I currently have 80 watts of lighting over a 52 gallon tank with various low light plants. Today I got a dual cf fixture which totals 260 watts. Is this over kill and what should I be prepared to do or what kind of changes am I going to notice? If my math is right that is a cange from 1.5 watts per gallon to 5 watts per gallon. I should also mention that I add minimal amounts of diy co2.
low light to high light
- Thread starter trevor30
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In most cases that would be overkill. You will need to switch over to a pressurized CO2 system and will be dosing ferts almost daily. Improved growth will be dramatic, if you have any stem plants you will be trimming them on a weekly basis. If you do not supply enough CO2 and nutrients, the plants will also show nutrient deficiencies much faster (yellowing, pinholes in leaves, curled leaves, etc) and algae will catch on much faster.
Unless you are planning on getting some really light intensive plants, only use one set of lights for 130w. This will make it much easier to deal with and most plants will grow just fine under it.
Unless you are planning on getting some really light intensive plants, only use one set of lights for 130w. This will make it much easier to deal with and most plants will grow just fine under it.
If that is all you are prepared to do, then, yes it is overkill. With that much lighting you will have an impossible time trying to do DIY Co2 (from what I have been told). And your plants wont be able to benefit from all that light if there isnt enough Co2.
In my opinion, albeit not an educated one, you will need to reduce the lighting to around 2.5 or under OR purchase a pressurized Co2 system soon.
I should alsom mention that two of the lights are the acitinic blue lights but the box indicates that there are four 65 watt bulbs.
People have complained about actinic lights promoting algae, I think the extra wattage from the actinic is more likely the culprit than the spectrum. Actinics by themselves aren't good for growing plants but they do use light within that spectrum, and so do algae.
I still say use only 130w of light.
I still say use only 130w of light.
Why on earth would you blast 5WPG without counterbalancing conditions?
Do you really understand what you are doing? It seems not...
An aquarium is a self-contained ecosystem, and ALL factors must be considered- something which you are NOT doing.
Do you really understand what you are doing? It seems not...
An aquarium is a self-contained ecosystem, and ALL factors must be considered- something which you are NOT doing.
live and learn. it takes time for people to learn. most people think more light the better but they are making the smart move by asking here.
i would only turn on half of the bulbs. also look to switch out the Actinics. look for something in the 6700-10000k rating.
i would only turn on half of the bulbs. also look to switch out the Actinics. look for something in the 6700-10000k rating.
Hes asking for help..thats what we are here for.. Giving some helpful information helps far more than flaming a user for asking.
Use only one set of bulbs, as other have suggested..and switch out your actinic for 6700k or 10000k daylight bulbs. If you are ready to go the co2 route now...then using all the bulbs will be OK. Lighting is a nutrient just like ferts you add..including co2. If the nutrient balance gets unblanced you will see probs such as nutrient deficinecies in your plants, and a major growth of algae..
5 watts per g will do wonders for growing foreground plants..
Blue
This kind of sounds like the dilemma I am running into. I am going from a low-tech 10 gallon with 20W to a 38 gallon with 192W. I really want a nice looking tank with a plush foreground and beautiful aquascaping, but I'm also daunted by the concerns with keeping all the water requirements perfect. I think that I will start with one of my 96W bulbs, and when I can afford CO2, ferts and the time to keep them all perfect, I will turn on the second bulb and add more light loving plants. Since you are getting a fixture that is half actinic anyways, maybe you should just leave those bulbs off or take them out to start with and see how your plants do with just the upgrade to 130W.
That is why I was asking. I will only use one bank and up my diy co2. I did consider the upkeep with adding such a dramatic increase in light. That is why I came here to ask the question.
To everyone else thanks very much for the advice.