question about growing 'baby tear'

[resk]

is my tank too tall to grow baby tear ?

22" is the height measurement from my light hood, to the gravel (flourite)

will this work ?

Lights:

i am applying a 2 x 65 watt PC for = 130 watts

the bulbs are both 10,000k

Hi-Tech co2 injection stuff measuring 15 mg/l

I am using RO water during water changes.

water is:

7.0 pH
5 dKH

my fish are all doing good

15 neons
3 o-cats
2 red-eye tetra
1 syndontis cat

i am about to stock this tank with a large number of other plants, some of which should grow very tall..

trying not to block any light to the baby tear though

[GulfCstAquarian]

I'm growing Baby Tears in my 55 gallon, 21" tall tank with no problem. It's actually one of the most prolific growers in my tank. They're sitting right under a 2 x 65w PC Light fixture. The tank also has a pair of 40 watt tubes, but I believe you might be able to grow them with just the 130w PC lighting as long as they're directly under the light. If they're shaded or off to the side, they'll grow slower/smaller.

[Starry]

The 10,000 K bulbs aren't that good for growing plants. Look into getting something in the range of 5000-7000.

[resk]

ive heard the opposite about the kelvin rating.

there seems to be alot of confusion on the internet about there being a 'best kelvin rating'

ive not read yet why a plant grows better in 5500k than 10000k, or vice versa.

i speculate this might be just a personal preference of the grower

[Starry]

Apparently it's because 5000-6000 is closer to the colour of sunlight. The higher kelvin bulbs simulate the colour of light deeper down, and they're more bluish - for reefs. To me it seems that there are plenty of personal accounts of improved plant growth with lower K bulbs. If you don't see it as important, then why include it in your specs above?

[tanker]

Starry is correct. 5 to 6k is the best. The higher the rating 10,000 and above is for reef tanks and coral that comes from deeper water. I have had a 100gal planted tank for 20years and (from experience) daylite bulbs are the best (at around 6k).

[Timmain42]

Ummm.... why has no one mentioned the CO2 levels yet?

If your high-tech co2 system allows it, you should be running around 25-30 mgL, or a controlled pH of 6.7 when your KH is at 5.

15 mgL seems kinda low to me... but I'm a nut, so ignore me at your lesiure!

:)

[djlen]

I'm curious about the CO2 level as well.

Also, why are you using RO water? What is your tap water like?

BTW, 6500K is very close to sunlight and recommended by most experienced plant growers. The light you are using is used mainly by Reefers.

Len

[resk]

my co2 is 15 mg/l because i am a novice, and i read this was a good level to use.

i am comfortable with raising the co2 (and lowering the ph) if the result is a carpet of baby tear

i use RO water because my tap water ph is 8.0+, and i do not want to stress my fish out.

i agree about the light, 5000-6000k is definitely the right color of natural daylight. however i am not able to find anything lower than 6700k for my 2x65w canopy.

if the 6700k are worth my time i will purchase these, but i am looking for for 5500k which dont seem to be available from any light suppliers

[djlen]

Just my opinion......6700K would be better than anything in the 5000K range and I think you'd see a marked improvement over your 10,000s.

My water, with CO2 added runs in the 6.3 - 6.4 range. I do 40 - 50% water changes with water straight from the tap that tests at 7.5 and get a rise of maybe .1 - .3 rise in pH. I would not be concerned if it rose .5. I think pH shock is over-rated when you're dealing with "clean" water. My fish, everything from Angels to Otos swim directly into the current when it's running into the tank. Never had a problem with stress at all. The Emperor Tetras spawn about every third week, immediately after their water change. BTW, they live in a 40 gal. tank very similar to yours.
Not trying to tell you what's right for your tanks. Just something to think about, especially if you're getting tired of dealing with RO.

Len