What is Reddit's opinion of
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs, Size 12 to 18 Inch, 6 Watts?
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72 reviews of this product found across Reddit:
Tips -
Swap out the gravel for sand, it's far easier to clean
Dont waste money on fake decor, it's quite expensive. Go for live plants - anubias, java ferns, java moss, moss balls, and anarcharis are very easy. Amazon swords and most crypts are also fairly easy but they will definitely require root tabs. Plants will improve water quality and will act as a buffer for any 'oops' ammonia spikes.
the nicrew lights on amazon are super cheap and work well for low-light, low-tech setups
r/aquaswap always has great deals on plants. Especially floaters, bettas love them, and they soak up nitrates like nothing else.
I've had good luck with Nicrew lights; they come in a variety of sizes. Here are some on Amazon. There are plenty of other good lights out there though, hard to go wrong.
Also, if you're getting a light, I'd highly recommend an outlet timer. Consistent lightning can help with algae, etc.
Take care.
These plants are gonna rot in this setup. And it will kill your betta.
Live plants need a legit light or they melt/rot. If you'd like to operate on the dirt cheap, pick up something like this
I'd pull the plant tho. It's gonna do more damage than good until you get some real structure in place.
Thank you!
Live plants aren't really hard, here's some good tips for a low-tech setup:
Photoperiod of 8hrs, get a light timer.
Get some seachem flourish (dose 1x a week) and seachem root tabs.
Pick easy, low-light plants. Anubias, java ferns, java moss, moss balls, anacharis, amazon swords, and some crypts are all pretty undemanding. Also check r/aquaswap for easy plant bundles!
If you don't have a light, these lights on amazon are super cheap and work well for the above plants.
My money's on this light from Amazon, as /u/Gredival said, it's sold under many different names, chinese.manufactured LED. The nicrew on Amazon has loads of good reviews tho and at a price that's not too painful at all.
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs, 6W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AiKZAbAGYQ19B
Thank you! I don’t know if you saw the before post that I put in a comment, but I was shocked with this finished product. I was like, “woah, this actually looks nice!” Haha
I am using these lights
I bought a Hygger plant light. I like it so far. My plants weren't doing the best, but now they are. This is exactly what I bought, but maybe they have the size you need.
Nicrew is also I guess a good one.
Want to attempt at growing a carpet in a walsted method 3 gallon tank(most likely a low tech). I understand this will be slow, not super bushy, and potentially won't work. I just want to know about other people's results that also attempted this.
Thinking about Monte Carlos, Pearl weed, and Echinodorus Tenellus (Dwarf chain sword).
Would a NICREW ClassicLED Light be enough to grow a carpet?
Nope! Only dose liquid fert once a week and DIY root tabs! I also use a really cheap NICREW light that I bought from Amazon for $18. But because the light was too short for my tank, I had to use a random LED lamp to compensate for the part of the tank with no light. :D
But I wish I had Co2! I would be growing pretty red plants if I did! XD
Your best bet for a 10 gallon tank is going to be petco. They are $10 right now.
As for plants, This subreddit is the best for it. Lots of people sell starter packages regularly.
For a light, I would go with a Nicrew light from Amazon. The 10 gallon sized one would be about $15-20. Its a great light for the price.
For a heater I would stick with names brands. I personally only use Eheim heaters. They are very well made and not too expensive. For a 10 gallon you will only need a 50-100 watt one.
For filtration you can use a Hang on back filter or a sponge filter. My personal favorite for a smaller tank is a hang on back with a sponge on the intake. Also if you get a HOB filter ditch the filter media it comes with and just stuff a sponge and some filter floss in there. You can get a bag of pure polyester stuffing in the fabrics section of walmart for $4. It works amazing for filtering out particles. The sponge is good for holding bacteria because you will need to replace the wadd of filter floss(polyester) every month or so at least(one bag will last you at least 2 years at this rate).
Here is the nicrew light I mentioned. Its a great light.
Is your tank dirted? Type of light and wattage are both important for this.
I have had luck with MC in dirted tanks with this Nicrew light from amazon on both a 2.5g and a 5g, and I'm about to start it on a 12g. The ferts should definitely help though. CO2 isn't necessary as I've found out, but it grows VERY slow without it.
No problem! If you're interested in a planted tank, this light is really affordable , fits well on a 12" cube, and has been growing my (easy mode) plants well. (Link is to Amazon Canada)
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_x2euDbDRFK25S
the tank is 8 gallons and it is about 12x12. I just saw this on amazon is it any good? mazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=asc_df_B0191EWII2/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167149786275&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16460284305609780622&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9005929&hvtargid=pla-313113204696&th=1
It's a nicrew led light. This one: https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2 The soil is just ordinary tropica aquasoil. The white ''strip'' you see, is actually remnants of sand, which I switched out for coloured gravel. No unnatural barriers.
10gallon, sand over soil substrate, planted with crypts and swords. Running this Nicrew light, which might be my problem, though I had the same algae when I was running a fluorescent before. It's only on for 3 hours and I can't keep this green algae down -- it's on everything the day after I suck it all up! I can't peel it off - it falls apart easily, not hairy. I stopped adding ferts weeks ago hoping it would hinder it.
My guess would be doubling lighting. My java ferns are growing without problems under 23W daylight CFL (over 12" high 3 gal tank) and another with Nicrew LED lights over 5 gal, both without fertilizing.
You know, for the price this little Nicrew is pretty good for a 10 gallon. Not sure what would be medium plants, so for me, it works well in my 10 gallon with various Java Ferns, some different Crypts, some Sagittaria subulata, there's some Buce, Java Moss, floating Duckweed, either Cabomba or Hornwort I can't remmber, I think there's Swords in there too. I have several of these lights.
If its length fits the tank, then it should work. Color is bearable, but intensity (380 lm) should be weak for more light demanding corals, you could be limited to fish, crustaceans, snails and low light corals (variety of mushrooms and maybe some LPS will slowly grow, with feeding). I have similar light on FW tank, Nicrew.
Do you need a kid? If not I just have a led light that sits in the edge of my 10 gallon and 30 gallon
This light is super cheap and will work fine for low-light plants as well if you decide to go that route.
I use the NICREW LED lights on my 20g long. Works great for my plants, but each person's use case is different. The great thing about the NICREW is it uses a standard DC connector, so you can connect a $6 dimmer dial to it if it's too much light for your tank:
https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Aquarium-Light-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2
The Finnex Stingray is a pretty great light. The downside of the Finnex Stingray (and the reason I returned it) is it uses a proprietary DC connector. So it won't work with the common (and cheap) dimmer dials/LED controllers out there. I don't think Finnex sells a controller for the Stingray either, so if it's too much light for you, you're out of luck.
As of right now this is what is in mindLight . I was thinking maybe buying a external timer that plugs in to the wall. I’d also need to purchase a hood that’s see through. Any suggestions for any of the 3. Light, external timer, see through hood
What type of plants do you have/how many?
Two anubias nana, one anubias congensis, one banana plant, some java fern that I hate, two moss balls. I also ordered salvinia minima yesterday and will have it by probably Wednesday.
What type of light do you have?(need to know specs especially watts and kelvin)
I have this one. It is 6 watts.
What size tank is it?
It is 5.5 gallons.
Do you use fert?
I use one teaspoon of Aqueon Plant Food every other week and an Aqueon root tab every month.
Do you use CO2 or excel?
No.
How many fish do you have?
One betta. Two horned nerite snails.
What type of substrate do you have?
I have just some standard rocks.
What are your tank parameters?(I need to know everything ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, alkalinity, general hardness, ph)
Ammonia: 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 15, 150 hardness, pH is a solid 7, alkalinity is in the moderate range but I can't remember the exact number off the top of my head.
Hit my text limit. I noticed today the tips of the amazon swords near the bottom of the tank are starting to brown and rot by the looks of it. I’m currently using the little LED light that came with the Top Fin hood. I’m figuring the plants are not getting enough light from that, but I’m still new to the hobby so I’m not 100% sure.
My wife has this Nicrew light on her tanks. Is this something similar to what you’d recommend, or can you guys suggest something different?
Thanks again!
Tried to find that light, but maybe because it's not on the Canadian website. I did however find one similar that's led, it seems like most lights wouldn't be compatible with mine. Do most people have a clear top?
Edit: Maybe a Fluorescent Hood would be the better buy? Thanks for information
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_y.VVzb13P5P84
I bought this for my portrait, it's 6 watts and I think it's only bright enough for low light plants. The portrait is so tall you really do need a bright light to penetrate to the bottom.
I also have this one but it is a bit small for my 10 gallon, which means of course I need to get a five gallon to go with, and another fish, because it is the right thing to do. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191EWII2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I was planning on using on those flourish tabs. As far as the lighting, what do you think about something like this? I'd prefer a hood and light combo over a large light over the tank as you suggested. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vVJUybDZSBR75
Depends on what shrimp you want to keep, some of them require specific setup, like soft water Caridina (crystal shrimp and bees) and hard water Caridina (Sulawesi shrimp). "Base" will be very different for each of them. The rest of questions can be answered only after you decide on what kind of shrimp to keep.
Here are some of their photos and requirements. More on ShrimpFever website, or of any other supplier.
Next, make sure that you water is suitable for chosen kind of shrimp. Test or do online search for name of your city and water analysis. Or maybe you are already prepared to make optimal for them artificial RO based water.
Minimal tank setup: tank (not kit), filter (sponge is good), heater only if your room is cold in the winter, thermometer, light for plants, plants, a lot of hiding places for molted shrimp and babies (could be clumps of plants, wood, shrimp shelters). Substrate is species specific.
Sponge filter: T-shaped is my preferred kind. It should be connected to air pump by airline tubing, with check valve and double air valve to regulate intensity of air flow. Do amazon search for each of them, you will see how they look like. If power filter (=HOB), intake protector will be necessary for small shrimp and babies, sponge or stainless steel cylinder, pantyhose should work too.
If you will need heater, preset to 78F heater could be used only for neocaridina (cherries) and ghosts, but not for cold water caridina. Adjustable heaters could not keep temperature low enough, then external temperature controller (like Inkbird) could be needed. 50W should be enough.
Plants are up to you, this is very personal. I prefer the easiest way, low light low tech plated tanks mostly moss based (Christmas moss, weeping moss, spiky moss, fontinalis, Marimo moss ball, round pellia (actually liverwort, subwassertag or susswassertang), mini pellia. Do image search for moss tank to see moss trees, walls, hills, logs. Rootless plants do not require substrate at all.
Light is kind of plants specific, there are low light setups, fast and easy, and high light setups with fertilization schedule and CO2 dosing. Planted Tank subreddit can say what light fixture would be good for your tank and plants, if your price range. I'm using Nicrew and for other tanks, desktop lamps with daylight CFL. You will need tank cover (lid) for this kind of lights and to reduce evaporation. $5 timer is good enough, but you can ask for a better solution at Planted Tank.
Reliable online stores for livestock: you should name the country. ShrimpFever should be of no help if you are not in Canada.
Food sources for shrimp: depends on the kind of shrimp.
Dwarf shrimp (cherry, crystals) will graze on the biofilm on the driftwood, glass, sponge filter, plants, with additional feeding by blanched or weighed raw vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, baby carrots, broccoli and so on, preferably low in sugar and holding shape well), leaf litter (do search for this and shrimp), and commercial food (you can see examples on ShrimpFever and find the same in your country). Mineral supplement helps with molting and color. Using feeding dish (like small Petri dish) helps to control pollution, this is even better. More about feeding them is in Shrimp Tank search.
Ghost shrimp: anything you give them, especially live black worms, or frozen worms, will be appreciated. Variety and what doesn't pollute tank much.
Amano and fan shrimp, no experience.
Maintenance tools: if you will have substrate, gravel cleaner, sized to your tank, bucket, glass scraper.
Tests: API GH/KH test kit; ammonia, nitrite, nitrate for cycling tank; pH just in case, TDS meter is helpful.
Good to have: a piece of clear acrylic tubing for picking up uneaten food, this shrimp net. Scissors are up to you, I'm pulling apart my mosses by hands.
Plz do! After 2 months it grew this much! I only do liquid fert once a week and I use a cheap NICREW light from Amazon . It’s worth it! Especially now that it’s not summer yet, this is the best time to buy plants online!
Yes, not as easy as that seems. For beginners they always say larger volume is better/the solution is dilution... But, if you want to get a simple 5.5 gal going, you can definitely do it. I don't know where you are but in the states, they have kits, which I've only seen with a black plastic lid where the light is attached inside/under the lid. I got this once because it was on sale... and I ended up tossing the lid, buying a glass lid and light on amazon and it is a great set up now. And depending on if your fish like water flow, you might get a different filter. So, here's an example: Light from Amazon will fit on a 5 gal tank and is less than 20 quid): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191EWII2/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 Get a glass top if you can but be sure it fits (over here the topfin set tank didn't fit the aqueon lid I got!). Don't know if you have Cobalt Aquatics 25 watt adjustable heater, but that's probably the best in that size that is adjustable. But I paid $40 for mine (although I just saw one on amazon for $25). And you can choose between a sponge filter or a hang on back filter. Pros for sponge are less turbulent water(unless you have really big bubbles)/Cons-it doesn't suck up any of the crud/mulm that might be in the tank... like I don't like the dust from the Catappa leaves (as they decay) I add to some tanks, so I don't like to use them in sponge filter tanks. Pros for HOB filter, greater flow, can overfilter a tank allowing for a slightly higher bioload (like I have a filter for a 30 gal on a 10 gal that has Endlers livebearers 'cause they breed so prolifically and I have to sell them back to my LFS periodically so it's overstocked). And it sucks up mulm and shedded needles from hornwort and cabomba plants (unless I put a prefilter sponge on it). Cons--if you have baby shrimp or fry they would get sucked up without a prefilter sponge. All 3 of my 5.5 gallons have HOBs ranging from an Aqueon 10 for the fish that like flow to a small Deep Blue Nano filter for fish that don't like flow.
Hope this helps and sorry if it was too long!
This is depends on where you are, because long glass tanks are not mailable.
If you can find tank locally, the rest could be bought online.
For low budget setup I assume that this should be low light tank without necessity of fertilizing or CO2. Light could be Nicrew Classic from Amazon.
If no rooted plants, you could skim necessity of nutritious substrate and root tablets. Any inert sand, thin layer for cosmetic purposes is enough. Black or white.
Low ight plants that do not require substrate and fertilizing: all kinds of mosses (Christmas, weeping, spiky, fontinalis, marimo moss ball) or 1-2 of them and let them grow for several months, plants with rhizomes that have to be tied or glued to something in the tank, wood or rock (anubias, java ferns, bucephalandra), floating plants (long rooted water lettuce). Examples of moss tanks.
Wood better be from LFS, but you could collect it in clean zone, far from polluted places, clean and repeatedly boil it. Some bough wood branches, sold for birds.
Stone could be from LFS, garden center, or from clean place outdoors, they should be inert and aquarium safe. Do search for aquarium safe rocks to see the list and photos.
You will need test kits for cycling: at least ammonia and nitrate and give ample time for cycling (4-6 weeks) API brand, not strips. Master kit is not enough and it has unnecessary high pH test. Do comparison shopping online to find a cheaper place. GH/KH and pH is nice to have for troubleshooting.
Dechlorinator for tap water.
One 75W heater or trow 50W in opposite ends of the long tank. Tetra or Aqueon preset are the cheapest. Tetra from Walmart worked very well for me for 2 yrs, other had bad experience with it from Amazon.
Filter could be Marina Slim S20 or any other of your choice, even Aqueon QuietFlow. Cartridges could be replaced by custom filter media.
SwissTropicals offer kits for making Matternilter: piece of thick foam, inserted in the end of the tank, heater behind it, jetlifter works as air stone, moving water with the help of air pump. Read their info, could be interesting to try. One filter is enough, either this or power filter.
Plants are expensive, try to buy them from classifieds from hobbyists, could be less expensive. 1-2 kinds of Tropica brand mosses (in clear plastic box) will grow and in several months you will have an excess of them too.
Tank cover you will have to find my yourself. LFS have not too good looking expensive glass covers, or try any DIY replacement.
Fish and fish food are minor expenses. Fish could bet sick and you may need medications for it. Know where to find them in 1-2 days when necessary.
I use these on my 5.5 gal tanks just fine.
Tanks of the same volume could have different dimensions. Bar light, as Nicrew Classic, should be to the tank length. There are two numbers, lowest is of the light fixture and the longest is with extended wire supports. It should be enough for low tech planted tank with low light plants.
There are more advanced versions of the same brand, see if their intensity could be dialed down for a tank without CO2 injections.
Tank has to have a lid between lights and water, they are not water resistant.
There are less known brands, like this one, quite good. But it is more intense, less blue, more white, and make sure that dimensions fit your tank.
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8DAB1K4P71Y7VG7QBNCG
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_8DAB1K4P71Y7VG7QBNCG
I use the Nicrew classic plus which now has a dimmer. https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2?th=1
This tank has been up and running for just under a year. It used to house cherry shrimp and 1 betta. Just doing some downsizing. This is the starter kit. As you can see it comes with everything you would need. I upgraded the light fixture to this bc the stock one was trash. The plants are four stems of diamond ludwigia, a small anubias mini, and of course the moss attached to the decoration. Everything for $50 obo. Pick up would be best but we could work something out.
This tank has been up and running for just under a year. It used to house cherry shrimp and 1 betta. Just doing some downsizing. This is the starter kit. As you can see it comes with everything you would need. I upgraded the light hood to this bc the stock one was trash. The plants are four stems of diamond ludwigia, a small anubias mini, and of course the moss attached to the decoration. Everything for 50 obo. Pick up would be best but we could work something out.
hi, is this the model you are referring tohttps://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2? thanks
So for low tech tanks, I really like this NICREW light on Amazon. It's adjustable, has two settings, and works fine for low light plants. They also have a timer you can buy with a sunrise sunset mode, but if that's not a big deal to you then a $5 hardware store outlet timer works really well, and that's what I have on my tanks.
You could also go with a clip on aquarium light, of which there are a ton.
If you have live plants that can handle low light, like anubias, java fern, etc. then just about any of these lights should be just fine. And obviously if you've got silk plants it doesn't really matter, lol. Just be careful not to leave the light on too long or you'll get algae. (this is why I like timers)
12-18" NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light $17.99 Amazon
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100 w Fluval Marina Submersible Heater for Aquarium $11.42 Amazon
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Aqueon Versa Top Hinged Glass Aquarium Top 20" L $12.39 - 10% off in cart for in store pick up petco
https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-versa-top-hinged-glass-aquarium-top-20-l
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Tetra Whisper EX Silent Multi-Stage Power Filter for Aquariums $12.49 Amazon
or upgrade to
Aqua Clear - Fish Tank Filter - 60 to 110 Gallons - 110v $20.49 Amazon
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I just rescued this guy from a tank that was left at work due to COVID.
I don't have the ideal tank for it and am looking for someone with a large enough tank with soft substrate and hopefully a group of fellow cory catfish to join.
Available for pick-up pretty much whenever. Just DM me. The mollies in the photo are also available as well as an upside-down catfish that isn't shown.
Also, I have a few lights to giveaway as well:
https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2 in 12-18 inch
https://www.amazon.com/Aquarium-Asta-20-Multi-Color-Programmable/dp/B07236CXBQ?th=1 in F20 Freshwater and S20 Saltwater
Thanks!
My idea is using aquarium lights like these https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-ClassicLED-Aquarium-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2
I suggest doing a custom tank setup. I personally like this one. Try to find it at PetCo when it’s half price (which seems to be common) - https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/aqueon-rimless-black-tank-aquarium It’s a 5.5 instead of 5 gallons, but it had a nice shape (good for betta) and style. Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a lid, so you would either need to buy one from Aqueon or get one cut.
Then get a filter to your liking, whether it be small, big, inside, outside, etc. Filters are relatively easy to find and with good reviews.
Last, you would need a heater and light. Personally, I like the extending arm lights. Really you can look up anything on Amazon, filter by Top Rated, and find something. I’ve heard good things about this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_66HaFbHHK0FD6 I personally have my eye on: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZD6RHKV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_h-HaFb0X32APH It’s really all based on opinion. Heater wise, I HIGHLY suggest you get one that has an adjustable temperature if you haven’t bought one already. If you have, that’s fine. Just ignore this part.
I’m sorry if this is not what you are looking for, but I find that this kind of thing is WAY better than getting a rimless pre-made tank that has a built in filter (because most do.) or a premade tank with something not to your liking. I mean, if that’s what you prefer, go for it. I just personally can’t stand it because if that filter fails.. oh well, the entire tank there is kinda useless.
I hope this helps and I apologize for rambling, haha. I’m looking to get my own custom tank at some point with that light and tank. Good luck!
No problem! I'm still semi-broke and living at home with my family so budget tanks are kinda my thing, lol. Good luck!
This is the light I use, though NICREW also has a few clip ons if I'm not mistaken, just make sure to check that the wattage is high enough for whatever you want to grow. I've had it over a year now and it's still keeping my plants quite happy. I run it on a timer for 6-8 hours a day, and I pretty much have a jungle in that tank. I've got a few pellets of Osmocote extended release buried in the sand, and I dose Nilocg Prime every other week, only because I have some heavy root feeders like amazon swords, and also because I'm using it as a growout right now so there's a crap ton of plants in there, but in general neither fertilizer is absolutely necessary with plants like anubias, java moss, java fern, etc,
This is the tank. I don't have a Pet Supplies Plus near me but I was able to get the exact same one from Petco for $15. Topfin also has a 5.5g at Petsmart and I picked up one during black friday sales, which I'm currently getting setup.
I highly would recommend the substrate. It harbors so much of the beneficial bacteria that it’s even recommended if you wanna change it out in the future you do very little at a time due to you crashing your cycle! Also if you plan having plants the roots grab on to the pebbles or sand or whatever you choose.
As a beginner with plants I would say start with anacharis. They are cheap and all they need is an additional light. This is the one I got for them and it’s more than enough! Give them time because when you buy them ($3 at petco) and out them in your tank they try to acclimate and look they are dead but aren’t really. This is the light And these are the anacharis it doesn’t need anything additional such as CO2 or blah as others do. Also moss balls are nice to have to entertain your betta. They like laying on them and are good little filter plants
I have that same tank full of Cherry shrimp, at least 50 of them and heavily planted. I replaced the light with this Nicrew LED and it works great. I use the Fluval Mini CO2 with a diffuser instead of the reactor chamber it came with, I just didn't like how it looked in the tank but it works fine. I only run about 1 bubble per second for about 4hrs a day and the plants grow like crazy. You will need to modify the filter by putting filter floss on the inside of the filter slots or a fine mesh on the outside to keep baby shrimp from being sucked into the filter, Makes a lovely little planted shrimp tank overall. I use Ecocomplete substrate.
I use the NICREW 11 inch LED light from Amazon. It won't fit the tank but I rigged up a hanging system and it works well.
No experience with this light, but ratio, similar to Nicrew should work well. Add some reds, if you can.
What is the width of the tank? I use this Nicrew (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=twister_B0772N6YMJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) light on my 10in wide 5gal, it costs a bit more than the light you are looking at but I know 100% it will grow plants very well and looks really good. The length is adjustable from 12-18in so it hangs over a small bit on my 10in wide tank but still looks good, very low profile. Gravel will be fine, for plants like Java Fern, Anubias, and Buce that attach to rocks or wood they don't need any substrate at all. You can use Super Glue Gell to stick plants to wood/rock BTW, it will even stick wet, and is fish safe.
I find these inexpensive lights ideal for the smaller tanks. And bright enough to make the plants grow successfully.
The first, budget minded and planted tank are not going well together, plants alone are expensive, at least where I am, comparable to coral frags.
But doable with some luck in hunting: getting plants from fellow hobbyists in free section of classifieds or asking for on AquaSwap, or, if allowed, in aquarium related subreddits. We always have an excess that goes to a trash, someone in the same city could be willing to share. Friend with planted tank could be willing too.
Or get few plants and let them grow for months.
You can go filterless with Walstad method, capped by sand soil, low bioload, a lot of plants. Mind treatment of soid before using, ask at Planted Tank or Jarrarium subreddits if necessary.
Or use any oversized filter that allows custom filter media. DIY canister or overhead filters are possible. Some recommended pool filter from hardware store, but I'm not familiar with them.
For a light sleeper, filter outflow should be under water. For a HOB with a short lip, you can make DIY extension from clear plastic. No air pumps, obviously. Or ear plugs at maximum, 32 DB, could be used.
Nicrew LED are good for a budget and enough for a low light low tech planted tank setup. Flat, looks good, white and blue, good for an eye, no need to change bulbs as with fluorescent light.
Low maintenance plants, no CO2, no ferilization no substrate required: mosses (Christmas, weeping, flame, spiky), Java ferns, anubias, bucephalandra. Their rhyzomes have to be tied or superglued to something in the tank, not buried. Mosses cold be used as a free floating clumps, moss walls, moss logs, moss carpets of trees. Do image search for this to see how it looks like.
Rootless stem plants need checking online by species before buying, they have different requirements and could be not compatible.
For this setup, a little of sand, just to cover the bottom, is enough, easy to clean. Preferably larger than playsand.
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs, 6W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_73TWAb971ET0M
Ya it looks an awful lot like the nicrew
NICREW ClassicLED Aquarium Light, Fish Tank Light with Extendable Brackets, White and Blue LEDs, 6W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_AiKZAbAGYQ19B
Would this light be considered low light? Nicrew LED
Nicrew is alright for a low cost option for low light plants.
Lumini Asta is a great nano light. Low to Medium light plants will grow with this light.
Finnex Clip on if you want a well known light, though I don't think it outputs as much as the Lumini.
I’m using a Nicrew LED
This whole scape is very new. I did a dry start and the Saran Wrap didn’t get placed down all the way after a misting and the anubias dried out. I figured I’d flood it. That was a week ago.
I dose macro and micro nutrients on alternating days and then off for two days.
10 gal and this is the light
I don’t have the current parameters but I can do a quick test for everything if you’d like.
The white one? Honestly, I’m not sure. I found them a few months back when I was walking my dog. I was thinking of taking it out. If your talking about the thing in front of the anubias, that’s driftwood.
Overall I am seeing a difference in growth and some of the plants are pearling too.
Edit* this is what I dose...
I'm not sure how to answer that, but this is what I bought:
I had 2 of those on a 6 gallon and the spread is not great. Skip that one and get this. Same brand,better light.
This is a pretty good light, it's not too expensive and should be great for low light plants.
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NICREW LED light for 11"-19": https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0191EWII2/
It depends on what carpeting plant you're talking about. My NICREW LED light sustains my Staurogyne repens and Hemianthus callitrichoides and was $30 (sustains... slow growth though):
https://www.amazon.com/NICREW-Aquarium-Light-Extendable-Brackets/dp/B0191EWII2/
I might actually consider a 24" Beamswork LED light for $28 since it has a wider spectrum of light and is a little cheaper. I haven't used it yet though (it's in the mail), so I can't say if it sustains carpeting plants:
https://www.amazon.com/Beamswork-Timer-Aquarium-Freshwwater-Extendable/dp/B019YXYO0K/
How about this one? It's far cheaper.
Kelvin: approx.7500K
Lumen: approx.380lm
Is this considered low light?
I think it's a good deal for under $20
I have never once seen him use the hammock or go into the cave. This is the light that I just purchased.
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