back into hobby with light question

BadRoma1

BadRoma1

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Nov 29, 2005
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i had trouble with bad algae blooms when last time i was trying to add more light for my plants. it got so out of control that i gave all the plants away and didn't want anything to do with them anymore. then i went and got some discus and many anubias were given to me, so i desided to try again. i've been having them in my 125 gallons with 4 of 17W daylight bulbs and there are some rotten lieves, but also new constantly grow. also algae is mostly under control, though i run light over 12 hours often. but i just added new light fixture that has 6500K 65W of 4 flurosent lamps, half are actinic blue and half daylight lamps. i was wondering if aktinic blue can do any harm to the plants or cause some other problems. so in total it's good 2W per gallon
 
For a start, limit your lighting time to 8 hours or less and see if that controls that algae. Another option is to remove one of the tubes. It's easy and cheaper than swapping out tubes.
 
no i didn't swap tubes, but put in completely different light fixture. my old fixture only worked two tubes at one time or none. interesting that though i had the new light on only for so long and the fogy water cleared. i don't know if algae is comming back yet, i'm still adjusting my plants to new light. the tak has been up and running for few months, but so far algae is very mild, but before i only had 4 of 17W bulbs,with one blown
 
4 * 17W + 2 * 65W over 125 gallons = 1.6 WPG.

With WCs and pruning of your plants, I think you'll be OK. If algae does come back though, you're going to have to either drop your photoperiod from 8 hours (I know it's 12 now...use 8), or use CO2.
 
BadRoma1 said:
no i didn't swap tubes, but put in completely different light fixture. my old fixture only worked two tubes at one time or none. interesting that though i had the new light on only for so long and the fogy water cleared. i don't know if algae is comming back yet, i'm still adjusting my plants to new light. the tak has been up and running for few months, but so far algae is very mild, but before i only had 4 of 17W bulbs,with one blown
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depending on how you want your plants to grow you its prob best to switch out the actinic bulbs for 6500k 1000k white bulbs.
 
unfortunately, i would have to change all the bulbs, because blue and white are attached and only run together. i just hate to buy brand new bulbs in exchange for brand new bulbs. this light fixture was bought to go into my new 95 gallons reef tank with the helide, but i changed my mind on the tank. so i put the light fixture over my planted. looks nice with blue tint, kinda bright but my discus adjusted to it very fast. i went and got another discus today and got two more very nice looking free anubias and a piece of java fern.i hear it's a good thing to have fast growing plants in the tank to keep water kleaner and java fern is easy and fast growing i think. i know that i was having hard time tearing the lieves off of this java fern today
 
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