Peat vs. Lighting

[lucky777ca]

From what I heard, a certain amount of lighting doesn't reach plants if there is tannins present in the aquarium water. Most likely due to the tannins absorbing all the colours of light, except for the tan/amber/brown colour.

Is this true? If it is, what percentage of light is lost due to the tannins and the humic acid in the water?

[Bobnova]

I don't know for a fact, but i personally would be fairly shocked if it was more then a few percent.

Assuming the water isn't brown or black or something of course.
The darker the color of the water the more light is being absorbed.

Sorry i don't have a better answer for you.

[Mgamer20o0]

yea i dont think it would be much but i could be wrong.

[lucky777ca]

Okay, I'll probably start filtering with peat.

[Lupin]

The answer is yes. While I cannot answer how much percentage that you are asking. The heavy amount of tannic acids can considerably lessen the lighting penetrating to the bottom. And you will notice that most medicines with ingredients for staining purposes often were able to destroy some species of algae such as the green water phenomenon as they block the light thus preventing the algae from getting to the light.

[lucky777ca]

Didn't really think about relating medication that produce colouration once put into water producing the same effect... I'll have to remember that.

Thank you everyone for the reply.