low tech tank, need help on lighting

[pyl]

IMG_2426.jpg

hi, just setup this tank few days, intend to cycle it for at least a month, before i start putting in tiger and sakura shrimps

Setup:
- 40x25x18cm glass tank
- gex red packet shrimp soil
- underwater filter (bio+mech media)
- lighting FPL 27w
- hang on fan, daytime temp 27-28, nighttime 26-27
- No CO2

Plants:
- christmas moss (some brown dead patches, they were already in this state when i bought them)
- hornworts
- Nana

Is the light too strong for my tank? any thing i miss out? bought the christmas carpet moss from seaview, would they survive in this condition?

[diazman]

Thats abit too much of light considering your plant list, apart from your hornworts. you can add some floating plants. Is your tank customed? The height quite low. The christmas moss should be able to grow although slowly.

[pyl]

i got tank from seaview. How much light would you recommend? would LED light be of a better choice?

[diazman]

Usually, 13-18 Watts at most should be sufficient. The aim for low tech - everything at a moderate level = plants grow smaller, less algae, less problem. Although this is not restricted, there's people who have low tech tanks with high lights.

I lack experience in LED lightsets. Probably other bros can share their views. Mine is a customed lightset, using Osram lighbulb.