How to know if my led light is sufficient for my plants?

**dc20** · 31st May 2012, 09:12

Hi, I recently bought a plant, not sure of its name, for my soil tank. I have a clip on 18 led light which is on about 8 hours a day. I'm not sure of the power or output of the light as. I threw the box away. I'm just wondering, would just keeping the light on for 8 hours/day be enough or does the kind and number of led matters as well?

Thanks.

**qngwn** · 2nd Jun 2012, 00:16

more importantly is the wattage of the LED. you should be able to find this somewhere on your lightset.

**eviltrain** · 2nd Jun 2012, 10:12

the wattage of the LED doesnt matter anymore.

you have to check for the PAR of the LED instead.

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**dc20** · 4th Jun 2012, 11:02

Originally Posted by qngwn

more importantly is the wattage of the LED. you should be able to find this somewhere on your lightset.

The wattage is 1.5

**dc20** · 4th Jun 2012, 11:03

Originally Posted by eviltrain

the wattage of the LED doesnt matter anymore.

you have to check for the PAR of the LED instead.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

What do you mean PAR of the led? How do I check that on the light?

**Shadow** · 4th Jun 2012, 11:16

PAR = Photosynthetically active radiation, need PAR meter to measure. It is around US$400

Normally you will need something like 3W per LED and above to have sufficient amount of PAR at substrate level (depending on the tank size).

You can Google it if you want to know further

**ralliart12** · 4th Jun 2012, 11:42

Originally Posted by dc20

What do you mean PAR of the led? How do I check that on the light?

Do note, even if your LED fixture includes PAR readings, check if they are measured with water in a tank (as opposed to empty tank's depth only).

**dc20** · 4th Jun 2012, 13:12

Originally Posted by Shadow

PAR = Photosynthetically active radiation, need PAR meter to measure. It is around US$400

Normally you will need something like 3W per LED and above to have sufficient amount of PAR at substrate level (depending on the tank size).

You can Google it if you want to know further

wah 3w ah. ok will google for more info. thanks

**dc20** · 4th Jun 2012, 13:14

Originally Posted by ralliart12

Do note, even if your LED fixture includes PAR readings, check if they are measured with water in a tank (as opposed to empty tank's depth only).

alright thanks for the advise bro.

**chlorophyll** · 11th Jun 2012, 20:39

Imo, another cheapo way to measure PAR is to grow glosso. Just grow it in a small patch. If they creep nicely and not grow vertically,the lights should be good for most plants. Currently im growing rotala macrandra red, hairgrass and glosso in my 60 cm x 30 x 36 tank with 1 watt leds.