Medium Light Is Sufficient & Benefits | Plant Coloration & Growth | Aquascaping
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
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ADU Aquascaping
What about duration?
I'm on an 8 hour schedule and dosing thrive and enhance every day on a 20 gallon tall.
Hey bud, huge fan of all of your videos. Thank you for getting back to me on the ferts and what's best. Now that my easy green is on the way, what do you recommend for lighting? I currently have a Finnex Planted + 24/7...supposedly throwing down some serious PAR since my substrate is roughly 2.5" and tank is 14" H.
Also in the process of building my own CO2 kit too so this tank I just built is essentially my pride and joy.
Looking forward to hearing back, and keeping those sleeves wet!
I run medium light most of of the time for the sake of the fish and for aesthetic reasons, I like to create shadows I think I gives more depth and watching the water movement shadow on the surface it’s more pleasant than high light. Nice video Dave.
You are definitely my favorite aquascaping teacher. All I do is learn!
Totally agree, I run a Kessil A360 WE 90W at only 20% 8 inches above my 55 tall (6,5 hours). I dose 180 bps CO2 and EI dosing. Plants are growing very well, bushy and have nice colours. Can't say my tank is low maintenance though, I have a high fish load, I like the lively and somewhat crowded look, and have to do quite some maintenance to do keep things balanced. But it's worth it.
100% totally agree.
Medium lighting with co2 helps with less algae issues on plant leaves, rocks & glass areas.
It’s more stable & natural approach.
Very few places in earth have sustained 100% full sunshine 365 days a year in nature.
Slow, Smart & Steady always finishes the race.
Great explanation of what "medium tech" actually means! My skin crawls less now when I hear that term haha :)
Really enjoying the look of this tank as always... so atmospheric!
Very nice short video Dave!
I've myself have begun the transition from high to medium light & knowledgeable aquarists like yourself droppin pearls makes a difference!
May also touch on duration of the photoperiod.
Lookin forward to the new build!
Thanks, this is really informative. I've been questioning whether or not I should be raising the power of my lights, this had shed some light on it.
You are the "Dr. Dre" of planted tanks, thanks Dave!
Wow,that tank looks sooooo nice
Thanks for the compliment!
I've ran in between low to medium ( around 35 white on the current satellite plus pro ) on my 9.3 gallon and it seems to be the best for cryptocorynes and monte carlo carpet. I noticed if I turn it higher, around 40-45, i start getting little hair algae growing. Everytime I go back down, its much easier to maintain. It definitely is true. Cheers Dave!
Thanks for the feedback and for watching!
Very interesting video as well.
I never did any of these aquariums as well. But I remember that I saw similar one's when I was a little child. Also I always wanted to get them, but I never had a chance to do that kind of thing as well.
But to me the way how you have putted these plants, they remind me of diorama, since I like doing model kits as well.
You have only forgotten to put either a model it submarine, or a model kit ship there as well 😉🙃🙂.
Haha, thanks! You should try it out! It can be very rewarding and relaxing. Thanks for watching!
@@ADUAquascaping Of course. Thanks for advice as well. You're welcome.
I believe it's relaxing as well.
For me also is relaxing doing model kits.
Few years ago I have assembled an aircraft carrier model kit as well. I hope that I'll make some other model kits ships as well.
And since I'm mentioning model kits, if you are interested, you can see my channel, since I'm doing model kits as well on my channel.
P.S. Your channel is so awesome as well 😎😎😎. Keep up the work.
Greetings from Vrbas / Novi Sad 🤓🙂😎.
Sure I will check it out. I used to do model kits when I was younger. I made cars, jets, and helicopters.
@@ADUAquascaping Excellent. Thanks a lot.
Wonderful, and informative. I am a beginner and so appreciate this information!.
I'm running 20W led in 12.5 gallon tank for 10 hours a day. I use supplementary 2x red and 2x blue 1W leds and tank works great. Plant growth is still not slow. My lamp is high above the tank as well. You can grow any type of carpet plant you want in this tank, no problems at all. Thing is that its 12" high. Tank height is a major factor, so in my 82 gallon tank I am using 210W HQI + 40W led and this is perfect. I tried lower light and increased CO2 but lower light only made my Glossostigma Elatinoides, Hemianthus Cuba and Staurogyne Repens grow taller than they should. Eleocharis Parvula was responding well to lower light, just grew slower.
You're right on flavonoids. Also they are related to stress. That's why I've always claimed that extreme light and obscene amounts of fertilizers are no good for plants at all. In fact what they do in a long shot is induce stress, lots of reactive oxygen species are generated, hence flavonoid synthesis (as well as carotenoids) which scavenge those excessive "loose" electrons. Lots of enzymes take part in this process as well. All in all it's a metabolic-heavy process that makes more harm than good.
Sławek B. Thanks for the detailed response. Why have you never mentioned this before!? I remember reading the pigments are metabolites of this process. Is this also where iron plays a role in reducing pigment degradation once the pigment is produced? Or is iron heavily used as a cofactor in the process, so it doesn't prevent degradation, but just optimizes the metabolite process? We always hear iron is specifically important. I am wondering where it comes into the equation, and why we always hear about it specifically and not other cofactors?
Dave, I'm not sure about the exact mechanism as far as iron is concerned, but this might provide some insight:
Interactions of flavonoids with iron and copper ions: a mechanism for their antioxidant activity.
Free Radic Res. 2002 Nov;36(11):1199-208. You can read abstract for free or just search via google scholar to find free-to-download version.
Of course iron is an important essential element for so-called house-keeping metabolism as well, like you've said. So it's obvious the demand for it will be proportional to metabolic activity.
Another Must Watch episode, growth that is too rapid becomes a chore. Far better to enjoy the tank.
Thx homie this is really helpful information, I really appreciate these videos. I love how you break this down into yearns where I can understand.
Looking forward to the new set up. Things I would like to see for the new tank. How you like to set up your substrate. How will you begin your nitrogen cycle. What will be your desired outcome for this new tank. Thanks for your consideration! Great video and always look forward to your vids.
I have even heard of people running co2 on low light tanks and claiming that it still does wonders with low light.
I'm kinda new with plants. Thanks for the good help.
I have low tech (you can check it out if you like) and my tank is kinda deep for my lights. I run them almost max but it's just enough to keep vetting ones doing well.
I dose lightly and exel but if things fill in I'd dial it back a bit.
My rotala are just barely being hit hard enough to get some pink tips. That's good enough for me.
I do get a bit of green spot on anubias and the java but that's ok as it kinda looks like nature in there.
I really wanted higher light to try to get a hairgrass or something to fill the ground. Hard to find balance.
ya all about finding the balance of how you want the tank to look like
Appreciate the science discussed in regards to your approach to the hobby. Very interesting and informative. New sub here, and you've helped explain a variety of concerns succinctly.
I made the mistake of trying to save money, by basically reusing my old, by then biologically inert substrate to start a new tank. It was a pretty basic Eheim Aquastar setup with a T8 bulb, needless to say the plant life didn't fare so well, regardless of EI fertilization, about two thirds of my plants died out, and then I tried to make the rest spread out to eventually substitute the died off plant life by doing "upgrades". 11 months later I have this 40 liter (net) tank with dozens of root tabs inside, with a 20W LED light above it, and a DIY citric acid CO2 system beside it, the plants that stayed alive without any of these still refuse to grow with these.
A couple days ago I finally decided not to beat a dead horse anymore, I'll get rid of the gravel and get some active soil and throw out the CO2 system, but thanks to your video I also consider getting rid of my excessively strong LED light too. Any suggestion how to measure or find out the PAR value if it isn't listed anywhere in the specs?
Thanks!
Excellent advices! Thank you!
Are you going to make a video of the new mid tech tank you introduced in the beginning? We would love to see that for sure!
Joseph Valdez yes I will definitely be doing a set up video
Great video and that tank look amazing!👍
Awesome as ever bro!
beautiful tank.
I'm runing medium light, medium CO2 and fertilising heavly on my nano tank.Plant are growing well.Some grows really fast some grows slow.But they are healty.Colour are good too.But AR mini and Rotalas are not that much red.No algae in the tank except on the rocks and sponge.
I think the most important things are;
1)A good fertilising schedule
2)Water flow
3)A moderate light with a good spectrum
4)Consistent water changes
That is all an aquarium needs.
Great video 👍. Very interesting
Yet again another great info video. I'm excited to see your new setup!. Where can I find a twinstar?
Go for the new s series for the twinstar led as the old E series is not very well made as the legs break very easily but the new s series has metal legs which are much better - if your in England you can get it from aquariumgardens.Co.UK for £259
Love this tank!
What lighting do u use here?
Thank u so much for the video alot of great info 👍👍👍👍👍
I love the contrast between shaded and bright areas. is it true that, surface agitation , increases co2, or does it just help to oxygenate the aquarium?
Sweet video man. I have moss just like that growing - videos of my setup to come soon if you wouldn't mind checking it out! However, I've recently got what I believe to be hair algae growing in the moss. When I pull it off with tweezers, it's like velcro-ish
Love your videos, any advice for getting rid of bba?
Well done. With bimonthly maintenance still have a problem with brown alge. I don't use CO2. What else can I try. Keep them wet.
i found that red plants actually use iron very slowly. one small dose went a very long way for me. the main drive for red pigment accumulation is CO2. my main tank doesn't have CO2 injection and the alternanthera reineckii inside has a nice gradual green to red/pink gradient from bottom to top. but the most intensive red/purple colour are from their emersed leaves presumably because they are bathing in the atmospheric concentration of CO2.
Hi, can you tell me what brand of aquarium is in this video and size? Thanks.
Great video Dave. Quick question, where did you get the aquarium stand. It's really nice.
Roberto Amezcua from Hobby Lobby of all places
Medium light means less trimming and a more sustainable growth with less ferts. unless you are growing for resale, medium light is better for both plants and fish. Many fish are not high light habitat, and prefer shadowy areas. plant color is more often achieved by iron supplements, not bright light. Also important is spectrum range of the lights over brightness. Reds, yellows, and blues are absorbed by the plants which is why they appear green most often.
Gotta love science!
How about Monte Carlo in a 24x12x12 inches tank?
So have u decided to return ? 🤗🤗 just checking u kno its been 3 looooooooooooooooong years n no video from u 🤗🤗...
Things are nuts with my business. It takes up time, but that's no excuse. I need to get something cooking for sure. I want to try some experiments with dirt or this compost fertilizer I found
@@ADUAquascaping my very best wishes to ur business and wish u all the success. Plz take ur time . We all can wait. Life is more imp and we all know it.... 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 stay blessed and keep ur sleeves wet
What brand and model is the LED light on the mature tank? Keep up the great videos.
roncruiser Aquatic Life Halo LED
Thank you. Keep up the great videos.
Hope you make a video with the twinstar ..see some reallt great things on instagram with them. Are they high light btw? There are not dimable to
You know what's up? I subbed 😁😋
Can medium light be a light with higher par, but a decreased photo period? I was wondering the same for having low light conditions. The bulb I am using has a high lumen rating, I was thinking of increasing the distance and decreasing the photo period to get that medium light/ low light condition and manage algae a little better.
Is the light description based on the PAR that you get right at the bottom of the aquarium, ie is a low light tank say around 20 PAR at the bottom and a high light tank say over 60 PAR at the bottom, or is it based on the overall average value over the whole fishtank?
Obviously the PAR value can go from low at the bottom to very high near the top, so tall stem plants will be getting a much higher PAR value anyways.
Yes it is from the light source to the bottom of the tank, so higher up areas in the tank receive even more PAR. It is also directly under the light source too. As you move I front of, behind, or expand away from the source the PAR goes down, so corners of the tank usually have the least amount of light penetration depending on fixture length and type
Thanks for your reply. @@ADUAquascaping
I really like that light! would it work for a medium light 10 gallon? If not could you recommend a similar one? I'm looking to improve my lighting.
Joshua Frye the Finnex Planted plus works well
I can't get my fishes to relax whenever I try to increase illumination. Beyond level 2 they get too nervous and I fell bad for them. Especially with white light
How about 60x30x30 (54 litres) with hpl diy led lamp 30 watt is it medium or high? In the forum they said ur watt is divided by liter so 30÷54= 0.55. in the forum said if the result is 0.5-1watt is medium light is it True?
It's usually better to work with PAR and not wattage. Because it is what matters most. Check for manufacturer specifications for PAR values. I would assume your light would fall into medium low to medium lighting, depending on aquarium height and lenses, however. This is why you should and can look into purchasing a PAR meter or using manufacturer information
Big question for me. Is Planted Plus 24/7 on max considered medium or high light on a standard 55g? A month ago I started a new tank with dwarf sag, Ludwigia sp mini, java moss, Java fern, and amazon sword. Tank is averaging 8 hours of max light and 1 hour at the 9 am setting per day. Co2 set to 3 drops. Alternating dosing flourish excel and flourish advanced twice a week each. Green Dust Algae problem. Heavy fish load. Tank finished cycling last week. I haven't done a water change since the nitrites dropped to nothing a week ago. BTW, the tank is dirt capped with black gravel.
Russian Bot It would be more medium light. You will just have to do more maintenance as the plants mature
Thanks for the reply. All seems good now. The algae is under control, and I have to add nitrogen to keep the nitrates even detectable. Plant growth is good.I added 3 Bristlenose and the algae dissipated.
whats the name of that fish?
can you tell me the name of this LED light? looks fantastic, wanna buy it
aquatic life halo led
Where did you buy your lighting?
From Aquatic Life. These are Aquatic Life Halo LEDs
Can i grow cuba in mid light with pressurised co2 ?
Nazmus Nayan yes
What is the lumen output of your light at the 45 watts?
I am not sure. I don't monitor the lumens very much. It isn't super bright, but good enough.
I've got custom LED fixtures that I had used a calculator when I had built them, but when I started up a 33L I blew up with staghorn which eventually died off from cyano and balck beard. I felt like the staghorn kept coming back because I had too high of lights and a manzanita branch that was decaying. So I had lowered the lights to about 10% max output and removed the driftwood. Staghorn is gone, but black beard is everywhere. The tank's plants are just about completely died off. I'm not sure what to do with it. I want to get the wood back in but I'm scared the staghorn will come back when I increase the lights for new plants.
Yes, I also advocate for medium light for all the reasons you stated. In regards to your comment on fert dosing (i.e pps-pro) I feel the type of substrate you use plays a significant role in how effective your dosing regimen is. Your aquarium soil should provide significant nutrients vs inert substrate which may result in the comments you have received.
Do you experience significant pearling at medium light? I ask because even with injected CO2 my medium tanks don't pearl much. However, I had a tank with high light but no CO2 that pearled a lot albeit with a lot of algae growth. I use pearling as my indicator of the light level in the tank although I have no scientific studies supporting my thoughts.
Amazing tank !!
Thanks!!!
👍 nice
What brand and model of light it is… please.
Renan Ogiwara it is an Aquatic Life Halo LED
Isn't the twinstar lights are lacking in the green specrtum?
When I look at tanks that are runing twinstar lights; the red plant looks gorgeous but green plants especially the dark green plans aren't look that much good.
Can Lale yes it is on the warmer side
Ohhhhh shit son. This one is gonna be good!! What kind of filtration are you running?
Keith Bratley API Filstar medium canister. Thanks bro
Can you tell in lumens per gallon what is medium light?
Aqua Journal not necessarily. There isn't always a correlation. Lumens is just how bright the light looks to the human eye, and not how much PAR it gives off.
True but most of us, uses between 6500-8000K lights, which has o lot of wave length around 430-460. It's blue light good for Chlorophyll A and B, which also penetrates water better then red).
Long story short - 6500-8000K emmiting a lot of 430-460 light wich is also visible to human eye, in this case there is strong PAR-Lumens correlation
Aqua Journal This is not necessarily true. A color temperature is not dependent on bandwidth. One 6500K can be quite different than another 6500K. Plants have lowest reflectance at 0.6 um, which is red light. There is little co-variance between red and blue, but red has a slightly lower reflectance. Most preferred bandwidths are closer to .6-.66 um. Now, some people are saying there is no evidence that aquatic plants have a preference because no study has been done. However, terrestrial plants do. Lumens and Kelvin ratings are not adequate ways to determine um/mols of bandwidths being radiated from the light source.
Aqua Journal a 6500K can have higher lumens, but less total output than a 8000K with less lumens. Two well balanced 6500Ks giving off red light may vary in total red output as well. There are too many exceptions when using lumens or kelvin ratings. It is not sufficient. We are in fact measuring um of bandwidths per mol. This is why you need a PAR meter to know your output values. Using your methodology is not reliable. There is not always correlation. And these change from manufacturer to manufacturer. I might as well make my remote sensing term project about NDVI and aquatic plants and see if they respond to red light similarly to terrestrial plants. I am betting they too are most sensitive to red light. More red light is reflected, but this doesn't determine a plants preference. O will talk to my professor and see if I can determine the NDVI for aquatic plants. Thanks for the feedback.
omg wet sleeves are the worst, thanks for reminding me XD
Why are 'Wet Sleeves' the worst? New aquascaper here. Just got done seeing his videos recently. So much info for a beginner here! It's kind of hard to take all this in. Luckily, I bake bread, so at least, most makes sense for me. Patience and don't be lazy seems to work here.
Miss seeing ur video ..... :( :(
This spring or sooner, more updated ideas, just need a minute to get a new camera, had to start a new business after getting laid off, things were crazy for a minute
I never heard anyone say mid tech, but now that I've heard it, why yes it does make my skin crawl. So no.
Strange........it looks exactly like my aquarium,,,,,same plants ...same fishes .....same co2 knobs....in fact same reading on the pressure dials usually,....except its 5 ft long.....just imagine my maintenance cost
I use low light and high co2+ nutrient. Free algea and low working.
That sounds like a very good method! I like it! Well done, man, and thanks for watching
hope you comeback, i havent seen your videos for a long time. your skill is very good, i learn from you for all my moss tank and after some tanks i think use low light with high co2 and EI nutrient is the best for all plant. you can see ada skylight or ada solar, they are very weak in par reading, they use much green light in setting (they use rgb led ) for high lumen but low par so their tank dont have algea and many tank success with that light but the secrects is very simple. sorry about my bad English, i dont use English in my country.
that does make sense, and thanks for the compliment. I may start again once I get a larger aquarium!