Upgrading lights - how to avoid algae bloom?

V

vthokie

JW
Sep 29, 2005
44
0
6
South Carolina, USA
I'm getting ready to switch to T5 lighting on my 75G tank. Currently it is moderately planted with low-light plants and some hornwort, but I will be adding a wider variety of plants when I add the new lights.

I've read that a lot of folks get an algae bloom soon after switching to stronger lights.

Does anyone have suggestions on how to avoid this? I figured I'd start with a short photoperiod and increase it gradually. No CO2 at the moment, but should be getting it in a month or so. I do have a large supply of Excel. I plan on dosing Excel until I get the CO2 going.

Does this sound like a good plan? Thanks!
 
I would not up the lights till you are ready with CO2.

If CO2 and ferts are ready you will not have an algae bloom.
 
you will not have an outbreak of algae if you setup your tank properly. how much are you increasing your lights by? do you really need co2? do you really need to upgrade your lights? you can always get better growth out of a tank by upgrading your co2 and leaving your lights the same.
 
tanker: I was hoping to use Excel to tide me over until I get the CO2 set up. I already have the ferts.

coach_z: I currently have 2 55w PC lighting with poor reflectors. The tank is dim and rather dismal looking. It definitely needs more light, but I want to avoid "high light disease". I'm hoping to get by with 2 54w T5HO bulbs.
 
Fertilizers aren't really a subsitute for co2. You will still have a limiting reactant. light+nutrients+co2 grow. If they are disproportional you will just have excess light and nutrients floating around.
 
Are you switching from two 55w PC to two 54w T5?? The tank maybe brighter, but the plants will not know the difference. That is not really a light "up-grade" or increase.
 
tanker said:
Are you switching from two 55w PC to two 54w T5?? The tank maybe brighter, but the plants will not know the difference. That is not really a light "up-grade" or increase.
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Well if the T5's have good reflectors, the plants and algae will notice a very big increase in light. For instance, I switched over to T5 on a couple of 75 gallons and have used alot less energy to achieve more growth. For instance I replaced my last coralife 4x65 watt PC fixture to a 3x54watt Catalina T5, and saw much better results.

But to the OP, I would use 1 bulb and see how the plants or algae respond, if the plants are still growing. Wait for Co2 then add the second bulb.
 
Well, making the tank brighter was one of the reasons for getting new lights. So even if the plants don't notice a difference I will still be pretty happy with my decision. I really do not like my current fixture.

I'm getting the 3x54watt Catalina T5 fixture too. I will start with 1 bulb and see how it goes.
 
You will get much more out of the planted tank if you add CO2 to the present system with the light you have now.

Then, if that is still not enough, then consider more light, the 3x 54W is plenty for any goal you might have.

You'll need ferts/sediment ferts along with the CO2.
It's not just one thing, it's all 3, that's what folks are all telling you here.
When rates of light are low, so is growth, as you increase growth, you increase CO2 demand/nutrient demand so now you need to add them vs fish waste etc alone.



Regards,
Tom Barr
 
Things need to remain balanced. If you dont up the CO2 in time with lighting, the plants don't expend their resources and leave them for the algae to chow on.
 
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