Photosynthesis Spectrum
Plants absorb red (600-700nm) and blue (400-500nm) most efficiently.
Green light (500-600nm) is reflected — that's why plants look green to us.
Lighting Recommendations
6500K full-spectrum LEDs: standard for planted tanks.
Higher Kelvin (8000K+) emphasizes blue — good for stem plants.
Lower Kelvin (5000K-6000K) emphasizes red — good for red plants.
Photoperiod
6-8 hours of light daily for low-tech tanks.
8-10 hours for medium-tech.
Up to 12 hours for high-tech with CO2 — but algae risk increases.
Brand Recommendations
Twinstar Series: budget-friendly, full-spectrum.
Chihiros A-Series: premium, controllable spectrum.
Fluval Plant 3.0: affordable, 6500K.
Kessil A360 (premium): tunable spectrum, popular for high-tech.
- ✦Start with 6 hours, increase by 1 hour per week if no algae
- ✦Cloud cover at noon (1-2 hour midday rest) reduces algae
- ✦Rest periods help plants too — they need photosynthesis breaks