So I got this Jebo/Odyssea 65w light strip off of ebay for my 75g. I'm thinking this will work for low light plants at least. I get the light set, and the two four-pin bulbs are 50/50's. Someone tells me the "actinic" part is worthless for growing plants and that now I have about 32w on my newly planted tank (low to medium light plants). It's two weeks later and the plants look ok, all of them are growing, but the vals are starting to brown at the ends. The Java ferns, anubias, and wisteria look great. The crypts look good but the rotala rotundifolia is looking sad-methinks not enough light. I ordered these plants from aquariumplants.com and they sent me a bottle of Marc Weiss' "Vital" which I have been adding to the tank per instructions. (The Vital is supposed to add CO2 along with ferts). The substrate is eco-complete and I planted using aquariumplants.com's ferts. I have ordered two new bulbs, two 6700k's. My question: should I just add these bulbs together or add one at a time in order not to shock the fish (or plants). Will adding one at a time damage the unit? Does it really matter to the fish? I have read that one is supposed to change bulbs gradually for just this reason.
Changing light bulb question...
- Thread starter Debisbooked
- Start date
If it's a 48 inch unit then the two bulbs are 65w each, giving you 130w. Personally, I wouldn't count the actinic to the total lighting either so you should be sitting on 65w at the moment.
Marc Weiss Vital. Make up your own mind. Flourish Excel has a proven track record.
I would just add the new bulbs in one go. I've never found any distress to livestock by increasing the lighting.
Marc Weiss Vital. Make up your own mind. Flourish Excel has a proven track record.
I would just add the new bulbs in one go. I've never found any distress to livestock by increasing the lighting.
I agree with John. Right now the actinic isn't doing the plants any good. Even after you change the two lamps you're still on the low to mid-light end of the scale. The tips of my jungle val are reddish brown in color and they grow like kelp. I have seen actinics on planted tanks in which grew dark brown algae, and little else.
Mark
Mark
reiverix said:
I keep forgetting that each bulb is 65w so discounting the actinics I would have 65w. I am still going to change out both bulbs when the new ones come. Thanks for the response reiverix.
I think the brown algae is starting to show up. Some of the leaves are getting covered with something brown, anyway. I wasn't sure if it was algae or the leaves were browning from lack of nutrients/light.wesleydnunder said: