If we could go back in time where we started with t12's, there'd be a lot more growers now. I cannot emphasize downing the lighting enough. Here we have people buying ray2's and bml's (good if you dim) and scorching that we're seeing algae. If you check out how shaded these crypts and buces are without any imperfections compared to ones in higher lighting, its pretty unbelievable how little light you actually need to grow certain plants. If you really want to grow, just get shop lights, cheap, ugly, and all you need to create something beautiful. Nowadays every question, is this lighting enough for this size tank. The answer is probably of course it is. What we should be asking, is is this overkill for the tank. Or should i hang the lighting higher, or lower my intensity.
WHAT IS THE HIGHEST LIGHT PLANT ØUT THERE?
my opinion is tonina, or pantanal, syngonanthus go lower than tonina.
Everyones' not trying to grow those plants. I see blasted light on anubias and or just about everything, it's utterly ridiculous. I want reds! Well i also want reds, but first i must learn to grow first. Grow first, then scape, keep things algae free. I am not a pro on that. Algae seems to come and go, i can only reach the sweet spot for so long. Then another problem arises and I must fix that. But I myself am not following my own advice. Leds save a lot of power, i don't have a chance at a dimmer $, lazy to to hang, so why not reduce the photoperiod only, plus i need for my syngonanthus. Thats my current situation/problem right now.
Spread is more important than intensity. As long as your plants get the slightest of light should photosynthesize. I started on shop lights, might go back with a new tank and show the real beauty with so little. On a standard 55g, you can do a nice moss tank with two t12's, and a nice erio/tonina tank with 3-4 not hung, straight on the tank. If its aesthetics your going for, wait wait, look at your tank haha with your nice beautiful fixture on top.
nicpapa
seems to have it down with cheap lighting.
I say cheap cause, expensive usually means more intensity in which is where you do not want to go unless you really know distance levels and PAR/umols to hang your lights.
Do it like Barr? High lighting dutch tank. We all can't be gurus.
I'm trying to help here, as well give a spark in it as well.