Nafe420 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Hi Setting up a small cube tank for shrimp and found some LEDs at a good price. I only have T5 and T8s so im new to LEDs. So these lights im interested in consist of 6xLEDs, 3 x 3W 10000K and 3 x 460nm actinic blue. Its says its good for coral growth but not everything for sale tells truth. So can anyone advise me if this is enough light for java fern/moss and most anubias at 40cm above plant height being low light plants and all? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wraithie Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 I'm also not expert on these things but i understand that freshwater plants need light around the 6500K. That being said, you dont need much more than room lighting for the plants you are referring to in my experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPete86 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 (edited) That'll be fine for those plants mate. If you were going for more light sensitive species it may not work but that being said... I've grown 'red leopard swords' & a few types of crypt under a cheap 2ft 14W LED (eBay one) & had ppl tell me it'll never work but I grew 15-20 new plants from the crypts (Wendtii went mental) & the red leopard sword quadrupled or more in size. I split it in 2 & gave half to my cousin Rick, this is the half I kept (been bout 6-8wks since the split & she's nice & healthy) [ATTACH=CONFIG]35359[/ATTACH] & a couple Wendtii (both grown from 1 plant under LED) This is the light that grew them [ATTACH=CONFIG]35358[/ATTACH] Crypts are a dappled light or lowish light plant I know but more than a couple LFS employees said it won't grow under low power LEDs. The LFS peeps were right, they didn't grow, they EXPLODED into multitudes of lil crypts. Edited July 3, 2013 by BigPete86 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPete86 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Forgot to mention, 2nd pic of Wendtii, that plant was only moved a few wks ago & it was moved from soft water (KH 3-4, GH3-4) neutral pH, to hard water (KH16, GH15-16) which is why it looks a bit sullen, crypts don't like instability or changes in conditions but its a strong plant & should come good (I hope) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nafe420 Posted July 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Awesome, thanks guys, I have 3 types of anubias, was just hoping the nanas would get enough light down the bottom but seems they will according to your experience BigPete. Java fern is throwing off heaps of youngens under T8s, just hope it continues. May give swords a try for something different. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigPete86 Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 The anubias will be fine, so will the java ferns & most swords bruz but the javas will take over if not kept trimmed. They grow a lot faster than swords & especially the slow growing anubias. The javas will eventually take over & block out light on lower plants if not kept trimmed IME & java moss can cover & strangle other plants if left unchecked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nafe420 Posted July 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 All good, yea I have stacks of the stuff, wish my cherry shrimp stock was the same haha. I tend to my tanks regularly tho so shouldnt be a problem. Thanks for the tip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
