5 Wpg

[jmhart]

I just upped my light. I went from 208 watts of CFL to 192 watts of ah supply reflected PC. Crazy. Sure, technically less wattage, but the reduced restrike is great. Gives me about 4.25 wpg.

I'd post pics, but it's only been installed a week and I'm already battling clado and hair algae. Just upped co2 and reduced photo period.

It's awesome so far. After only a couple of days my reds area really starting to pop. I'm also using the coralife colormax-6700k bulb, so I'll have a review of that in a few weeks.

 

[Riiz]

I have tank with Power Compacts running a tad shy of 5WPG.
This tank forced me to learn balance real quick to be successful.
I still run a stepping photoperiod broken up into about 1/3 total available light.
130watts 12hours, 240watts 10 hours, 370watts 8 hours.
I dose ferts. twice a week. Dose Excel a little heavy right after weekly 50% PWC.
C02 stays pretty steady @ 35ppm.

Why the dose of Excel, for algaecidal properties, or something else?

 

[Riiz]

It's awesome so far. After only a couple of days my reds area really starting to pop. I'm also using the coralife colormax-6700k bulb, so I'll have a review of that in a few weeks.

Hows it compare to the GE 9325K bulb?

 

[TwoTankAmin]

One of my favorite planted tanks quotes comes from Karen Randall who says:

Recently, in the typical American thinking of “more is better,” I’ve come across people using upwards of 5 watts per gallon on their planted tanks. While it is possible to manage such a system, it is more work. I have yet to meet a “high intensity” plant that could not be grown well in a tank of normal depth at around 3 watts per gallon. If the plant is not growing at 3 watts per gallon, look to other causes for the failure first.

From http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/ah_main/mar1998.html

You can find another 15 planted tank articles by Karen here: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/aqfrontiers.htm

 

[jmhart]

Hows it compare to the GE 9325K bulb?

So, currently I'm running 2 96w bulbs. One is 10,000k and the other is the 6700k-Colormax bulb. I'd say that overall the 9325k bulb is better, but they don't make the 9325 in 96w and it's only straight pin, not square pin. I realize the pin issue is an easy fix(just replace your pin connector) but I also needed 96w.

Anyway, that being said, I'm really liking it so far...mixed in. It looks like crap by itself. With both the 10,000k bulb and the 6700-Colormax bulb turned on, it really looks nice. The reds really pop. In kind of washes out my chocolate gourami's and clown loaches when they are swimming directly below the colormax tube. I'll take pictures and post a full review once I've cleared up the algae.