Looking for advice on a new light?

[kurtmussel]

I have been trying to research new lights. Not going to lie it feels a bit daunting with all this knowledge. Every time I think I found a light that might be good I see people who are against it. So i am just unsure what to go with at this point. I was thinking of either going with a finnex fugeray planted+, or a hygger 17watt. Can anyone give their input?

For context I am looking to help with plant growth as my current one is not helping keep my plants alive. I have a 3 gallon tank with a betta and a nerite snail.

Any information would be helpful. I appreciate it.

 

[Archerfish]

I think both of those lights are too much for a 3 gallon tank. Get some Java Fern and unless your tank is in the dark, it will grow. All you need is indirect window light to keep it growing. But if you want to illuminate the tank to see the fish then consider one of these full spectrum lights that will also grow plants and algae. https://www.amazon.com/Kullsinss-De...=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

 

[kurtmussel]

Hi

I think both of those lights are too much for a 3 gallon tank. Get some Java Fern and unless your tank is in the dark, it will grow. All you need is indirect window light to keep it growing. But if you want to illuminate the tank to see the fish then consider one of these full spectrum lights that will also grow plants and algae. https/www.amazon.com/Kullsinss-Detachable-Adjustable-Automatic-Succulents/dp/B0BZ88W8C2/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?adgrpid=1238051101337964&content-id=amzn1.sym.76d54fcc-2362-404d-ab9b-b0653e2b2239:amzn1.sym.76d54fcc-2362-404d-ab9b-b0653e2b2239&cv_ct_cx=light+for+small+plant&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.cUjgmwPDVMOUWTXPpQ4mOLnozQwzD9ID-uALMvA6jZi53VlE_8huEyWixhzXxErElLCyfkU0WOO8mN2NipBbug.MboTq_e2oml38ZcJI6Nax6mbSsibp0CIXzowJHkASKo&dib_tag=se&hvadid=77378325253100&hvbmt=bp&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=79045&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=p&hvtargid=kwd-77378464255131:loc-190&hydadcr=5318_13302230&keywords=light+for+small+plant&msclkid=743dc39ebcb71ee2ed45a4a9ee3b22ac&pd_rd_i=B0BZ88W8C2&pd_rd_r=ae90a1d3-5c81-4345-b9dd-d33cb299f3da&pd_rd_w=fmhSJ&pd_rd_wg=YLs2E&pf_rd_p=76d54fcc-2362-404d-ab9b-b0653e2b2239&pf_rd_r=HJRGYMWGRJNWN8879S8C&qid=1731678871&sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==&sr=1-1-6024b2a3-78e4-4fed-8fed-e1613be3bcce-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1

hi, yes thank you. I do actually have java fern and it happens to be growing well. I am just using a regular light that came with my tank set up when I bought it originally. So nothing special. I went to a local aquatic store and asked what other plants to buy and they suggested anacharis as it is a hearty plant. However I noticed it dying and someone suggested a new light. So that’s pretty much where I came to the conclusion on these lights. I’d like to eventually get other plants besides my java fern to grow lol

 

[Colin_T]

I agree with Archerfish on the 17watt lights being too much for a small aquarium. If you can provide more info on the current set up we might be able to sort out the plant problem without having to get another light.

Post a picture showing the entire aquarium with the light on.
What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What sort of plants do you have?
Do you add an aquarium plant fertiliser to the tank?
Do you have carbon in the filter?

Any idea how many watts the current light is or a brand name and model number?
How long is the light on for each day?

The following link has some basic information on plants in aquariums.

Aquarium Plants 1.01

AQUARIUM PLANTS 1.01 TURNING LIGHTS ON AND OFF Stress from tank lights coming on when the room is dark can be an issue. Fish don't have eyelids and don't tolerate going from complete dark to bright light (or vice versa) instantly. In the morning open the curtains or turn the room light on at...

www.fishforums.net

 

[kurtmussel]

Tank dimensions are : 14 in L x 7.5 in W x 8.9 in H

I have java fern currently and a dying anacharis I moved closer to the light. I have had moss that’s died and I got rid of.

I use aquarium co-ops easy green fertilizer weekly.

I’m not sure about carbon in the filter? There’s a cartridge, ceramic rings, and a sponge media pad.

I can’t tell you the wattage. I have been trying to figure it out but I threw away the packaging. Unsure it even had that info tho? It just says bright white LED. It came attached to the lid of an all in one top fin betta starter tank I got from petsmart.

I have a mini air pump too. Not sure if that’s relevant.

I keep my light on from 9 am thru 8pm daily. And I specifically have it set to turn off at 6 pm on sundays only (I honestly don’t know why). My air pump is on the same schedule.

 

[MattW]

When was the plant added? I'm seeing a new stem growth which means its putting its energy into that.
The older stems may be melting as a result of their environment changing.

 

[kurtmussel]

When was the plant added? I'm seeing a new stem growth which means its putting its energy into that.
The older stems may be melting as a result of their environment changing.

The plant was added on the 1st of this month. There’s only 2 green stems which look like new growth. I suppose they could just be melting as a result of changing environment. The plant was in the bottom left corner of my tank with a plant weight that the shop had on it.

 

[MattW]

So about 2 weeks then? That could be the cause of the melting. To me, the tank in the picture looks to have more than enough light to grow both Java fern and Anacharis. The new growth will be loving the fertilizer too! give it another 2+ weeks and those new stems should be reaching to the other side of the tank hopefully

Just to be sure I'll ask Plant man

what say you? @connorlindeman

 

[kurtmussel]

So about 2 weeks then? That could be the cause of the melting. To me, the tank in the picture looks to have more than enough light to grow both Java fern and Anacharis. The new growth will be loving the fertilizer too! give it another 2+ weeks and those new stems should be reaching to the other side of the tank hopefully

Just to be sure I'll ask Plant man

what say you? @connorlindeman

Thank you, I really hope so. I was feeling a littler defeated with plants. I just want them to thrive so I can add more!!

 

[MattW]

Thank you, I really hope so. I was feeling a littler defeated with plants. I just want them to thrive so I can add more!!

I felt the same way when I started with Live Plants a few years back. Most plants are labeled in easy intermediate and advanced categories. Which I do sort of agree with but not 100%. IMO There are many other factors that contribute to a plant's success than what most sellers tell you.

I've got a personal list going at the moment of plants that work for my tanks and water parameters and those that don't. Overall epiphytes have been a huge success for me as well as floating stems.

 

[connorlindeman]

That new growth that @MattW mentioned looks hopeful. Anacharis is a tough plant that will grow fast. Examine the bundle you have there and trim off the dead parts. The parts that are melting will not turn green again. Keep anything that has new growth on it.

 

[Colin_T]

The sponge or media pad in the filter could have carbon in. If it does, the carbon will remove the fertiliser from the water. This will happen until the carbon is full at which point it will stop removing anything from the water. As a general rule you don't need carbon in the filter. Carbon is a small black granulated substance.

The sponge or media pad could also have zeolite in and this will remove ammonia until it is full. If there is zeolite in the filter it will stop the beneficial filter bacteria developing and you could have ammonia and nitrite problems.
Zeolite is a small white granule.

You need to find out what is in the filter pads. If there's zeolite or carbon in them, add a sponge from a different brand of filter and leave it there for a month before removing the carbon/ zeolite pad/s. You can buy sponges for different brands of filters. get one that is the same size or slightly bigger than the filter pad and add it to the filter. You can use a pair of scissors to cut the sponge down if it's too big. Sponges don't need replacing unless they start to fall apart (they last for years) and won't have any carbon or zeolite in.

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Fix the timer on the light so it's on for the same time every day and doesn't have a short day on Sunday.

I assume the filter is run continuously (24/7)?

If the filter is run continuously it is fine to turn the air pump off at night.

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I would remove the 3 spikey plastic plants so they don't damage the fish. It shouldn't be an issue due to the Betta being short finned and the plants being really close to the bottom, but if the fish gets caught on the points it could damage the fins.

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There appears to be new growth on the Anacharis. The rest of the cuttings are dying or dead and should be removes if they are soft and mushy. Anacharis does not like sudden changes in temperature or light and if it was grown outdoors in a pond (that's where they are usually grown) and then put in an aquarium with colder or warmer water and less light, they usually die. Any plants that survive the shock will normally be fine and do well once they have recovered.

I would remove the string holding the cuttings together and let them separate so they have better water movement around them and to reduce the chance of infection spreading from the damaged tissue to the healthy cutting. If they end up touching each other after that it's not as much of an issue compared to being closely tied together.

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Due to the number of live plants in the tank (two) and the fact one is low light and slow growing, adding a brighter light to the tank probably won't make much difference. I would look into the plants you buy and try some easy to grow plants like Ambulia, Hygrophila polysperma, narrow Vallis and water sprite (Ceratopteris thalictroides). The water sprite floats and makes a great habitat for Bettas who can rest on the branches just beneath the surface. The other plants get grown in the substrate. If you get too much water sprite you can plant that in the substrate too.