Lighting for plants and happy axies.

[pondweed]

I'm planning on getting java fern, java moss, marimo moss balls, and maybe some Christmas tree moss for my tank.

Also Salvinia Natans/floating water fern.

Arcadia Ellipse Light Unit - Marine Hybrid 24 Watt

This is the light I'm thinking of getting (but the Plant Pro option), because I don't want a tank with a lidded light (so I can have a mesh lid to stop the axies jumping out!) but I'm trying to balance happy plants and happy 'lotls.

They'll have plenty of hides.

And the species I'm going for will be low light requirement anyway... And the water fern should shade out areas of the tank. And the light won't be on all the time.

Small Planted Tropical Aquarium LED Lighting 64 LED's - All Pond Solutions

I'm considering this as an alternative, but since my tank is going to be 2.5ft/3ft, it may be insufficient (I worry the ellipse will be insufficient also, but would give enough cover for the plants to be happy.)

Any advice?

 

[pookiewn]

Go with the led one, the lights will be more enough to grow the low light plants, it'll also help not adding extra heat during the mini summers we have. I have an old 12w under cabinet light it's about 12 inches long on my three foot. There are swords, anubias, camboda, water hyacinth and elodea growing like crazy with only six hours light. To be honest, the elodea and hyacinth don't really need any additional light, they are growing really well in my six foot that only gets little natural light.