simon_the_plant_nerd
Member
Some of my holiday thoughts today:
Aquatic plants are often sold as “high light” or “medium intensity requirements” or “suitable for low light”. Lighting suggestions for tanks in articles still seem to be made in “watts per gallon” or recommend “high output lights”. Lighting fixtures (LED) are being sold with no real information about light output and vary wildly in cost.
It seems like this is an area of aquatic plant keeping that is very ambiguous.
A cynic may suggest that it’s in the interest of aquarium lighting manufacturers to deliberately keep it vague. The cost of high end LED light fittings in aquatics is eye watering considering the component cost and when compared to similar horticultural fixtures.
None of this matters of course if you are the beneficiary of many years of experience. Or if you are in the financial situation to just keep buying and trying.
But if you’re new to the hobby? You’re maybe a young child deciding what to spend your money on? It’s a bit of a minefield.
Am I right? I’d like to be proven wrong.
Aquatic plants are often sold as “high light” or “medium intensity requirements” or “suitable for low light”. Lighting suggestions for tanks in articles still seem to be made in “watts per gallon” or recommend “high output lights”. Lighting fixtures (LED) are being sold with no real information about light output and vary wildly in cost.
It seems like this is an area of aquatic plant keeping that is very ambiguous.
A cynic may suggest that it’s in the interest of aquarium lighting manufacturers to deliberately keep it vague. The cost of high end LED light fittings in aquatics is eye watering considering the component cost and when compared to similar horticultural fixtures.
None of this matters of course if you are the beneficiary of many years of experience. Or if you are in the financial situation to just keep buying and trying.
But if you’re new to the hobby? You’re maybe a young child deciding what to spend your money on? It’s a bit of a minefield.
Am I right? I’d like to be proven wrong.