I'm new to the forum - it's a great source of expertise already, thanks folks!
I'm returning to the hobby after a 17-year absence and, wow, the technology has changed. I'm setting up a 55 gallon planted tank with an enriched substrate (2.5-4" depth) and a canister filter. Fish are going to be the initial focus, but I'd like to try my hand at a planted tank. I've set up a lighting gradient across the tank. On one side, I have two 22" T5HO bulbs, the other side has a LED Marineland hood that came with the tank (low light). The concept is to provide fish a lower light refuge area and allow me to grow a variety of high, medium, and low-light plants.
My questions are these:
1) Is this even a workable concept (the light gradient) given the 48" length of the tank? There is certainly a visible gradient along the tank.
2) Will the plants on the lower light side tend to tilt/grow toward the high-light side, no matter what I do?
3) Is the LED light source on the "low" side going to do anything at all for even very low-light plants? My wife and kids like the blue "night-light" feature the LED offers, even though I'm not wild about it.
Any additional comments, or critique, would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
David
I'm returning to the hobby after a 17-year absence and, wow, the technology has changed. I'm setting up a 55 gallon planted tank with an enriched substrate (2.5-4" depth) and a canister filter. Fish are going to be the initial focus, but I'd like to try my hand at a planted tank. I've set up a lighting gradient across the tank. On one side, I have two 22" T5HO bulbs, the other side has a LED Marineland hood that came with the tank (low light). The concept is to provide fish a lower light refuge area and allow me to grow a variety of high, medium, and low-light plants.
My questions are these:
1) Is this even a workable concept (the light gradient) given the 48" length of the tank? There is certainly a visible gradient along the tank.
2) Will the plants on the lower light side tend to tilt/grow toward the high-light side, no matter what I do?
3) Is the LED light source on the "low" side going to do anything at all for even very low-light plants? My wife and kids like the blue "night-light" feature the LED offers, even though I'm not wild about it.
Any additional comments, or critique, would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
David