Would you rather have a high light tank or low light tank?

[Mgamer20o0]

what would you rather have a high light tank or low light tank and why? also why wouldnt you want the other?

[Ozymandias]

high light really it alows me alot of foreground plants like HC or UG

[Bk718]

would rather have a medium light tank :)

not high since its 2 much work, have to be on top of everything all the time..
not low since the plant list is limited.

[jmhart]

I think, starting all over again, I'd definitely cut down on the lighting. 196w PC over a 45g is way too much...too fast growth, too many algae issues.

3 or 4 x 39w T5...so more "medium" light, like Bk said. Stay closer to the 3 wpg, maybe even down lower to 2.5 wpg.

But, I'd also go with Aquasoil. Medium light, AS=perfect tank.

[Yadokari]

If I had to choose between the two, I'd pick high light. Simply because if I ever want some low-light plants, I can always just throw it in and know they'll do great.
Bigger plant selection and there's just way too many beautiful high-light plants out there.
Erios, toninas and various other red plants.

However, I have been wanting to make a low-light set-up for slow growers like crypts and such. Although I'm only contemplating this because I already have a high set-up.

[Kashta]

I like high light over low. I enjoy collecting and growing the plants as much as I do watching the fish, snails, and shrimp. Also, with a high light setup, it easier to shade low light plants under the taller vals and swords. My big tank now is getting 2.93 wpg. Not terribly high, but I can also add a few spot lighted areas with small moveable and CFLs. That lets me augment the lighting in certain areas if those plants need a bit more.

[gmh]

Being lazy, I like a medium low light set up. 2.1 watts per gallon give me enough light to grow vals, crypts, hygro, anubias, java fern, ludwigia, and bulbs without going high tech with CO2 and dry ferts.
I use root tabs and dose trace ferts with water changes.

[beeZer350]

My 1.8wpg is good enough for me so I'd say I'd prefer a low light tank.

[grannylvsfish]

Im happy with my 2.5 watts per gallon.( 65 watts coralife over 29 gallon tank and 30 watts over 10 gallon tank) ) not sure if thats high or low, but my plants do well and I can have more plants then low light allows.

[DAVIDFBT]

I liked having 2.3 WPG on my 30 gallon tank, but ever since I upgraded to about 3 WPG, my plants have been growing like crazy, and my foreground plants are really filling in. So my answer is high light because low light limits your choice of plants.

[msjinkzd]

I like lowlight because of the ease of maintenance and routine. With around 2wpg you can grow a wide range of plants with minimal fertilizers needed and little trimming required.

[phanmc]

Low to moderate lighting, no longer have the diligence to trim every week.

[fishorama]

I like low-med light for ease of maintenance. Someday I will try high light & CO2 but I enjoy casual tanks for now & for the last 25+ years, the fish are always more important to me. Loaches, my special fish, mostly prefer dimmer lighting.

[rich311k]

I have and like both, how is that for sitting on the fence?

[inkyjenn]

i really like my low light tank. the plants i have have thrived without a whole lot of extra work from me. plus, there isnt too much drain on my electric bill and the light isnt so bright as to irritate me too much.

[noodles62]

I prefer low - medium light as I have no desire or time to mess with co2.

[Mgamer20o0]

its funny since so many people who start shoot for high light co2 yet the people who keeping tanks for some time shoot for med low light...... i have always been a big fan of low light set ups. i would be happy to just be stuck with crypts anubias and java ferns in all my tanks.

[bluekrissyspike]

i think high light tanks are absolutely gorgeous but for me low/medium is the only way to go. not only can i not afford all the extras for the high light right now, but i just don't have the time and patience for it because we have four kids...lol. i like that i don't need to worry about the plants and they grow slowly enough that my mts can handle the pruning for me.

[Riiz]

I like both, I have 1 highlight, that is the gem of my collection, its the "wow" aquarium that I show off. Then I have a medium light CO2 enriched also, and 2 low light tanks. But with a 135gal in the works soon, I'm on the fence again, about which way to go, highlight or medium light, or maybe just african cichlids and floaters/anubias as my plant life.

[pacersfan09]

130 watt on a 20 gallon would be considered highlight correct?
Well the light i have has a 10000K bulb and and 6700K, so I could probably use just the 6700k one (because thats the one that matters the most anyway) and be somewhere in between?

[LeahK]

Low. Many low-light plants are tied to wood and rocks rather than being planted in the substrate. I think tank maintenance is easy when you can lift out and rearrange all your plants. Just my personal preference.

[jpappy789]

Depends on my budget and free time...;)

Right now I prefer going with medium-low light, somewhere around 2 wpg max.



130 watt on a 20 gallon would be considered highlight correct?

Um, yeah...sounds like HLS (high light syndrome) to me...

[Slappy*McFish]

I'm with the low-medium crowd. High light looks great but it's too much work to keep it that way.

[excuzzzeme]

Low light.

[Yadokari]

130 watt on a 20 gallon would be considered highlight correct?
Well the light i have has a 10000K bulb and and 6700K, so I could probably use just the 6700k one (because thats the one that matters the most anyway) and be somewhere in between?

That's freakishly high, I hope you have co2 in there or else algae will bloom like mad.

I notice that a lot of people who go for low-light say they like low/medium light so the maintenance is low. What do you all mean by that? Less trimmings and such?

Because I looooove trimming plants, I think that's one of the best parts in keeping them. Haha :P I know it's a lot of work but I enjoy trimming my plants, having to replant and all that stuff. It gives me something to do and I find it quite relaxing. The best part is when you start off with only 3 stems of something and all of a sudden, you have 2-3 times that amount after a trim. It's a nice feeling of success that you can grow these plants well. That is, of course, if those are beautiful and rare plants.

[pacersfan09]

That's freakishly high, I hope you have co2 in there or else algae will bloom like mad.

I notice that a lot of people who go for low-light say they like low/medium light so the maintenance is low. What do you all mean by that? Less trimmings and such?

Because I looooove trimming plants, I think that's one of the best parts in keeping them. Haha :P I know it's a lot of work but I enjoy trimming my plants, having to replant and all that stuff. It gives me something to do and I find it quite relaxing. The best part is when you start off with only 3 stems of something and all of a sudden, you have 2-3 times that amount after a trim. It's a nice feeling of success that you can grow these plants well. That is, of course, if those are beautiful and rare plants.

i have not even set up my planted tank yet haha, just looking on here for advice and what everyone else prefers

[phanmc]

I notice that a lot of people who go for low-light say they like low/medium light so the maintenance is low. What do you all mean by that? Less trimmings and such?

Because I looooove trimming plants, I think that's one of the best parts in keeping them. Haha :P I know it's a lot of work but I enjoy trimming my plants, having to replant and all that stuff. It gives me something to do and I find it quite relaxing. The best part is when you start off with only 3 stems of something and all of a sudden, you have 2-3 times that amount after a trim. It's a nice feeling of success that you can grow these plants well. That is, of course, if those are beautiful and rare plants.

Trimming is nice in the beginning as confirmation of success, but weekly trimmings gets old after awhile and it begins to feel like work.

You also have less room for mistakes with high light. Forget to dose a couple of days and a high light tank will take a nose dive pretty quick, you can go on a week or two vacation and not have much problems with less light.

Overall, I find taking care of a lower light tank much more relaxing. With CO2 and ferts, I'm still able to grow a wide range of plants, just at a slower pace.

[Jag1980]

I like high light because I can pretty much grow anything I want.
I do not have patients to watch pain dry, so when I grow plants I want to wake up everyday to see new growth.
Growing and selling plants is fun.
The learning process. Faster problems, faster results, faster fixes.
Growth rate on some plants are so fast, I am throwing plants in the garbage.

[Jag1980]

Trimming is nice in the beginning as confirmation of success, but weekly trimmings gets old after awhile and it begins to feel like work.

You also have less room for mistakes with high light. Forget to dose a couple of days and a high light tank will take a nose dive pretty quick, you can go on a week or two vacation and not have much problems with less light.



:iagree:

[calivivarium1]

With my schedule right now, low-med light is the way to roll for me. Though I hold nothign against those who enjoy trimming their tanks/replanting the cuttings, I personally don't enjoy it very much. The array of plants capable of being grown in high-light is desirable, again I simply prefer the lower maintenance of a low-med light tank.

[Que]

For the sake of time and money I have gone the low light road and am happy with it. Sure I'd like to have a wider choice of plants to grow but I don't want to spend the money to further upgrade my lights, add CO2 and use more ferts. I love this hobby but I'm also trying to be GREEN about it too. I also have my hands full trimming my Rotalas and crypts and have to keep after plants that wander into areas I don't want them in.

I have hardly enough time to keep after it all. I like how my tanks have turned out and I may someday try a small high light tank... all DIY of course.

Q

[Star_Rider]

I prefer low light.. I have too many tanks to keep high light set ups.

but on the flip side there are some nice plants in the high light high tech systems.

I try to keep my tanks under 2 wpg(just a rule ) as large tanks and small tanks the wpg rule stinks.

[paperdragon]

I prefer low to medium light... getting ready to switch one of my tanks over to mostly moss. :)

[icemanx23]

I enjoy keeping natural planted tanks. Around 2wpg and monthly water change with no ferts, no c02 and no filtration. This is my 10gal betta tank with hood remove. I have 21 w compact fluorescent over the tank.