WHat light to use for a 3 gallon?

[PunkRotten]

Hi guys,


I'm planning to add some plants to my betta tank. Depth is about 8 inches. I will only be adding some floating plants like wisteria and maybe red root floaters. And I may plant 1 crypt plant, or dwarf anubias. What would you recommend for lighting? Also what would you recommend for a 10 or 20 gallon tank with a depth of 12 inches?


Do you think I can grow dwarf hairgrass in a set up with only gravel? And say you have ferts and excel to help out. Thanks so much.

 

[lightyear]

Hi guys,


I'm planning to add some plants to my betta tank. Depth is about 8 inches. I will only be adding some floating plants like wisteria and maybe red root floaters. And I may plant 1 crypt plant, or dwarf anubias. What would you recommend for lighting? Also what would you recommend for a 10 or 20 gallon tank with a depth of 12 inches?


Do you think I can grow dwarf hairgrass in a set up with only gravel? And say you have ferts and excel to help out. Thanks so much.

1) for that size of tank and for those type of plant you've mentioned like anubias and some floating plant an 11 watts PL light will be enough. BUT if you will soon upgrade to some fancy carpet plants like HC or hairgrass you will be needing arround 24watts for that in my experience to prosper.

2) for 10-20 gallons depnding on your plant load and type of plant but assuming they are light demanding I will recommend 36watts for 10 gallong and 55watts for the 20 gallon to give you medium to high light.

3) i don't think you can grow hairgrass beautifull in carpet as seen in internet in gravel allone. you need a finer gravel or a substarte with good nutrients

 

[Tug]

I will be trying out the DYMAX Aquarium White LED 6000k Clamp Clip Lamp. Hopefully, I will be taking PAR readings as well. Of course this will be sometime down the road, but it looks as if it would be perfect for the 3 gallon tank that you described. Just be sure you get it from someone that sells it with the 110 - 230V Adaptor.

For your other tanks this chart was based on PAR readings. I think this was put together by VaughnH, but I can't find the OP.

 

[PunkRotten]

For the 10-20 gallon I am going to use plants like java moss, anubias, wisteria etc. If I could think I could grow dwarf hairgrass in either set up (3g and 10-20g), I would try that too. But what substrate should I use? Should I use regular gravel with root tabs, maybe eco-complete, or something else?

 

[PunkRotten]

BTW, where can I find either of those fixtures you mention for the 3 gallon? Thx

 

[Tug]

Eco-complete and AZOO Plant Bed are close, if not the exact same substrate. I like them and use them. Having a soil not cloud the water is a big advantage over DIY soils. DIY soils will take time and experience aging them properly - they have a tendency to smell and release NH4. A great deal of reading on the topic is recommended.

IME, you would not go wrong if you use a light covering of peat with osmocoat plus (5-10 grams per sq ft.) under a layer of Eco-complete. It is not necessary but mixing in a layer of Flourite Black sand should improve rooting and CEC.

Dwarf hair grass need mid to high light conditions, CO2 and nutrients (which you should be adding anyway.) Another option might be some Cryptocoryne that will form a nice carpet in low light over time.

Eco-complete
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/7680-Eco-Complete-Planted-Black
Sand and cation exchange capacity (cec)
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/7693-Does-sand-have-high-CEC
Osmocote Plus
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/7046-Osmocote-Plus
Google
DYMAX Aquarium White LED 6000k Clamp Clip Lamp
There's not a lot of information but what there is sounds promising and Big Al's has it listed on their website as a staff favorite.

 

[PunkRotten]

Can I use those clamp lights from Home Depot like this one? http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs..._-D27X-_-100664506&locStoreNum=159&marketID=1


Will these take CFL bulbs? Will these be enough to grow dwarf hairgrass? I plan to use pool filter sand. I will add a few root tabs. Plant dwarf hair grass, one piece of anubias nana "petite" on driftwood and a little bit of floating wisteria. Thats all I wanna grow in my 3 gallon. And should I use the light over open tank water or not? Like if I clamp it on the side of the tank, should I have a cover or not? Thx