is my lighting enough for plants?

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zenox8
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2024 3:01 pm

is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by zenox8 »

I've got a 20 gallon tank with a Nicrew ClassicLED light, running it 8 hours a day. My Java Fern and Anubias aren't growing much, just kinda sitting there. Should I upgrade the light or adjust the duration?
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flumex
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2024 10:33 pm

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by flumex »

What's the wattage on that Nicrew? Low light plants like Java Fern and Anubias don't need much, but if it's under 10 watts, you might wanna bump it up. Also, check if the light spectrum is full spectrum or just blue/white.
hikers_22
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Oct 22, 2024 4:08 am

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by hikers_22 »

I had the same issue with my Anubias. Turns out my light was too weak. Switched to a Finnex Planted+ and saw growth in a week. Maybe try a stronger light if you're not seeing any changes.
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loachhub
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2024 10:59 pm

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by loachhub »

Yep, those plants are low light but still need some decent intensity. If you're not dosing ferts, that could also be part of the problem. Try a liquid fertilizer like Thrive.
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lizette
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2023 12:47 am

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by lizette »

My tank's similar, 20 gallons with a basic LED. My Java Fern took forever to grow until I added root tabs. Maybe it's not just the light?
heartfelt
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 6:40 pm

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by heartfelt »

flumex wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 11:25 am What's the wattage on that Nicrew? Low light plants like Java Fern and Anubias don't need much, but if it's under 10 watts, you might wanna bump it up. Also, check if the light spectrum is full spectrum or just blue/white.
I agree with this. Also, make sure your light isn't too far from the water surface. The closer it is, the more intensity the plants get.
biteon
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:46 pm

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by biteon »

I'd say chill for a bit. Those plants grow slow anyway. Give it a month before you start messing with the setup.
voltix1
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 4:41 pm

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by voltix1 »

Have you checked your water params? Sometimes high nitrates can stunt plant growth. Test your water just to rule that out.
Flowerbox
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2023 1:56 am

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by Flowerbox »

Yo, I've got the same light and my plants are popping. Maybe it's your substrate? I use Fluval Stratum and it's been a game changer.
flarion
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:56 pm

Re: is my lighting enough for plants?

Post by flarion »

hikers_22 wrote: Sun May 18, 2025 1:20 pm I had the same issue with my Anubias. Turns out my light was too weak. Switched to a Finnex Planted+ and saw growth in a week. Maybe try a stronger light if you're not seeing any changes.
Finnex is solid, but pricey. If you're on a budget, the Hygger LED is a good middle ground.
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