Leds For Planted Tanks?

[Ltygress]

I'm not too familiar with LED lighting in relation to the old flourescent tubes. But LEDs are gaining popularity and it's becoming more and more difficult to get flourescent aquarium lights each year. Fifteen years ago, I could quote the specs needed for almost any aquarium. But technology left me in the dust.

So how do I calculate what I need? A high-light plant used to take between 3 and 5 watts per gallon. Low was 1 to 3. But my 100-gallon tank will only have 120 watts total - in LEDs. That seems pretty high to me, knowing LEDs use less power. But is it really?

Specifically, my 100-gallon tank will have two 36" AquaticLife Edge LED fixtures. They ARE full spectrum, but I don't know if I should focus on low light plants or high light plants for that tank.

 

[eaglesaquarium]

I'm not too familiar with LED lighting in relation to the old flourescent tubes. But LEDs are gaining popularity and it's becoming more and more difficult to get flourescent aquarium lights each year. Fifteen years ago, I could quote the specs needed for almost any aquarium. But technology left me in the dust.
So how do I calculate what I need? A high-light plant used to take between 3 and 5 watts per gallon. Low was 1 to 3. But my 100-gallon tank will only have 120 watts total - in LEDs. That seems pretty high to me, knowing LEDs use less power. But is it really?
Specifically, my 100-gallon tank will have two 36" AquaticLife Edge LED fixtures. They ARE full spectrum, but I don't know if I should focus on low light plants or high light plants for that tank.

A lot of LED fixtures will tell you the PAR or PUR available at different water depths.

 

[hudsona85]

Based on the research I have done, it looks like these fair better for low to med light plants. I'm sure it will also depend on the depth and width of the tank.

 

[Ltygress]

The tank is 18 inches high, 17 inches front to back.

 

[hudsona85]

Should be fine with the depth. Are there any blind spots length wise?

 

[Ltygress]

Right in the very center there is a single brace. And that's where the two lights will meet up, too. The tank is 72" long, so I have one 36" light for each side. But that's fine, because I most likely won't have any plants there in the very middle anyway, except maybe some java moss. It will probably be a slate cave or something as a "centerpiece" with the possibility of Java Moss attached to it. Most of the plants I have now are the "SUPER easy, any lighting, any fertilizer" type anyway.
 
I figure if I want any high-light plants, I'll put a second light on only ONE end, and put those plants on that end, with the low-light or "anything" plants on the end with just one light fixture.

 

[hudsona85]

The 36 I have actually does really well in most of the tank. Its seems to lack lighting on the outer edges. It works out pretty well actually since I have a pleco that likes to be in the dark and I can actually see him/her during the daylight.  I think you have a great plan in place! Would love to see it when its all set up!