Lighting - Suggested Lumen Guidelines?

[Xtophr]

Hi,

I'm thinking about adding some real plants to a 40 gallon breeder tank (tank base is 36"x18"), and am looking for information or external links that would give guidelines as to how many lumens output would correspond to how many hours per day of lighting needed for the "low/med light" plants species people have described here. Or, barring that, what people are using with success.

I'm thinking a light density mixture of mostly floating plants, perhaps a few I can leave in their baskets or tie to other surfaces, rather than trying to keep planted in a substrate.

Marineland LED light strips that fit 36" tanks range in lumens from 350-1800; I don't want to get something that has to be on 18 hours a day to keep the plants alive, but I also don't want something that will be too strong for axies which would make them hide. Anyone have experience with these?

Thanks!

 

[Boomsloth]

If the floating plants provide cover you can go with high light. Try thicker floating plants like hyacinth or water sprite


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[Bette]

I have a 15 watt led strip (finnex fuge ray) over a 30 gallon, and it supports sagittaria and floating ludwigia. Most days I have the light on for 5-7 hours. My axies still come out into the open while the light is on.

But yes, for floating plants like frogbit, red root floaters, water lettuce, etc, then high light is best. Just make sure that you start off with enough surface plants so that the light doesn't stress the animals.

 

[Cacique]

I'd recommend you do a little bit of research into planted tanks, you can find a lot of information about what plants are great for what, what kind of lighting they need, etc.

I would focus on trying to find out information about PAR, it seems the most useful measure for reading light at the bottom of the tank. Good luck!