CTT LED Lighting for Planted Aquariums: Boost Growth Without the Heat
- Gabriel Anderson
- May 8
- 3 min read
Healthy aquatic plants demand high-quality lighting. Whether you're nurturing a lush carpet or cultivating bold red stems, your lighting choice makes or breaks your aquascape. With advanced full-spectrum tuning, cool operation, and energy savings, CTT’s planted tank lighting lineup—BrightGrow, PlantaGlow, and Aquascape Color Boost—meets the demands of planted tanks big and small.
In this post, we’ll explore what makes each model unique and how to choose the right one for your setup.
Table of Contents
Why Lighting Matters for Plant Growth
Meet the Trio: BrightGrow, PlantaGlow, Aquascape Color Boost
Full-Spectrum Output Explained
Heat Management and Efficiency
Model Comparison: Which Light is Right for You?
Installation & Setup Tips
Final Thoughts
Aquatic plants use light to photosynthesize, grow, and display their natural coloration. Poor lighting leads to stunted growth, algae, and plant die-off. Effective plant lighting:
Provides sufficient PAR (photosynthetically active radiation)
Offers spectral balance for red and green pigments
Runs cool to protect aquatic life
Saves energy over long photoperiods
CTT’s LED lights meet all of these needs while maintaining a low profile and cost-effective operation.
Meet the Trio: BrightGrow, PlantaGlow, Aquascape Color Boost
Wattage: 13.2W to 40.2W
Tank Fit: For 30 cm to 120 cm tanks (~5 to 60 gallons)
Design: Ultra-thin (~9 mm thick) SUPER-S profile
Spectrum: Full-spectrum for aquatic plant growth
Certifications: CE, RoHS
Benefits:
Great for general aquascaping
Strong red/blue light for photosynthesis
Lightweight, unobtrusive fixture
Wattage: 13.2W to 40.2W
Tank Fit: Standard tank lengths (30, 60, 90, 120 cm)
Design: OVAL profile, ~98 mm wide
Spectrum: Soft daylight-balanced, optimized for plant health
Certifications: CE, RoHS
Benefits:
Natural color rendering
Broad light spread
Ideal for community tanks and low-tech aquascapes
Wattage: 9.8W to 58.8W
Tank Fit: 30–120 cm tanks (up to 75 gallons)
Design: Triangle profile, ~95 mm wide
Spectrum: Color-enhanced full spectrum with red/green intensity
Certifications: CE, RoHS
Benefits:
Enhances red plants and fish color
Ideal for highlight tanks
Strong output with low heat
Full-Spectrum Output Explained
Each CTT light offers a spectrum that blends:
Blue (450–470 nm): Boosts vegetative growth
Red (620–660 nm): Promotes strong root and leaf development
White (6000–9000K): Creates a natural visual effect
This tailored lighting ensures:
Healthier carpets (e.g. Monte Carlo)
Rich reds in species like Rotala or Ludwigia
Vibrant greens in stem and midground plants
Heat Management and Efficiency
All three models use high-efficiency LEDs and heat-dissipating aluminum construction to ensure:
Minimal tank heating
Stable water temperature
Long operational life (thousands of hours)
Lower energy bills
This makes them ideal for long light cycles typical in planted aquariums (8–12 hours).
Model Comparison: Which Light is Right for You?
Feature | BrightGrow | PlantaGlow | Aquascape Color Boost |
Max Output | 40.2W | 40.2W | 58.8W |
Design Profile | Ultra-slim | Wide/Oval | Triangular |
Color Enhancement | Moderate | Natural | Strong |
Best Use Case | General Aquascaping | Community Planted | Highlighted Aquascape |
Installation & Setup Tips
Position: Use included brackets to center light over plant zone
Cycle Timing: Use timers to maintain 8–12 hr photoperiod
CO2 & Nutrients: Match lighting intensity with fertilization/CO2
Water Depth: Ensure PAR levels reach the substrate (especially for carpeting plants)
Final Thoughts
From gentle natural daylight to high-output color-boosting performance, CTT offers a planted tank light for every style. Whether you’re growing a delicate carpeting plant or showcasing vibrant red stems, BrightGrow, PlantaGlow, and Aquascape Color Boost deliver the full-spectrum, low-heat, energy-efficient solution you need.
