Led Lighting Question : Low Tech

ive been looking into a lot of questions I have for a while....please keep any replies as simple as possible...I know that's a lot to ask given the knowledge that you guys possess...#s and scientific data have been completely beyond me

I bought an Aquatic Life LED Aquarium Light Fixture...after some research, I found the specs from the manufacturer :
at 12" below the light it produces 95 -105 par at 18" it produces 55 - 65 par the lumans at 16.5" are 4240 - 4250

the specs on amazon state
LED Complement: (27) 6K White, (27) 9K White, (33) 10K White, (7) Blue, (14) Red, (6) Blue Lunar LED's.

the simplest question I can ask at this point is - for beginner plants is it better to run on the white light setting or colored lights?..I have no co2...banana plants, java fern..amazon swords..elodia anacharis...and christmas moss...I'm dosing with flourish

my current light setting is
8am slow sunrise for full spectrum...
11am white lights come on
3pm white shuts down colored still on
8pm blue lights on colored still on
9pm colored lights off blue still on
10 pm all lights off

thanx

 

HI BklynsBurning

What size tank / depth tank are we talking about?

 

standard 55 gal at 21"

 

HI BklynsBurning

Your tank is 21" tall, assuming 3" of substrate then 18" from top to substrate. Typically, without CO2 I like to run PAR@50 or less for light intensity. Your light provides about PAR@60 at 16.5" - I would guesstimate PAR@<50 at your 18" substrate.

If it were me I would run all lights at full for 6 hours per day to start with a very short ramp up and ramp down and see how the plants respond. Don't forget to dose fertilizers so the plants have nutrients to grow. If algae becomes an issue cut back from 6 hours.

 

FYI based on the colors, looks to be a marine light, not freshwater.

 

youll have to excuse me....the pics I pulled off amazon are for the marine version....you're right....I bought the freshwater led. I'm taking thos pics down now

 

If you are into low tech tank and if you are growing the plants that you have mentioned all you have to do is use just the white light and not complicate things with colored lights. White light contains all the colors. I prefer to use CFL than LEDs because it has a broad spectrum (all colours). LED's tend to spike at particular colors. This is why they use some red and blue led's along with white led's for planted tanks. Keep it simple, go all white.

 

HI BklynsBurning

Your tank is 21" tall, assuming 3" of substrate then 18" from top to substrate. Typically, without CO2 I like to run PAR@50 or less for light intensity. Your light provides about PAR@60 at 16.5" - I would guesstimate PAR@<50 at your 18" substrate.

If it were me I would run all lights at full for 6 hours per day to start with a very short ramp up and ramp down and see how the plants respond. Don't forget to dose fertilizers so the plants have nutrients to grow. If algae becomes an issue cut back from 6 hours.

This. So much this.

I think I have the same light as the op. I ran it for about 7 hours a day with full spectrum. I gave it 15 minutes ramp up and down time. It grew low light plants fine in my 65 gallon at about 22 inches from the substrate. It doesn't throw enough wide enough for my 180 but that shouldn't be an issue for you.

 

This. So much this.

I think I have the same light as the op. I ran it for about 7 hours a day with full spectrum. I gave it 15 minutes ramp up and down time. It grew low light plants fine in my 65 gallon at about 22 inches from the substrate. It doesn't throw enough wide enough for my 180 but that shouldn't be an issue for you.

For a 180 gallon you may need 2 lights to get good light distribution with the 24" width of the tank. I had to do that on the 150 I have, it has a 24" width.

 

For a 180 gallon you may need 2 lights to get good light distribution with the 24" width of the tank. I had to do that on the 150 I have, it has a 24" width.

I need 4 lights. 2 per half of tank. Just waiting on my plant 3.0's to no longer be backordered at my lfs where I have a credit. The 2 lights I have now are just keeping everything alive for now.

 

the plants are doing great....thanx for the suggestions guys...one more question...I have some red root floaters held in place directly under the lights.....I'm assuming the par at surface level would be considered high since the value at 12" is 95-105 par....I'm hoping if it will be enough to get some coloring on them with regular flourish doses

I started to get some BBA so I threw in a black molly yesterday...I'm hoping the new light sched and fish will eradicate it before I go to the excel