Light upgrade...too much (over 3wpg)?

[rsanz]

Is there such a thing as too much light? I have a 20g long tank currently with a 20w bulb in my hood. Needless to say, the plant growth is horrible and everything is just about dying.

I decided in my other thread ("Please help...planted not going well") to upgrade the lighting and to add some ferts. Now, the light I am looking at is the 30" Coralife Freshwater compact fluorescent fixture. My question is this:

The new fixture is 65 watts, which will be a little over 3 wpg. Is this too much? Will I get an algae bloom?

Would probably end up running me $70. I would think that it's worth it, since my tank right now looks pretty pathetic. I worry about the anubias, since they seem to be growing well in the current lighting conditions. I don't want to kill them or turn them black with algae by bumping up the WPG.

Opinions?

 

[smyke]

I am no expert, but from what I read with that lighting you may have to consider CO2 and ferts to balance everything out.

 

[tanker]

I have over 4+ watts over my 100gal.

But ===High lights and no C02= algae.

 

[StereoKills]

With high light, you will defiantly need to use co2 and fertilizers, otherwise you will see an algae bloom and not the boost to you plants you were hoping for. Plants require a combo of all 3 to flourish.

 

[rsanz]

C02 would require a DIY setup, correct? Yikes. I don't know if I'm ready to take that plunge...

Perhaps I'll keep searching around for that Double Tube fixture that will get me at 2 wpg...

 

[jones57742]

Folks:

I am about to be run out of town (Forum) on a rail here but rsanz you can grow plants at 4.6W/G with no CO2 and no algae.

I found that some experimentation with fert constituent concentrations and protocols was necessary.

TR

 

[rsanz]

Folks:

I am about to be run out of town (Forum) on a rail here but rsanz you can grow plants at 4.6W/G with no CO2 and no algae.

I found that some experimentation with fert constituent concentrations and protocols was necessary.

TR

Well, that is at least reassuring!! What did you find was the most important factor/fert when creating said protocols?

 

[smyke]

Folks:

I am about to be run out of town (Forum) on a rail here but rsanz you can grow plants at 4.6W/G with no CO2 and no algae.

I found that some experimentation with fert constituent concentrations and protocols was necessary.

TR

:drool: thats great news. I would love to hear more about it, jones.

 

[jones57742]

Well, that is at least reassuring!! What did you find was the most important factor/fert when creating said protocols?

With respect to various concentrations which I started with please refer to:
http://www.rexgrigg.com/index.html

The only fert which seemed to be slightly more important with respect to algae control was the micronutrients.

The best that I can say is to mix up the ferts (I use a 2 liter bottle) in concentrations such that the mixture can be dosed daily as this dosing schedule appears to control algae much better than greater concentrations with infrequent dosing.

Please note that all ecosystems are different and that experimentation will be required in order to get the plants going without algae production.

TR

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Is there such a thing as too much light? I have a 20g long tank currently with a 20w bulb in my hood. Needless to say, the plant growth is horrible and everything is just about dying.

I decided in my other thread ("Please help...planted not going well") to upgrade the lighting and to add some ferts. Now, the light I am looking at is the 30" Coralife Freshwater compact fluorescent fixture. My question is this:

The new fixture is 65 watts, which will be a little over 3 wpg. Is this too much? Will I get an algae bloom?

Would probably end up running me $70. I would think that it's worth it, since my tank right now looks pretty pathetic. I worry about the anubias, since they seem to be growing well in the current lighting conditions. I don't want to kill them or turn them black with algae by bumping up the WPG.

Opinions?

There is already some key information in this thread for you.
I would just like to simply point out that the Coralife 30" fixture only has a 21" bulb which is offset to one end. So the positioning of your plants would need to be considered for their lighting needs.