46 Gallon Bowfront, Are There Any Led Strips That Would Work For Low-medium Light Plants?

My tank has the classic bow front glass lid. It came with a small LED strip mounted inside on the back rI'm slanted outwards to project light towards the middle to front of tank.

I have no clue what type of strip it is, but it’s not powerful enough for foreground plants since the strip sits so far back.

I would like to stay with a strip lighting system to fit inside the glass hood rather than putting something in top over the hood. Ideally I’d like to hook a strip or two to the middle bracket which I think would work well.

Are there any strips that give me enough to satisfy a low-medium plant stock?

 

That would be tough, because the LED would need to be water proof.

Marineland does offer water proof LED strips that clip to the black inner plastic lip of the frame.

It's called the Marineland Hidden LED Strip Light. I bought the 17" version online last year when I found it on clearance. They are usually expensive when I see them at PetSmart.

I did a quick Google search, and chewy has them for $17, which is an excellent deal. LINK

I think PetSmart has them in the store, for something ridiculous like $45.

 

That would be tough, because the LED would need to be water proof.

Marineland does offer water proof LED strips that clip to the black inner plastic lip of the frame.

It's called the Marineland Hidden LED Strip Light. I bought the 17" version online last year when I found it on clearance. They are usually expensive when I see them at PetSmart.

I did a quick Google search, and chewy has them for $17, which is an excellent deal. LINK

I think PetSmart has them in the store, for something ridiculous like $45.

I’ve seen these recently. Do this provide enough/proper light for low to medium lit plants?

 

Although I've got about 6 plants in our 75 gallon community tank, by no means am I qualified to advise on lighting requirements.

I believe anubias, java fern and vallisneria ( val ) are some examples of low-light plants.

If you use your current LED strip + 2 of those 17" Marineland Hidden LED strips, I'm sure those types of plants will be fine, especially if you use a quality fertilizer.

Here are some pics for reference. Currently, I'm using the ML Hidden LED strip to illuminate the inside of our 75g's cabinet. I pulled it out and clipped it inside our 55 gallon and took some pics.

Although you can't see it, there is a clip system on the back where the lip of the top plastic rI'm slips into the clip. It holds the light very well. The actual LED tube assembly can be detached from the entire black bracket, of you want to use a DIY mount.

Also, the LED tube assembly is able to rotate up and down, so the light emitted can be aimed for optimal light dispersion. The knob at the end adjusts this.

Marineland Hidden LED 17" pic 1

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Marineland Hidden LED 17" pic 2

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Marineland Hidden LED 17" pic 4

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Pics of white + blue and blue only......

Marineland Hidden LED 17" white + blue

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Marineland Hidden LED 17" blue light

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Pic of 55 gallon with its stock Top Fin LED's.

55g Lake Malawi tank

• Islandvic
• Sep 10, 2019

Same tank, with only the ML Hidden 17" LED on the left side.... (the following pics were after I fed my cichlids and poured in 5 gallons of water to bring the level up to the light strip, so everything got stirred up, ha)

Marineland Hidden LED 17", left side of 55g

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

The LED was clipped to the front left side of inner plastic lip of the top frame of the 55g...

With only blue LED's on....

Marineland Hidden LED 17" blue only in 55g

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Left side of 55g tank, with blue LED on.

Finally, a pic with stock Top Fin + Hidden LED's on together....

Top Fin 55g tank with stock LED light + Marineland Hidden LED 17"

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

The stock L/R LED strips integrated in the top Fin Hood are on + the 17" Hidden LED. In person...

Unfortunately, the pics don't show the true color or brightness of any of the lights, but it should give you a reference. In person, the color is less yellow.

In my opinion, 2 of these light strips plus your current LED should be just fine for plants requiring low - medium light.

Hopefully some plant experts will chime in, and correct me if I'm wrong, or can give additional input for what plants are suitable for the examples of lights given.

Another option for a submersible LED suitable for being placed under the glass lid are the Mingdak brand of LED's found on Amazon. Last year I bought the 18.5" white LED and I believe the 7.5" blue LED.

Both have worked 100% for over a year now.

The Marineland light probable has more lumen output, versus the Mingdak.

The Mingdak though uses suction cups to attach to the inner glass, and can be tucked up where the black rI'm is, so it's basically hidden from view.

I'm sure it can be mounted to the middle brace or other areas with a DIY method.

 

Although I've got about 6 plants in our 75 gallon community tank, by no means am I qualified to advise on lighting requirements.

I believe anubias, java fern and vallisneria ( val ) are some examples of low-light plants.

If you use your current LED strip + 2 of those 17" Marineland Hidden LED strips, I'm sure those types of plants will be fine, especially if you use a quality fertilizer.

Here are some pics for reference. Currently, I'm using the ML Hidden LED strip to illuminate the inside of our 75g's cabinet. I pulled it out and clipped it inside our 55 gallon and took some pics.

Although you can't see it, there is a clip system on the back where the lip of the top plastic rI'm slips into the clip. It holds the light very well. The actual LED tube assembly can be detached from the entire black bracket, of you want to use a DIY mount.

Also, the LED tube assembly is able to rotate up and down, so the light emitted can be aimed for optimal light dispersion. The knob at the end adjusts this.

Marineland Hidden LED 17" pic 1

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Marineland Hidden LED 17" pic 2

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Marineland Hidden LED 17" pic 4

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Pics of white + blue and blue only......

Marineland Hidden LED 17" white + blue

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Marineland Hidden LED 17" blue light

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Pic of 55 gallon with its stock Top Fin LED's.

55g Lake Malawi tank

• Islandvic
• Sep 10, 2019

Same tank, with only the ML Hidden 17" LED on the left side.... (the following pics were after I fed my cichlids and poured in 5 gallons of water to bring the level up to the light strip, so everything got stirred up, ha)

Marineland Hidden LED 17", left side of 55g

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

The LED was clipped to the front left side of inner plastic lip of the top frame of the 55g...

With only blue LED's on....

Marineland Hidden LED 17" blue only in 55g

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

Left side of 55g tank, with blue LED on.

Finally, a pic with stock Top Fin + Hidden LED's on together....

Top Fin 55g tank with stock LED light + Marineland Hidden LED 17"

• Islandvic
• Sep 15, 2019

The stock L/R LED strips integrated in the top Fin Hood are on + the 17" Hidden LED. In person...

Unfortunately, the pics don't show the true color or brightness of any of the lights, but it should give you a reference. In person, the color is less yellow.

In my opinion, 2 of these light strips plus your current LED should be just fine for plants requiring low - medium light.

Hopefully some plant experts will chime in, and correct me if I'm wrong, or can give additional input for what plants are suitable for the examples of lights given.

Another option for a submersible LED suitable for being placed under the glass lid are the Mingdak brand of LED's found on Amazon. Last year I bought the 18.5" white LED and I believe the 7.5" blue LED.

Both have worked 100% for over a year now.

The Marineland light probable has more lumen output, versus the Mingdak.

The Mingdak though uses suction cups to attach to the inner glass, and can be tucked up where the black rI'm is, so it's basically hidden from view.

I'm sure it can be mounted to the middle brace or other areas with a DIY method.

Wow, so helpful. Thank you.