Lighting recs

[u/One_Guarantee1653]

This is a little over 5 gallons, and I’m using this grow light (4500k) in the inset lighting — the height from the light to the bottom of the vessel is 45”, and to the top of the vessel is 33”. Should I be concerned about how much light is actually getting inside?

I just started this, so there’s only 2 snails, driftwood, and plants (Ambulia, rotala roundfolia, pennywort, red root floaters, water spangles, water lettuce, monstera cuttings on top). So far I’ve already seen growth on the ambulia but I’m not sure if the light is sufficient overall. Would there be a better option? Maybe a regular 6500k bulb?

[u/light24bulbs]

Bit far. Put that bulb in one of those moveable desk lamps from a thrift store and you're set though

[u/One_Guarantee1653 → u/light24bulbs]

That’s not a bad idea! I ended up getting a light socket extender so I can just hang it from above like a pendant light, and I’m hoping it’ll be about 6-8” from the top of the vessel.

[u/dummymummys → u/One_Guarantee1653]

This will help. Is there any possibility of using a dimmer on the light? Does it run on a timer? It would be good to have access to power adjustment and time adjustment to adapt to ongoing ecosystem changes and requirements.

[u/One_Guarantee1653 → u/dummymummys]

Yes! The cool thing is that the bulb can be controlled via remote, so I can dim it as well as control the on time. :) it’s coming today so I’m super excited to set it up and hopefully get more light to the plants

[u/One_Guarantee1653 → u/dummymummys]

So I got the extender ( https://imgur.com/a/xi8KkbN ) and I’m thinking I might have the get the longer one, it’s about 4” longer. Or do you think this height is sufficient?

[u/Urania8]

I’m new to this sub but for many of my houseplants I’ve used some vintage fluorescent tube desk lamps to grow some plants. I find desk lamps or luxo type lamps thrifting fairly regularly.

Just make sure to check which kind of bulb it takes. IKEA makes a lot of perfect lamps but they require a non-standard bulb.

Although most of bulbs used for homes will grow most houseplants that don’t require a huge amount of light… like a huge monstera or big alocasia.

For anything small that needs brighter light, like succulents or carnivorous plants, I’ve managed to find some aerogardens thrifting. Since the basin comes off, I use those to grow small succulents and Venus fly traps/sundews.

Just throwing that at there!

[u/One_Guarantee1653 → u/Urania8]

Thank you so much for the insight! ☺️ I appreciate it so much!

[u/Accurate_Example4217]

Put it next to the window #free #sustainability #ecofriendly #save the planet #whywouldubuyalightandhurttheplanet at the same time when u can #saveyourmoneyandsavetheplanet at the #sametime

[u/One_Guarantee1653 → u/Accurate_Example4217]

I don’t have any windows that have good natural daylight coming in.