75g planted tank journal

[mnemenoi]

Not that exact fixture, but have bought numerous T5 & PC fixtures from him and I have always been happy with them. I know a few more folks here on the box that are also happy with his equipment. I know he is located out of Houston somewhere as the FedEx ground only takes 1-2 days for delivery and he is very good about responding to emails, maybe you could get him to takes some better info/pics.

[wesleh]

Not that exact fixture, but have bought numerous T5 & PC fixtures from him and I have always been happy with them. I know a few more folks here on the box that are also happy with his equipment. I know he is located out of Houston somewhere as the FedEx ground only takes 1-2 days for delivery and he is very good about responding to emails, maybe you could get him to takes some better info/pics.

Thanks for the info. I'll definitely look into it more.

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[wesleh]

Looks like I'm leaning towards the finnex fugeray with monster ray. It looks like the finnex ray 2 dual 7k are a bit to much light for my plant needs.

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[suicune]

I have 2 x finnex ray 2 in my tank. I measure it and it's about medium light, can sustain dwarf hair grass. Tank is 18 inches deep so it's not too much light. Good value for an led fixture though. 2x 7000k

[wesleh]

I have 2 x finnex ray 2 in my tank. I measure it and it's about medium light, can sustain dwarf hair grass. Tank is 18 inches deep so it's not too much light. Good value for an led fixture though. 2x 7000k

Hmm, I've read others with low/med light had a really bad algae boom after switching to it, which made me stray away from it. How is your tank setup, and how long have you been using the fixture for?

[suicune]

I use this page as a reference:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=160396

The reason for algae is not just a light but can be of other source. Every planted tank will have that problem once in a while. Even mine does to some extend, but I think some algae isn't too bed after all, food source for my oto cats =d. I have had those fixtures for almost a year. Their par rating is at followed:
16" fixture: 130 PAR @ 6", 49 PAR @ 12", 27 PAR @ 18"
18" fixture: 153 PAR @ 6", 72 PAR @ 12", 37 PAR @ 18"
24" fixture: 179 PAR @ 6", 87 PAR @ 12", 55 PAR @ 18"

I have 2 18'' a cross my 40g, with a height of 18'', which means my plants receives 50-70 pars around the tank. The two ends of the tanks always receive less light then the middle area, in which case you can have low lights or tall plants on the two sides and higher light plants in the middle. I experienced with some dwarf hair grass, the patch in the middle grow fine, but the patches on the sides just withered away. Obviously, it wasn't enough light to sustain them well. They won't die, but they won't carpet like in a high light tank. Be careful if your tank is shallow, it can put your tank in high light range easily depends on which length of fixture you decide. Obviously my tank is deeper than most 40g.

[wesleh]

I use this page as a reference:

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=160396

The reason for algae is not just a light but can be of other source. Every planted tank will have that problem once in a while. Even mine does to some extend, but I think some algae isn't too bed after all, food source for my oto cats =d. I have had those fixtures for almost a year. Their par rating is at followed:
16" fixture: 130 PAR @ 6", 49 PAR @ 12", 27 PAR @ 18"
18" fixture: 153 PAR @ 6", 72 PAR @ 12", 37 PAR @ 18"
24" fixture: 179 PAR @ 6", 87 PAR @ 12", 55 PAR @ 18"

I have 2 18'' a cross my 40g, with a height of 18'', which means my plants receives 50-70 pars around the tank. The two ends of the tanks always receive less light then the middle area, in which case you can have low lights or tall plants on the two sides and higher light plants in the middle. I experienced with some dwarf hair grass, the patch in the middle grow fine, but the patches on the sides just withered away. Obviously, it wasn't enough light to sustain them well. They won't die, but they won't carpet like in a high light tank. Be careful if your tank is shallow, it can put your tank in high light range easily depends on which length of fixture you decide. Obviously my tank is deeper than most 40g.

Thank you for your input!

Hmm I'm wondering though, if I didn't have any high light plants like yours, would it still cause algae? Is the hair grass preventing the algae from growing? Sorry, I know I'm probably over thinking this lol.

I am using that and another link for reference as well

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189944

So for a 24" ray 2 dual 7k gives out about 40. So two would make it about 80 which is right between med/high. I really like the monster ray 2 and how it enhances the colors and I read some where it gives about 25par, so I will definitely be adding this to it. On top of that I would like to experiment with the red bulbs in photosynthesis. I have read a few different post stating co2 will be needed. I really prefer this option but I just feel like it will cause more trouble.

I was not able to dig up much information on the finnex fugeray or I would be completely sold on it and if it wasn't for the moon lights. I feel it will not be as bright as I want it, and with moon light on it be too blue. And adding the monster ray I think it would over power it.

Still on the fence :(

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[wesleh]

Oh forgot to add that my tank is 48x18x20 so I would say it about 18"-19" from light to substrate

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[suicune]

You're tank have the same dimension as mine except for the length. So if you use 1 finnex ray 2 at 48" would put your tank into medium light. Or you can have 2 x 18" like me. Make sure you know that there will be dimmer spot in your tank however you position the fixture because they are very slim and focused. If you have one fixture across the length. You can put the fixture closer to the front and put some tall low light plant at the back. Also will give your tank a dark deep jungle illusion at the back.
The only highlight plants i have in my tank is the wisteria, hair grass and some ludwigia. Essentially all plants can thrive in higher light if you dose enough nutrient. They will also grow differently in higher light. Low light plants are just plants that can survive low light. Low light plants like java moss actually grow very fast and well in medium and highlight. Ime, the wisteria that i have usually grow bigger leaves at lower light, then become more bushy at medium and highlight. To prevent algae, you have to have more plants then add co2 or excel and ferts. I only got algae recently when i have to treat my tank for ich with salt. That killed a lot of plants which is when algae outbreak began. Now that my plants recover, algae outbreak has stopped and is dying off

[wesleh]

That clears it up a lot for me! Thanks. I never thought about using two 18" instead of two 24". That would definitely lower the PAR some.

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[wesleh]

On another note, my tank cycle has been completed! Can't decided if I should do one shoal or two. If I did two, it be lemon tetra and rummy nose tetra. If I did one shoal it be rummy nose tetra. What do you guys think one or two shoal?

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[suicune]

your tank is 4 feet long though, so you'll need to make sure there is enough par. The Par rating on that webpage is the point directly below the light fixture, not below and 3-6-9 inches away.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189944

Look at this link for the charts on different Finnex fixtures. Since your tank is 4 feet long. if you are gonna put 2 x 18'' across the width and 2 feet across each other. You'll end up having low light tank. with 2 shiny spot directly below the fixture at only 37 par. I suggest that you can try 1 x 48" across the length of the tank, which according to the chart, your brightest spot in the tank will be 73 par. the dimmest spot will be around 56 that is within medium light range. 2 x 18" in such a long tank may not sustain much plants. The cost for both option is only like 10-20 dollars apart.

Also, I'd take these numbers with a grain of salt because manufacturer may exaggerate their products a bit. I hope I've been helpful =d. good luck to your planted tank

[wesleh]

your tank is 4 feet long though, so you'll need to make sure there is enough par. The Par rating on that webpage is the point directly below the light fixture, not below and 3-6-9 inches away.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189944

Look at this link for the charts on different Finnex fixtures. Since your tank is 4 feet long. if you are gonna put 2 x 18'' across the width and 2 feet across each other. You'll end up having low light tank. with 2 shiny spot directly below the fixture at only 37 par. I suggest that you can try 1 x 48" across the length of the tank, which according to the chart, your brightest spot in the tank will be 73 par. the dimmest spot will be around 56 that is within medium light range. 2 x 18" in such a long tank may not sustain much plants. The cost for both option is only like 10-20 dollars apart.

Also, I'd take these numbers with a grain of salt because manufacturer may exaggerate their products a bit. I hope I've been helpful =d. good luck to your planted tank

Thank you again for your advice! You have been extremely helpful I'll go ahead and go with the 1 48" dual 7k And good point about the manufacture ratings!

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[suicune]

hehe glad I could help. Not many people use finnex ray 2 here. If LED option is too pricy, you can always go for those T5 tubes. I went with LED because I like the look of these slim fixtures and also the energy usage. I'm a green person after all. =))))

[wesleh]

hehe glad I could help. Not many people use finnex ray 2 here. If LED option is too pricy, you can always go for those T5 tubes. I went with LED because I like the look of these slim fixtures and also the energy usage. I'm a green person after all. =))))

I see.... Hmm I don't think so, because my aquaticlife costed double, and I agree about the bulbs and the electricity along with it! I look forward to its slim low profile look, the longevity of the bulbs, and hopefully a crisper image :)

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