1.8 watt/gal with nice red plants

[plantbrain]

Many post here ask if they have enough light.
I'd suggest they have too much in most posts, cases.
All light is not on equal terms. Most advice is based on watt/gal or experience.
A small amount perhaps on testing using a PAR meter.

I see many suggest that for red plants, that they need/require more light than green plants, I've not found any basis to this to date.

So why not just get to it:

Nice red plants, 20cm above the tank, a T5 light with 1.8w/gal on a nice deep 60cm(24") tank.

Does very well with colors.

So no matter what all else is going on in aquariums, we know it cannot be due to low light, the PAR is 50 micromols at the bottom sediment fairly evenly spread. In other words, nice red growth is independent of low light in this aquarium.

You might have issues in your tanks with red plants and/or green ones for that matter, and you might find some correlation with light, but there are other dependent factors going on there in that case.

CO2, dosing, too much light relative to CO2 etc...........
Various types of light have more output etc. But PC/T5's, HQI's all have a very high amount relative to T12 lights without reflectors etc, which much of the older outdated advice is based upon.

Light is the starting point and where the demand for everything else begins.
So attention to this and buying a good light for a given goal is much wiser, more light is not better.

I must say I find it ironic that many pour over nutrients and adding "just enough", test them often, fiddle with chemistry, but then never "test" light, consider adding "just enough" of that.

Growth starts with light, not with nutrients.
Light drives => CO2, so all things CO2 will be easier with lower light, and the nutrients will also be easier with lower light. More light makes everything harder to manage and less efficient(less light use efficiency, wasting energy basically).

Regards,
Tom Barr




Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[gmh]

Interesting points. Does this tank have HO t5 lights? I'm just curious if a set of HO t5s over a tank would be more efficient than two sets of lower wattage normal output t5 (which is what I use). Do you think a similar wattage of the HO light would have better penetration?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

I must say I find it ironic that many pour over nutrients and adding "just enough", test them often, fiddle with chemistry, but then never "test" light, consider adding "just enough" of that.

the only problem about that is most people dont have the equipment to test the light.


the rest of the points i fully agree with. every time i switch lights on my 120 its been less and less light just more efficient. i went with shop lights years ago smartly switched to ahsupply lights and soon ill be switching once again to t5 ho. one day i hope to switch once again to led.

 

[FISHSHROD]

Thanks for the info, just what I'm working on right now on my 72, getting rid of the vho's (previously salt water setup) and going with less lighting t-5 ho.

 

[plantbrain]

the only problem about that is most people dont have the equipment to test the light.

Apogee PAR meters run 200$ or so with a group buy and then shared amongst a local club, or borrowed from a Reef group, community all pitch ina buy the item etc.

Not cheap, but once a few folks get some good ranges and feel, then they can help others.

Not going to get too far guessing the light and spending 30-50$ or more for cheap test kits, without reference standards(another issue in itself).

Some folks loan/rent their PAR meters out. Our club does this.
Then you know. Sell a few plants, and if 3-4 folks do this over 1-2 months, there's the 200$ cost.

Ahh good old plant dollars


Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[odinthejd]

Nice tank!

 

[plantbrain]

Interesting points. Does this tank have HO t5 lights? I'm just curious if a set of HO t5s over a tank would be more efficient than two sets of lower wattage normal output t5 (which is what I use). Do you think a similar wattage of the HO light would have better penetration?

Not better(more intensity) depth really.
I use Tek fixtures, I use Gieseman bulbs, these are 54 Watt T 5 48" long bulbs.

I do not think over driving is that great, some like to mess with that etc. I have more than enough light as it is.

Micromol per watt of energy used is perhaps a better way to consider it.

I have 8 available T5's, but only use 4 on the 120 Gallon tank.
Spacing is also an issue, and I think you get better spread at more even distribution using the lower wattage T5's.

That alone is worth using them vs say PC's which add too much light in a small area for many plants leading to wasted light and algae/CO2 issues.

LED are interesting, here's my 1/2" Acrylic 25cm cubes with a 1" thick 225 LEd light over the top(they are for sale BTW) and a light meter reading of about 80-90 micrmols.


That means you can grow anything really well, maybe too well(but you can simply raise the LEDs to reduce this).

Still a ways off before they do decent stuff for larger tanks are a reasonable price.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[ferrettim]

that's ludwigia correct?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

Apogee PAR meters run 200$ or so with a group buy and then shared amongst a local club, or borrowed from a Reef group, community all pitch ina buy the item etc.

Not cheap, but once a few folks get some good ranges and feel, then they can help others.

Not going to get too far guessing the light and spending 30-50$ or more for cheap test kits, without reference standards(another issue in itself).

Some folks loan/rent their PAR meters out. Our club does this.
Then you know. Sell a few plants, and if 3-4 folks do this over 1-2 months, there's the 200$ cost.

Ahh good old plant dollars


Regards,
Tom Barr

100% true and i agree but sadly many people are not as fortunate to have a club. glad my local plant club is getting their act together maybe the club can use some money can get one.

know any active group buys? buying direct seems to be $350.

 

[JL15219]

I have a 60 gal tank with 108 watts from a HO T-5 Catalina fixture which comes out to 1.8 wpg, EI dosing, and pressurized co2.....but my plants are never red (rotala rotundifolia, ludwigia repens, etc)....my plants do grow nice and green but never really red they get pinkish when they get really close to the light...What gives am I doing something wrong?