29 Gallon Tank Tank lighting

Hi, i've had an aqueon opti bright 30-36" for around a year in my planted tank, I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to fully light my tank. My tank is 36L x 16W x 12H. The light is on the back half of the lid, and only really seems to benefit the plants towards the back, moving it forward doesn't work to fix it because the rubber hinge runs the full length of the tank and is fairly wide. This leaves me to either put it on the front and partially black out the front or vice-versa. My tank currently has 3 red undultas growing really well in the back and some S.repens up front which struggled with the light blockage. Im wondering if anyone has any suggestions. IE. (a better light or a second light), that could help balance the light in the tank. Thanks!

 

Hi, i've had an aqueon opti bright 30-36" for around a year in my planted tank, I was just wondering if anyone has any ideas on how to fully light my tank. My tank is 36L x 16W x 12H. The light is on the back half of the lid, and only really seems to benefit the plants towards the back, moving it forward doesn't work to fix it because the rubber hinge runs the full length of the tank and is fairly wide. This leaves me to either put it on the front and partially black out the front or vice-versa. My tank currently has 3 red undultas growing really well in the back and some S.repens up front which struggled with the light blockage. Im wondering if anyone has any suggestions. IE. (a better light or a second light), that could help balance the light in the tank. Thanks!

Hi there. I have a 29 gallon aquarium with similar but not exact dimensions to your tank. I own a Nicrew classic led plus 30-36 inch light fixture in my tank, and I have not had any issues with lack of light. I have S Repens in the tank as well, and from personal experience require root tabs or better yet a nutrient rich substrate to really do well. The aqueon light is sufficient for low light plants like Crypts, but higher light plants (carpet plants especially) will struggle still regardless of where you put your current light fixture.

 

Hi there. I have a 29 gallon aquarium with similar but not exact dimensions to your tank. I own a Nicrew classic led plus 30-36 inch light fixture in my tank, and I have not had any issues with lack of light. I have S Repens in the tank as well, and from personal experience require root tabs or better yet a nutrient rich substrate to really do well. The aqueon light is sufficient for low light plants like Crypts, but higher light plants (carpet plants especially) will struggle still regardless of where you put your current light fixture.

I should have mentioned i use fluval root tabs near the repens and the substrate is caribsea Eco-Complete, i believe the nutrients are enough, do you think adding a second light towards the front could help, i know they usually need higher light but it is a pretty shallow tank.

 

I should have mentioned i use fluval root tabs near the repens and the substrate is caribsea Eco-Complete, i believe the nutrients are enough, do you think adding a second light towards the front could help, i know they usually need higher light but it is a pretty shallow tank.

You definitely could, but I think it would be much better to just get a more powerful planted tank LED to put singly in your setup. Since your tank is pretty shallow, one powerful fixture should be plenty for the S Repens. I agree about the Nutrients, I grow mine in inert sand with root tabs and they look pretty good right now.


A good light for your setup would be the Finnex 24/7 planted tank light or if you really don't have much funds available a Nicrew Classic LED plus (what I have on my tank right now). Additionally, you can also get other easy stem plants to grow well if you have a decent light as well, so that is a plus as well.

 

You definitely could, but I think it would be much better to just get a more powerful planted tank LED to put singly in your setup. Since your tank is pretty shallow, one powerful fixture should be plenty for the S Repens. I agree about the Nutrients, I grow mine in inert sand with root tabs and they look pretty good right now.
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A good light for your setup would be the Finnex 24/7 planted tank light or if you really don't have much funds available a Nicrew Classic LED plus (what I have on my tank right now). Additionally, you can also get other easy stem plants to grow well if you have a decent light as well, so that is a plus as well.

Sorry i got back so late, got caught up with work. My only fear with getting a new single fixture is that with the wide width of my tank and the rubber hinge in the middle I will still be facing a problem with the light not reaching both halves of the tank evenly.

 

You could use two if you would like, but I would try to get a LED that is optimized and marketed for plant growth to get better results. You could use you current fixturn in the back since that seems to work out and a new one in the front for the S Repens.

 

I think I'm going to order a finnex 24/7 and give that a try in the front and leave the opti bright in the back. Thank you for your help.