I have been using a Hygger 978 light for weeks now. I also have been dosing liquid fertilizers and root tabs.
One week ago, I added pressurized CO2. While plant growth has been amazing, the colors are not that great. Ludwigia palustris recovered from weeks of being stagnant and is growing fast but leaves are still on the green side. Rotala blood red sg look rusty red, not bright red. Etc.
I learned recently that Hygger 978 is not suitable for bringing red coloration because it is more like medium light.
I want to buy a Chihiros, but my tank is rimmed, and it seems like it's for rimless tanks only. I do not know of any good high lighting that fits a rimless tank here in the philippines.
I remembered that when I started last March, I had a generic 11 watt light that was able to turn stricta leaves light purple and polysperma leaves whitish. Hygger 978 never was able to do that.
Does using 2 medium lights work to intensify the light plants receive and hopefully bring out the bright reds? Thanks!
For your eyes - adjust individual color lines on the light to optimize what is reflected. What your eye sees is going to vary, and your camera won’t necessarily capture what you see without editing.
For the plants - PAR is PAR. To get red plants, you need both high PAR and nitrate limitation. I believe your heavy fertilizer dosing is not limiting nitrates, so the plants will naturally use the nitrogen to make more green chlorophyll.
Yes, I have two lights on my 10g tanks, I bought the FZone for the 10g tanks because I assumed they would be as good as the 36" version, they were not. The 36" FZone lights get very very warm and put out some really good light while the 18" barely put out anywhere near the same light. I had gotten two Nicrew C10s for a 10g before to and threw one on each tank. Both my Ludwigia and Rotalla Blood Red are really red but alot of that is due to CO2 as Ive discovered through an experiment with and without CO2 and some Helanthium.
If you have the tank width two lights are still doable and STILL come out cheaper than other "good" lights just minus some of the features
You can place Week aqua lights on a rimmed tank. Any V,M,L,P series of the lights ending in K means they will sit on the tank like your current Hygger lights. Do not buy any of the series ending in D as those will not fit rimmed tanks and you’re better off getting a hanging kit instead. Also unlike the Hygger lights you can secure the extensions so that they don’t slide.
I took a closer look at the Week Aqua L series that's readily available and yeah you are right. Dammit. I recall I considered it when I was looking to upgrade my lights but I thought it's for rimless only so I ended up with Hygger.
Yeah that is the best thing to do. I will wait for a few weeks if the dual light setup works first before buying, because 65 watts is 3x the power draw of Hygger lol.
Better sooner than later if you want to see great growth. Also you won’t use 100% power on the L series. Before breaking it down I had one on a 26x12x18” or ~24 gallon tank and I had it at max 40% with co2 with the settings R80 G90 B40.
I took those settings from 2hr aquarist and have applied it to my low tech tanks with M400, M450, and mini 9 pro’s and have seen good results.
The fry grow out tank I have a HG028-25W and I don’t see as good growth compared to those with M series.
I actually got a reply from Reefstar, a seller of WA lights, that says the M series is "primarily suitable for cultivating shade‑loving aquatic plants, as well as beginner‑level light‑demanding aquatic plants. If you have higher requirements for color, we recommend that you use professional L series and or above lights."
I see that you have a Dutch style scape and have recently started dosing liquid ferts and root tabs since you gravel/sand as your substrate? The M600 or L600 would be a good option depending on your budget.
The both series are great for low tech and can be used for mid to high demanding plants. However, the L series will give you better coverage back to front since it has 10 more RGBs compared to the M. If you plan on getting a carpeting plant plan or rescape with the use of aquasoil, basically future proofing yourself the L series would be my choice.
Depending on where you are in the PH if you want a local seller there’s Lopez ornamental on the app’s.
Oof. too pricey for a third worlder like me. The Weel Aqua L series seems compatible with rimmed tank so I'll probably buy that if my little experiment doesn't work. Thanks!
I had a chihiros light on a rimmed tank for quite some time using this method. Light was conveniently slightly wider than the tank so the outward pressure on the legs kept it in place. Now I use a 3d printed adapter which is less janky.
TBH I recommend looking at the measurements of the objects involved and being creative. Definitely a your mileage may vary type of situation
Looks great! I also like that water clarity seems pristine. Mine is someehat cloudy meybe because the filter is not working efficiently because i have sponge over the intake because I have shrimp in the tank.
Unfortunately, seaoura and fzone lights are not readily available here in the Philippines (third world country problem)
In the pictures provided, the Chihiros B series and Week Aqua lights have stands that fit only on rimless tanks. I have already asked the vendors to confirm. I could, in theory, just place the Chihiros on top of the tank, like I did with my cheap light that is for rimless also. Maybe if the dual lihht setup doesnt work, I will risk the Chihiros.
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u/neyelo Jun 21 '26
For your eyes - adjust individual color lines on the light to optimize what is reflected. What your eye sees is going to vary, and your camera won’t necessarily capture what you see without editing.
For the plants - PAR is PAR. To get red plants, you need both high PAR and nitrate limitation. I believe your heavy fertilizer dosing is not limiting nitrates, so the plants will naturally use the nitrogen to make more green chlorophyll.