LED lighting

AndrewI · 01/16/2016, 06:11 PM

RC
The first thing I must say is that I don't have a marine tank. So why am I here?
I've been looking into LED lighting that would promote good growth for a heavily planted freshwater tank. My research has led me to looking into using Mars aqua 165w LEDs which seem to be reasonably priced with plenty of watts. However, the best discussion threads that I have found on this subject are located here and they indicate that these lights are good for a marine tank but that if you were going to use them for freshwater plants then half of the blue LEDs are not required. Thus, less watts more expensive. Further, Mars hydro LEDs seem to have all the right wavelengths for plant growth but are presented for horticultural use only. I have been unable to find anyone using these for freshwater planted tanks.
Does anyone use the Mars hydro LEDs for freshwater plants?
Any info or thoughts would be very appreciated.
Cheers
Andrew

BrianKC · 01/16/2016, 06:45 PM

Hey Andrew. I don't have experience with Mars but I just received my reef fixtures from Build My LED today. While shopping, I saw that they also have freshwater setups. I'm impressed by their fixtures and they are not terribly expensive. I don't think you want reef fixtures for your freshwater plants; lots of spectrum waste that could go to driving more PAR that your plants can use. Check out Build My LED. Their fixtures look great and I think you'll be happy.

chilli_reef · 01/16/2016, 08:20 PM

Oh heck yeah !
Ho led fixtures over a planted tank yield amazing results !
I have a lot of friends who do the very same.

AndrewI · 01/16/2016, 08:58 PM

Brian
Yeah, I won't be using the Reef fixture but the mars hydro over the mars aqua might be just the thing to use.
Just trying to see if anyone has an experience with these.
Cheers
Andrew

01/16/2016, 06:11 PM	#1
AndrewI Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2	LED lighting RC The first thing I must say is that I don't have a marine tank. So why am I here? I've been looking into LED lighting that would promote good growth for a heavily planted freshwater tank. My research has led me to looking into using Mars aqua 165w LEDs which seem to be reasonably priced with plenty of watts. However, the best discussion threads that I have found on this subject are located here and they indicate that these lights are good for a marine tank but that if you were going to use them for freshwater plants then half of the blue LEDs are not required. Thus, less watts more expensive. Further, Mars hydro LEDs seem to have all the right wavelengths for plant growth but are presented for horticultural use only. I have been unable to find anyone using these for freshwater planted tanks. Does anyone use the Mars hydro LEDs for freshwater plants? Any info or thoughts would be very appreciated. Cheers Andrew

01/16/2016, 06:45 PM	#2
BrianKC Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Kansas City Posts: 388	LED lighting Hey Andrew. I don't have experience with Mars but I just received my reef fixtures from Build My LED today. While shopping, I saw that they also have freshwater setups. I'm impressed by their fixtures and they are not terribly expensive. I don't think you want reef fixtures for your freshwater plants; lots of spectrum waste that could go to driving more PAR that your plants can use. Check out Build My LED. Their fixtures look great and I think you'll be happy.

01/16/2016, 08:20 PM	#3
chilli_reef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Chillicothe Ohio Posts: 468	Oh heck yeah ! Ho led fixtures over a planted tank yield amazing results ! I have a lot of friends who do the very same. __________________ "But did you die !" Current Tank Info: 75g nondrilled reef.

01/16/2016, 08:58 PM	#4
AndrewI Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2	Brian Yeah, I won't be using the Reef fixture but the mars hydro over the mars aqua might be just the thing to use. Just trying to see if anyone has an experience with these. Cheers Andrew