Is this light bright enough?

[Homeslice]

This is a 55 gallon. I'm doing aquaponics (not up and running yet since I removed the plants from the last go-round, plants to be inserted soon). So I do not have a hood over it, just some boards with net cups in them.

So I bought this light:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PZT7FT2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And you can see it shining on the back of the aquarium.

But it does not seem very bright? It is on the back facing at a 45 degree angle down I would say.

Should I order another one, and put it on top at the front, facing 45 degrees down as well, but towards the back?

Any better way to light this up? It is still horribly messy at this point, clean-up to come LOL.

Thanks!!

 

[GlennO]

Does look rather dim. It says each 44" lamp is 11 watts. You might need at least 3 of them. I don't know where you'd put them. Is it possible to put glass lids on the tank?

 

[Homeslice]

I thought it looked dim GlennO. I have that one stuck to the glass at the back of the tank, I just ordered a second one, I supposed I'll stick it on the glass at the front of the tank pointing back and down. Then if I get a third I supposed I could hang it right in the middle of the tank, attached by wire to nails sticking out of those wood pieces.

Thanks!

 

[GlennO]

You can try but I think in the long run it would be better to fit glass lids or build a hood that you can install lights under. Or remove covers entirely and suspend a light above the tank. Having them angled greatly reduces the intensity of light at the substrate.

 

[Homeslice]

Thanks GlennO. So I could just run the light right under the center of those boards that the plants sit in, facing down, and that should do the trick correct? I think I can make that happen.

 

[GlennO]

I can't see any plants. But the lights will be strongest if they are pointing directly at the substrate.