CO2 - DIY or this...?

[Mindcrime121]

Not sure how you mean that... Are you saying run 2 for 6 hrs, then cut back to 1 for the next 2-3 hrs, or are you saying run 2 for 6 hrs and then ADD the additional bulb for a total of 3 running durring the last 2-3 hrs?

BTW, I'm home pretty much 24/7 and spend a lot of time around my tank and want to be able to see into it and enjoy it throughout the day and evening. If that means scrubbing algae now and then, so be it. I've had to take the anubias out once since restarting the tank here a few months ago and remove algae from the leaves, so if that's a standing issue with this plant then I may just remove it to a smaller tank which I can deal with not having lit up for viewing as much of the time I suppose. I intend to add some otos to help control it though.

 

[Bk718]

bottom line is that planted tanks need a break and do best (minimal algae) if the light is kept at 8-10hrs.
If you would like get only low light plants with a 10w bulb over the tank and then you can keep it on for 12-14hrs and not experience algae.

So if you still run 3 bulbs for 12hrs+ and have low co2/low or no ferts you can experience serious algae.. And the type of algae you will get wont be the so easy to remove kind.. Plus otos only eat greenspot algae.. but that algae would be the least of your worries.