My LED lit planted tank

[Algae Beater]

So I finally did it! I decided to replace my t5 HO hagen glo strip (2 x 39watt) and 2 x 12 watt par 38 led bulbs with some Vertex Illumilux LED strips. I chose one 90cm Dolce Rosso which is essentially a warmer tone of white. and one 90cm Marino Bianco (50 / 50 mix of white and royal blue). when the two combine it makes for a very warm light that penetrates far better than my previous setup.

the tank is about 2.5 weeks old at this point
specs are

tank: 36 x 16 x 20 high hagen tank
filter 1200 gph internal
rena heater
ceramic CO2 diffuser with 5lb cylinder.

the plant list is dominated by cryptocoryne species to which I have a large affinity.
c. balansae
c. balansae 'red'
c. parva
c. wenditii tropica
c. petchi
c. lutea
c. cordata var cordata blassii
c. cordata "green"
c. willisi x lucens
vallisneria tiger
anubias coffeefolia
anubias nana petite
Crepidomanes auriculatum
weeping moss
ludwigia inclinata
hygro polysperma sunset
echinodorus vesuvius
limnophila sessiliflora
ludwigia repens
lilaeopsis mauritiana
asian water grass


a little too many plants in there, but the plan is / was to remove stems as the crypts grow in.

here are a few pics:

installing the 12mm moutning brackets



the tank at 12 days old with the old lighting.


and after


after a trim of the fast growers that are in there temporarily


shot showing the 2 x 3 watt cree led groupings


one of the female apisstogramma borelli giving me the evil eye



and the tank as of last night



I'm most excited about these lights ... i cannot wait to see how this tank grows in!


as a side note this fish was sold to me as "junior tetras' i have around 12 of them the males are red in colour while the females are this yellow sheen... any help?

[tang daddy]

Very nice led set up, I am still weary about putting led on my reef tank partially because of the initial cost.

How long are you running the led on the tank everyday?

[Algae Beater]

10 hours a day. LEDs definitely give a you a high initial cost. but look at the glo t5 setup i have, no bulbs, no freaking on off switch and bulb replacement costs every 6 months or so. in the long run, 1 year plus typically leds are a better deal. and that is taking into account that electricity is cheap here.

[effox]

Nice setup, and nice colouring combo with those lights man.

[Algae Beater]

Nice setup, and nice colouring combo with those lights man.

thanks I'm rather happy with it myself, a vast improvement over the previous lighting

[vdub]

Where'd you buy Crepidomanes auriculatum from? I've been looking for some for a while now.

[Algae Beater]

Where'd you buy Crepidomanes auriculatum from? I've been looking for some for a while now.

I have my sources, there are a few local guys working with it.

[vdub]

I have my sources, there are a few local guys working with it.

Lol, ok, to the few local guys, I'm looking to buy some. Hook a brother up.

[Algae Beater]

i received 1 tiny plantlet from CRS fan about 6 weeks ago ... literally it was the size of a twonie

[mysticalnet]

nice tank, and nice GBRs.