Lighting

[nerijusa]

I want to increase lighting in my aquarium, because some plants as nymphea lotus or cobomba is not growing (I guess the reason is low lighting). I would like to ask your advice what tube (-es) I should buy additionaly in order to improve lighting for my plants.

Current situation: 240 l. aquarium, 56 cm depth, 3 T8 tubes: 30 W Dennerle Amazon day (6000 K), 38 W Dennerle Special plants (3000 K), 30 W Dennerle Super color plus (4100 K).

My questions:
- do I need to buy additionaly the same temperature lights (f.e. to buy one more Amazon day- as 6000 K is good for plants?).
- do I need to increase the spectre of my lighting (f.e. buying tubes as Osram 830 or 840)
- what tubes (what company?) you would recommend to have good look inside aquarium?

Thanks in advance very much.

 

[netcode]

you do have a little low lighting. your looking at 1.4 roughly wpg.

do I need to buy additionaly the same temperature lights (f.e. to buy one more Amazon day- as 6000 K is good for plants?).

You can buy and mix whatever temperature lights you want, but temperature(K rating) isn't the main concern. The spectrum of light is your main concern. Plants need red, green, and blue spectrums from my understanding. Check the package of the bulbs your looking at, it normally tells you. I don't think you can assume just by the kelvin rating.

- do I need to increase the spectre of my lighting (f.e. buying tubes as Osram 830 or 840)

^^

what tubes (what company?) you would recommend to have good look inside aquarium?

Hagen makes wonderful tubes... the Glo line is great, lots to choose from. I like the flora-glo mixed with some aqua-glo. But its really your choice.

Goodluck

 

[nerijusa]

Thanks. I will try to choose from different options.

Also i want to ask, how effective are reflectors, trying to increase lightining? Will that be a solution too? How to count WPG if you are using reflectors?

 

[The diver]

from what i understand the wpg calculations assume you have reflectors.

 

[netcode]

from what i understand the wpg calculations assume you have reflectors.

this is true...


if your not using reflectors your wasting so much light!