396613&s=gateway&sr=8-1

An aquamaxx prism I hear is ok as well. If your in the 10-20 gal range, go with an aquaknight. One of the best lights for the price and can grow anything and looks nice as well.

Oh, I also made this thread a few days ago for situations like this. Tho we did have a few people still suggesting the high priced lights. They had good intentions but that thread was not for those lights.

https://www.reddit.com/r/ReefTank/comments/aueo7u/good_strong_budget_light_for_a_40_breeder/

These Beamswork lights get recommended a lot, I'm sure the Finnex is much higher quality but these are cheap. I don't know which model would be best for you.

A Current USA Orbit Marine may be okay for a small, shallow tank. Its PAR is enough for low light level corals if placed 6" from the light. PAR data for their lights is here if you're interested.

EDIT: Make sure it would fit length-wise, or you can mod it to fit.

Aquaclear filter either this size or the next size up, but not smaller.

Some other lighting options include this one which is brighter than the one you've selected or this one which is both brighter and far more customizable.

Flourite black sand

Fluval heater

The 10000k beamswork is 49 . I was told that the 6500k option wouldn't be enough light and I would need the more powerful light. But I need to look into the light you posted. It might be a good option for me.

Their timer is $15 the reason for this timer is that it lets you set a time for both daylight and moonlight.

Which adds up to $65

The Fennex is $85 so difference is more like $20 so is there a $20 quality difference in the two.

Looks nice.

I wonder though, why are aquarium lights so bluish? Why not add more red to boost PAR and compensate for the absorption of the water? I'm just getting into the hobby and finding I'm not really happy with what other people call nice lights.

I just ordered a dimmer/timer for my Twinstar 450ES(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KYLX2P6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) so hopefully it works and I can get the sunrise/sunset effect soon.

https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Stingray-Aquarium-Light-48-Inch/dp/B00NAFQ99I

These lights are excellent. I used to have a large planted tank so I had one of these laying around and I've been using it for my succulents. It's been amazing and it should be somewhat water resistant because it's meant for aquariums? If it's not, look into submergible aquarium plant lights.

As bortko76 recommended, get a glass top such as the 30" Versa-Top, I picked one up at Petsmart for my 29g. Eheim canisters are good. I'm running an Eheim 2236.

For led lights, take a look at the Fugeray 30". These work very well for low light plants. The Ray 2 is available if you want to do a brighter light.

It's the Asta 20 from Amazon. I've heard people say it's a Kessil knock off. Pretty bright for $40 though!

Yeah I think I'll wait. I haven't moved my plants from my 10g/shrimp tank. What price range do you see the P+2/Elite in? Currently the P+ sits at $135(prime) & the DS2 sits at $165(prime) for the 48". I'm willing to go up to the $200 range, but I want to make sure it's worth it in the long run.

That fixture is either a cheapo piece of junk, or it has WAAAAAYY too much power for planted fresh. I know you want to shop and read some huge review, but the thing you want is this: http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-24-Inch/dp/B008RMFDEG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410889952&sr=8-1&keywords=finnex+ray2
I've been where you are and I've read way too much for my own good. There isn't anything that beats it for the price.

That 24" depth is pretty hard to get high light through to, especially for a low level carpeting plant. You will see that most tanks with a nice carpet have much shallower depths.

I am running a Finnex Planted + 24/7 on a 55g that is 18 inches and I think it puts me more at a medium light.

The Finnex Ray II is supposed to be more powerful I believe.

Amazon has it at $174 right now.

This thread on theplantedtank.net has the PAR information for the 48" Finnex Ray II. At 24 inches it is at 50 par which seems to be right there in the middle of medium light.

i have a finnex fugeray 30" on my 29 gallon (which is the same length as a 20g long.) its growing all my plants really well so far. id recommend it. pick it up on amazon for about 84bucks.

Thank you! I think the overall hardest thing to figure out what the type of light I needed. I was recommended this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4FS6ZU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DroWDbV02RCPP
And it has good reviews too so hopefully this works

I've had this 10 gallon for 3+ years and it's currently a breeding ground for snails and has 4 neon tetras. The only light it has is: https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Hidden-Strip-Light-17-Inch/dp/B0081FXWF6/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2Z5FRF67CSOQA&keywords=marineland+hidden+led&qid=1554389339&s=gateway&sprefix=marineland+hidd&sr=8-1

It used to be a planted tank and when my friend was watching it for me she dropped the hood into the tank and fryed it so I ghetto rigged the strip light into the hood. I have a HOB filter.

I'm considering totally rebuilding it, removing all the blue gravel and doing a nice planted tank with new substrate. Currently I have Java Fern and anubias which are doing great but obviously I'd have to replace the light system for more demanding plants. I need to have a hood because of my cats.

Any recommendations on how to go about rebuilding this tank? I do not have a ready to go tank to put the fish in but I do have a 5 gallon bucket.

Thanks!

Alright, thanks for that explanation about the lights, that definitely makes a lot more sense to me now. I have my eyes on this light at the moment. Using some tricks over at /r/beermoney, I should be able to purchase it at no cost to me in just over a month. (yay!)

I do have a solenoid, but still just measure via bubble count, which is typically around 1-2 bubbles per second.

Each time I dose, I'm dosing the following amounts and keep in mind I have a 72g tank.

Flourish - 6mL

Iron - 8mL

Phosphorus - 5mL

Trace - 17mL

Potassium - 12mL

I think your point about dosing on the water change day is extremely valid and I'll definitely adjust my dosing schedule to account for that.

Hmm, This is what I just bought for my new 55. Keep in mind lights for it are sold separately. Alternatively you can buy any of these 1 2 3 and they will work for your purposes. I use the marineland on my 10g and my plants just flourish! I've heard decent things about Finnex and Aqueon so they should be safe bets as well.

None of my planted tanks get direct sunlight and I do my best to avoid it as much as possible.

Look for lights made for planted tanks. If you are trying to keep the price low beamswork fulspec line has worked well for me. I currently have 5 and will probably end up with a lot more https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LFF07BU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_O1mSBb9NN0PF5

If you want to do plants with higher lighting demands though you will need a pretty serious light or multiple lights for a tank that deep.

My tank is a 10 gallon so I have an 18-in Beamswork DA FSPEC LED light with a timer sitting on a glass top. Pretty economical and it seems to pack quite a punch!

Light - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F1C6G8M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_EUyYCbX33NNAJ

Timer - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EDMOHH8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_IZyYCbVSQDB80

Glass top - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07NPYVP8T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_V0yYCb7NNJGEE

Thanks so much! The lamp is this one. I really like it, it's dimmable and has two different lenses (60 & 180 degrees).

This is a copy/paste from another thread I did on this tank:

Hey!
So I was in your boat 3 months ago and with the help of some local saltwater guys I got my tank up and running. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9FtqEUfgE[1] (looks a lot different now since i did some rescaping... I'll put a new video up soon)
Anywhosel... Don't go cheap... With anything... If you have to buy one piece at a time until you've got all your pieces do that. What I have:

Tank: http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392354430&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+spec+5[2]

Lights: http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-24-Inch/dp/B00GFTK7CQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1392354461&sr=8-4&keywords=orbit+usa+lights[3]

Pump: http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Mini-Jet-Powerhead-VERSION-Misc/dp/B009LN1HWW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1392354739&sr=1-1&keywords=mini+jet+606[4]

Powerhead: http://www.amazon.com/EcoTech-Marine-VorTech-Propeller-Aquarium/dp/B003HLO636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392354535&sr=8-1&keywords=vortech+mp10[5]

Gravity Tester: http://www.amazon.com/Salinity-Refractometer-Aquarium-Seawater-Agriculture/dp/B005ES6MOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1392354641&sr=1-1&keywords=Refractometer[6]

Glass Cleaner: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061PIRGW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=20GUT5T0T21NZ&coliid=I1FAC5MICMTB5T[7]

I had freshwater fish before the saltwater and it's wayyy more maintenance but way more fun. You will want to abandon the freshwater the moment you get the saltwater up and running.

I think these are popular and I saved the link for a future mini tank:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B075H47991

So I ended up spending a bit more, and I got this combo instead. Still seemed like a good deal, and I feel more comfortable with having a dwarf puffer in 7.5 gallons as opposed to 4. After adding on an aquaclear 20, it was about $50 more than the other kit for almost twice the tank, a better light, and better filter.

I haven't picked any plants out yet, but I think I have some more options now with the Planted+ light instead of just the cliplight. This will be my first planted tank, so I'm a bit nervous about going with stuff too difficult, but I definitely want a carpet, so I may go with some Marsilea Hirsuta.

I think the 30x12 inches is a 20 gallon long. I have this model and it works really well: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LFF07I8/ref=twister_B01LFF08QO?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1.

It's a little bright for a 20g long so I would get a dimmer

Well having the plants helps prevent the algae. Something's gotta eat the nutrients - may as well be more attractive. I have to clean my tank glass maybe once a year of any kind of algae buildup.

• This is the light I have on the tank:
  http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B008K3DO9I
  I tried to be fancy once and add an extra set of underwater LEDs but that just ended up looking funky.
  
• Water is plain old Houston tap water with just conditioner added each time I do a change. I change water once every 3 to 4 weeks.
  
• I have a siamensis, 6 cories, 2 ottos, and 6 female bettas as stock. Other than adding an extra cory today my stock hasn't really changed in a long while.

I went from a T8 bulb to a BeamWorks 6500k LED and have been enjoying it. They’re relatively cheap and from what I can tell, serving my 10g tank just fine so far.

CO2 and Excel should help to battle the algae.

Finnex LEDs may be a better option over Marineland IMO.

You may look at their FugeRay line for low/medium light plants or their RayII for medium/high light plants.

EDIT: I need to stop recommending lights without dimensions.

https://www.amazon.com/Beamworks-Beamswork-Aquarium-Freshwater-Discus/dp/B01N4FS6ZU


This one has worked well for my 20 gallon high :)

An LED fixture would replace the fluorescent fixture. The upfront cost is quickly offset by savings on electricity and replacement bulbs. If your tank is 24" deep or less, I would suggest these. If you need a light brighter than the sun for a very deep tank then you may look at this instead - be careful though, the brightness on the Ray2 can overwhelm many plants.

This is the light I use for my 5 gallon:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BP6QGIS/ref=pe_309540_26725410_item

For $40 bucks, you get great lighting, and a switch that turns on all the LEDs, or just the red ones.

It hangs, though, so if your tank has a plastic frame around the edges, you may have to mod it.

Ok so the lights you’re interested in have size restrictions?

I use Beamswork lights. More specifically the Beamswork FSPEC 10k lights seen here:

https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-FSPEC-Aquarium-Light-Freshwater/dp/B01LFF07XS/ref=asc_df_B01LFF07XS/

They are the best cost/perf lights in my opinion, but they do not offer any frills such as dimming or sunrise/sunset mode etc.

For that plant list and considering the height of a 10 gallon the nicrew should be fine. I recommend you also add on a nicrew dimmer in case it is too much and you start growing algae.

Lights: One cheap, one expensive. I have the nicrew, it does fine for my 10g (in my post history)

NICREW DeluxeLED Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum LED Light for Planted Tanks, 20 to 24-inch, 18-Watt, 1200 LM, 7500K https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071LJKNWS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xqXQAb6EVJ4YC

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Fully Automated Aquarium LED, Controller, 20 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0HMWHW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dsXQAbP4XB4J


Filter: One cheap option, one more expensive. You could probably downgrade the first filter for less gph (under 100) is probably better.

Marineland Penguin 200, Power Filter, 30 to 50-Gallon, 200 GPH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009IODZG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XsXQAb35KHD23

Finnex PX-360 Compact Canister Aquarium Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VFF8U4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UuXQAbQFZ3NTZ


Heater: Get two of these so you can heat up water for your water changes.

Aqueon Adjustable Submersible Aquarium Heater, 50W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YAJJZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZvXQAbGD1J83W

Hello, is this a decent aquarium light for a planted aq?

Thanks!

https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Stingray-Aquarium-Light-48-Inch/dp/B00NAFQ99I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479497912&sr=8-1&keywords=75+gallon+aquarium+light

Currently using this Beamswork light for my 37 gallon (about 24 inches from light to substrate) but I noticed that some plants don't receive as much light as others so I'm going to get this one as well, which is the same one just a bit longer. Will using both of these lights alongside CO2 give me "high" lighting and help me grow those more demanding plants?

Thanks!

Specs:

• [Marineland hidden LED strip] (https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Hidden-Strip-Light-17-Inch/dp/B0081FXWF6)
  
• Two 13w CFLs
  
• EI dosing
  
• DIY co2
  

This is the one i plant to order for my 6-Gallon

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H47991/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_jvELBbKEQFWWV

From what i’ve read and seen, it’s really bright and won’t break the bank too much

I added this strip next to the stock light and it looked really nice: http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Hidden-Strip-Light-17-Inch/dp/B0081FXWF6/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1422476097

This would be considered high tech. I have co2 pumping in there on a timer along with the light. Here is a link to my light:
Beamworks Beamswork DA 6500K 0.50W Series LED Pent Aquarium Light Freshwater Plant Discus (60cm - 24") https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N4FS6ZU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JCgTCb51NMJRB
I also dose Excel Flourish every other day and use root tabs.

I’ve been really happy with this Ocean Revive LED. Unfortunately, not dimmable for sunrise/sunset and a few other small criticisms, but it’s worked well.

https://www.amazon.com/OceanRevive®-Arctic-T247-Spectrum-Dimmable-Aquarium/dp/B00YOYD3K2

Heres a link, if your light has the plugs to connect this one into the main wire you should be good. Its $12.

NICREW Single Channel LED Light Timer for Aquarium, LED Digital Dimmer ClassicLED, ClassicLED Plus, BrightLED and Other Lights with Standard 2.5mm/2.1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KYLX2P6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_mgYYk66i5vWIW

will the Finnex Fuge Ray fit my 10 gal?

I was in the same boat as you on my 55 gallon CO2 tank and decided to give the Beamswork LED on Amazon a shot. So far very impressed but only time will tell as it has only been setup since Friday

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFF07XS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got the Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light and love it..


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GFTK7CQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I mean its not a pendant but it's way cheaper than other stuff so

For my 5.5 gallon I use a clamp desk light (13$ at Office Depot) with a 23 watt daylight cfl. I keep it on an 8 hour photo period and aside from the normal bit of brown glass algae at the start (went away after a week) it's done well for my plants. I had a finnex fugeray-r clip on LED (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BP6QGIS/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) that worked okay but was a few inches shorter than my tanks width and had no pivot. As for a filter, you will have at least a cord... these things need electricity. Try placing it on the side instead of the front/back. I'm using a Aquaclear 20 on mine with a fluval prefilter sponge. I can also suggest a Zoo Med 501 if you like a canister filter more.

It's fine for most fish. Some low light or nocterinal fish like plecos will want a cave tho.

If you aren't running CO2, you'll have a massive algae outbreak in a week tho. I use this dimmer and timer combo with my beamswork light: https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Aquarium-ClassicLED-BrightLED-Connectors/dp/B07KYLX2P6

Just letting you know, there are [three of the 20” available on Amazon for the discounted price: $34] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00U0HMWHW/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1&th=1). Just in case that was the size you wanted!

Link to a 20"


Link to a 16"

I've had the 18" Ray2 on my 20" 10 and 15 gallon tall tanks. However it won't reach the edges so I used a glass top. The legs can be moved is to fit smaller tanks but not out to fit larger ones.

I have a Current satellite + and while it has all types of adjustable setting i just never use them.

I just bought this BeamsWork and while it has no bells and whistles it's very bright. The Pent version has 5 rows of LEDs and rather cheap for what it is.

I would say its all what your looking for, fancy features or just a LED.

http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Aquarium-Moonlights-20-Inch/dp/B008K1YJSU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418405435&sr=8-3&keywords=20+inch+finnex

Maybe this? Someone on here can probably give better advice but it really depends on what you want to keep and want to spend. If you want lower light plants ebay has some cheap fixtures...

Finnex makes a clip-on for planted tanks, The FugeRay-R. That should work fine for your 5 gallon tank, and it's cheaper than the Planted+

Beamswork 48" is $66 on Amazon. There's a timer for it if you want for $17 as well.

You can also look into setting up a Walsted method tank i.e. a dirted tank. It’s my current obsession.

You basically put in a 1-2” layer of organic soil (no added fertilizer), another 1-2” of plain substrate (from Petco) and a decent LED light (I’ve got this one:
LED Aquarium Lighting Nano Fish... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075H47991?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share) on a 10 Gallon tank with some low to moderate light plants (like wisteria, java fern, Anubias and Amazon sword) and a sponge filter and it’s doing great. No need for CO2 or liquid fertilizers. What size tank do you have?

This is the one i bought
BeamsWork DA FSPEC LED Aquarium Light Pent Freshwater

here is the amazon link
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFF07XS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1


not sure my mine is not bright :(

You may be ok with just low light plants.

Beamswork makes relatively inexpensive but decent LED lights. One possible example:

https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-FSPEC-Aquarium-Light-Freshwater/dp/B01LFF07XS

If you didn’t have enough light with the 24/7, you can add a cheap 2nd led and just have it on for 5-6 hours to give you more light during peak times.

I use this one, you set the on/off time and it has a 15 minute fade in and out as the lights go on and off

here ya go!

finnex fugeray

Is this what you currently have?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008K3DO9I/ref=twister_B00DQCGL0W?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

7.5 Gallon Betta/Tetra Tank

• Size: 7.5g
  
• CO2: 20oz CO2 @ aproximately 30ppm during photoperiod only
  
• Substrate: Ecocomplete
  
• Ferts: Fish emulsion
  
• Lighting: Finnex FugeRAY Planted+ LED
  
• Filtration: HOB
  
• Flora: Java fern, Staurogyne Repens, Anubias
  
• Fauna: 6 Neon Tetras, 1 Male CT Betta
  

I just noticed you said cheap, my b

https://www.amazon.com/Finnex-KL-C30A-Planted-Aquarium-Light/dp/B00U0HMWHW/ref=asc_df_B00U0HMWHW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312134270368&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=219248835464729464&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011807&hvtargid=pla-590274858415&psc=1&th=1

Maybe one of these
https://www.amazon.com/OceanRevive-Arctic-T247-Spectrum-Dimmable-Aquarium/dp/B00YOYD3K2/ref=pd_sbs_86_4?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00YOYD3K2&pd_rd_r=A1R9Q2KMGE8TN081XDZW&pd_rd_w=KTe1w&pd_rd_wg=pDYgH&psc=1&refRID=A1R9Q2KMGE8TN081XDZW

65 bucks!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KYLX2P6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_W4A5CbM9TC6KQ

My tank is currently using a 48" Finnex Planted Plus. I also have a 48" Finnex Ray II I can add on.

Which light should I use? Or should I use both?

Here are the two:
http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Planted-Automated-Aquarium-Controller/dp/B00U0HMWHW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1449806814&sr=8-1&keywords=planted+tank+light

http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-FugeRay-Planted-Aquarium-Moonlights/dp/B00GH9HSC6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1449806814&sr=8-3&keywords=planted+tank+light

I'm guessing thats the finnex planted+ 24/7? Maybe just pair it with a Finnex Ray2.

Diy co2, 5 gal, eco complete w/root tabs. I have this lighting also.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BP6QGIS/ref=cm_sw_r_an_am_ap_am_us?ie=UTF8

It's a finnex clilp on. This one.

Finnex is releasing a new version of the planted+ in May. Built-in, programmable ramp timers, control over each RGB channel, and weather simulations. And priced about the same as their other models.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0HMWHW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2MJWW1EM95ANO&coliid=I20XL734X2LBF9&psc=1

This is the light I have:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFF07BU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I don't know if I can put a dimmer on that. Do you know of one that would work?

Tank is custom built, the light is a Finnex fugeray http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008K1YJSU/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm kinda on a budget. Would these work? http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008K1YJSU/ref=pd_aw_sbs_3/182-0453523-9543114?pi=SL500_SS115&simLd=1

Beamswork DA FSPEC

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LFF07XS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Finnex tank and FugeRAY Planted+ lighting

EHEIM Classic 250 (I have it going at about 3/4 max flow)

CaribSea substrate

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01KYELCSA?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

how are these for plants? are they comparable to this?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008K23JE4/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

because it's half the price.

Beamswork DA 6500k

This one. And here it is on my tank.

Tada!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008K3DO9I

I have a Finnex Light and I'm sorry, I don't know what DHG stands for

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U0HMWHW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

None. At best they're an estimate for flourescents on larger tanks, at worst wpg is completely inaccurate.

I would go with http://www.amazon.com/Finnex-Ray2-Aquarium-Daylight-24-Inch/dp/B008RMFDEG

and do either 24 or 18 inch version depending on how much of your tank you want lit. with those lights, any plant you want can be grown.