Hey everyone. My new tank is almost finished cycling. Prob about a week away. Its going to be a seahorse tank and I'm looking to do a good bit of macros in there (the DT). There will be NO corals and also not planning on chaeto or anything that has a high chance of going sexual. Its a 46 gallon tank. What is the minimum lighting requirements I need to grow a variety of macros. I don't really want to do reef lighting if I don't need to as i have enough money tied up in my lighting for my reef tank. Thanks in advance!
Macro lighting
- Thread starter MikeG2104
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Most seem surprised to know that corals and algae use very similar lights.
So an old reef tank light would work and also any freshwater planted tank would too.
Same as Reefing , budget is key to lighting.
So an old reef tank light would work and also any freshwater planted tank would too.
Same as Reefing , budget is key to lighting.
MikeG2104
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I do not have any old reef lights laying around. I have a planted cichlid tank that is actually doing very well with a T8 and a freshwater plant bulb in it. The new tank came with a hood with a t8 fixture in it but I just figured i would not be using this fixture. Is it safe to assume the T8 bulbs wouldn't sustain the macros?
They’re fine.
Same as corals , there are higher light , Generalists , and low light algaes. Also like coral, you can use higher light with more nutrients in the tank.
Chato isn’t a generalist , and dragons tounge is a lower light lover. Ime.
fermentedhiker
Well-Known Member
It depends on how deep the tank is. T8s would do for a very shallow tank and macros that specifically prefer lower light. You could look for used t5 or chinese black box lights whatever you can get a better deal on.
catfishblues
Active Member
One T8 bulb might be a little on the weaker side but could work. 2 or 3 would be more optimal. I'd look into some lights for growing freshwater plants. There's some really good ones out there depends on your budget and what you can find used/on sale
Cuc.... The small Florida Dwarf Cerith snails work pretty good at cleaning film algae off plants and your glass.
You would be surprised at how deep some macro is collected at. You can use a blackbox light made for plants. Something like one of the Viparspectra grow lights. They are bright. You might need to get one with a dimmer, depending on high over your tank the light is.
You would be surprised at how deep some macro is collected at. You can use a blackbox light made for plants. Something like one of the Viparspectra grow lights. They are bright. You might need to get one with a dimmer, depending on high over your tank the light is.
