Dilemma Regarding High Lighting -29g High

Hello all,

This is my first post here! I have been setting up a high tech 29 gallon high and have decided on using a co2 art co2 set up with a 5 lb co2 tank. I have also opted to have the following plants:
1. Micranthemum 'Monte Carlo'
2. Dwarf hair grass
3. Micro sword (Illa eppadI Novaezelandiae)
4. Cryptocoryne Parva
5. Cardamine Lyrata
6. Java fern
7. Water Wisteria
8. Umbrella hair grass and
9. Anubias nana petite

I figured if I plant heavy from the get go, I might be able to combat algae with some success with especially a nutrient rich substrate And high lighting.

I am in a dilemma regarding the lighting.

I have gone through this forum and others and did my research but I lack hands on experience as this is my first high tech set up.

I have zeroed in on the following lighting fixtures:

1. Fluval fresh and plant 3.0 24" - 34"
2. Finnex Ray2 30"
3. Fluval T5 Quad lamp fixture 24 inch with 4× 24w T5 HO grow lights
4. Odyssea T5 Quad fixture with the same 4 ×24 w T5 HO grow lights

The fluorescent fixtures will no doubt be more than a match for my requirements but they're bulky and this tank is going to be in the living room.

I'd buy the led ones but I am ambiguous as to whether they'll be able to support a small carpet on monte carlo in the front of the aquarium especially since it's a 29 gallon high

Tank dimensions:

30"×12"×18"

Substrate: Carib sea eco complete black

Substrate height: 2" average

The lights are effectively going to the 18" from the substrate and I wanted you guys' input on this and how to best proceed from here on.

Thank you!

I've learned so much from here!

 

Here are the links to the lights:
1. fluval -

2. Finnex -

3. Fluval t5 -

4. Odyssea fixture -

Thanks again!

 

FWIW, I have a finnex with LEDs (can't remember the exact model, and can't find the email) on my 5 gal, which I know is much shorter than a 29 gal, but it has been EXTREMELY effective with carpets, including dwarf hair grass. I have sand with DIY root tabs as my substrate, and DIY CO2. I consistently get pearling and absolutely mad plant growth---I mean, right now, I'm wishing I had actually decided to take pictures every hour for the last four days since I added new plants on the bottom, because there are some stem roots that have grown literally 2 inches.

 

FWIW, I have a finnex with LEDs (can't remember the exact model, and can't find the email) on my 5 gal, which I know is much shorter than a 29 gal, but it has been EXTREMELY effective with carpets, including dwarf hair grass. I have sand with DIY root tabs as my substrate, and DIY CO2. I consistently get pearling and absolutely mad plant growth---I mean, right now, I'm wishing I had actually decided to take pictures every hour for the last four days since I added new plants on the bottom, because there are some stem roots that have grown literally 2 inches.

Thank you for the input Viriam! That is amazing to hear! I assume the tank that you have is a standard 10 gallon meaning that your light will somewhere at 12" from the substrate and dwarf hair grass is known to be a low to medium light plant is what I gather from what I've read. I was mostly concerned about the PAR value that the led's that I had in mind would be able to render at the substrate level for a monte carlo carpet. I do not have a PAR meter, neither do I have access to one at present. So I thought it would be better to ask those experienced here before making a expensive investment in it.

 

Thank you for the input Viriam! That is amazing to hear! I assume the tank that you have is a standard 10 gallon meaning that your light will somewhere at 12" from the substrate

It's one of the fluval tanks, I think the spec V? And measuring, I'd say the bottom surface of the light fixture is about 11 inches from the top of the substrate (about an inch of sand).

is known to be a low to medium light plant is what I gather from what I've read. I was mostly concerned about the value that the 's that I had in mind would be able to render at the substrate level for a carpet. I do not have a PAR meter, neither do I have access to one at present. So I thought it would be better to ask those experienced here before making a expensive investment in it.

I also had success with dao noi. It stayed very short and compact so I assume there was quite a lot of light down there. Possibly also informative is the fact that my red plants stay red even when they're short. Obviously once they get tall, their tops start blocking the bottoms, so the bottoms go green, but right now I've got a plant about three inches tall that is REALLY getting nice and rosy. I've never measured PAR with mine either, but judging by the growth and coloring of the plants I've had, it's quite a fixture.

(I found my order---it's this one: Finnex Finnex FugeRAY Series