Diy Planted Aquarium Lights

Hey Guys, I'm in the process of putting together my first planted tank. It's a 29Gal tank that will hold some angelfish and a group of corys. I'll be using Seachem substrate, a variety of Amazonian plants, and running CO2 via a solenoid equipped pressure valve and a paintball tank.

I've seen videos on youtube about using LED floodlights with a 6000-7000K brightness rating in place of traditional LED grow lights. I would prefer to use LEDs as opposed to T5s or fluorescent due to their low power costs and long life.

My Question: Can I use either LED floodlights or traditional LED lightbulbs with a high enough kelvin rating in place of traditional grow lights from companies like Kessil, Ecotech, or Current USA? I'm hoping to build a lighting fixture that will both be effective and save a little money. If it won't lead to a healthy environment for the plants, I'll bight the bullet and pick up a professionally built model.

Links to the floodlight and bulbs on Amazon:
Bulbs:

Floodlight:

Thank you in advance for any of your help! I'm new to planted aquariums, but I want to do my research and provide the best home possible for the plants and fish.

 

I have just got a similar light as the flood light you have there have done a few test with it in combination with some t8 fluorescent tubes and there seems to be some potential.

I have placed it at either end of my 55 for a 8-9 day period and we got noticeably better growth on the end with the light.

I will be setting the light up on a 18gal tank and testing it as a stand alone light starting in a couple of days and will run for about a month as the tank will be Starting from scratch so I can see how good it really is if your willing to wait a month a will let you know

 

Thanks Littlebudda! Yeah I'm still in the primary stages of planning this tank, and I'm taking my time with it because it's my first planted tank. I am currently in the process of finishing a 100 gal plywood tank system for my year old red eared slider turtles and won't be beginning the new tank until they are moved. I'd be very interested to see your results with just the floodlight and any issues you may encounter.

 

Thanks Littlebudda! Yeah I'm still in the primary stages of planning this tank, and I'm taking my time with it because it's my first planted tank. I am currently in the process of finishing a 100 gal plywood tank system for my year old red eared slider turtles and won't be beginning the new tank until they are moved. I'd be very interested to see your results with just the floodlight and any issues you may encounter.

No worries I might even start a blog post on here so you can all follow and will update with picks every couple of days it will also be a test for my apparent "aquatic seeds" that I got sent over from China to do some carpet plants cost $2 with shipping so not holding my breath that it will be anything spectacular but who knows I might get lucky

 

Yeah I'd be interested to see how the seeds turn out too. I'll keep an eye out so I can watch your progress! Thanks again

 

Just started a blog/test on the led lights and the Chinese seeds if your interested
Test Cheap Led Floods And Chinese Seeds

Test Cheap Led Floods And Chinese Seeds

 

Just checked it out - excited to see how the light and seeds do