What I am doing wrong?

[Riiz]

The light sounds fine, the K rating is to determine what looks good to the human eye, the bulbs package should show a spectrum and if it has good amounts of light in the red/blue ends, it should be ok.

The issues I would look at are, how are you determing proper CO2 levels? And second, what are you're nutrient levels at, phosphate and nitrate?

 

[Phyroath]

Thanks everyone! Riiz, it is a hard question for me. I only basd on JBJ CO2 Indicator attached inside a tank for CO2 and PH) and for NO3 and NO2 with my JBL 5 in 1 test kit (NO2, NO3, GH, PH and KH). The issue is with Phosphate that i don't have any clue. I get my CO2 into a tank through this reactor.

 

[Canuck]

I expect your problem is more nutrient related than light. I think alot of people overestimate the importance of K, lots of people have grown plants with cool white (that are 2100K). Make sure your nitrate is in the 5-15 range, phosphate around 1, and don't be worried about being on the generous side with the traces. It's really difficult to give you a definitive answer without your dosing regimen and current nutrient levels. CO2 sounds like it might be alright but we don't know what your pH level is at equilibrium so that is just a guess. I don't think the bubbles per second means much by the time current and difference in reactors is taken into account.

 

[coach_z]

How many people saying that 12,000K is fine for the lights actually use 12,000K lights in their planted tank. i bet all of you use 5500-10000.

optimum light for plants is between 600-675nm (see 1st image below...a 6700K bulb)
a 12,000K T5-HO bulb is bulb emits between 400-500nm (see 2nd image below)
http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=16+2151&aid=2689
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/37501-best-kelvin-rating-plant-growth.html
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/lighting/240-what-temp-best-kelvin.html


im not saying that you cannot use a 12,000K bulb i am just going to say that it is extremely inefficient to use a 12,000K bulb.[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, Avant Garde]

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[DSR]

The 12000k lighting is most likely going to be a limiting factor in the plant growth. it is pretty far into the blue end of the spectrum which is not used by plants in the photosynthetic process. That is why most authorities suggest a kelvin in the 6500-6700 range. A 10000k lamp would be better, but if you really want good growth then go with a 6700k light.

 

[Riiz]

Phyroath, I would suggest getting a drop checker, to determine if you're getting high enough levels of CO2. But in the mean time you could try increasing (very slowly, like over the course of a day) the bubble rate and see if the plants growth improves, but pay alot of attention to your fish, so they are not stressed.

Also a phosphate test kit would be really helpful too, API sells an inexpensive kit, and levels of 1-2ppm are good.

 

[phanmc]

How many people saying that 12,000K is fine for the lights actually use 12,000K lights in their planted tank. i bet all of you use 5500-10000.

I've used lights ranging from 4000k-18000k and 50/50 daylight actinics. Except for a few rare cases, I cannot tell a difference to plant growth.

I saw slightly slower growth with the 50/50 and the best growth came from a specific 5000k bulb.

The 12000k lighting is most likely going to be a limiting factor in the plant growth. it is pretty far into the blue end of the spectrum which is not used by plants in the photosynthetic process. That is why most authorities suggest a kelvin in the 6500-6700 range. A 10000k lamp would be better, but if you really want good growth then go with a 6700k light.

Plants do use the blue spectrum for photosynthesis. They use everything within the 400-700nm range, though they have slightly higher sensitivity to the blue and red spectrum.

People have been parroting the ideal color temp of 6500k because they think a light emitting that color must provide more of the full spectrum that plants need. This simply isn't true and if you have a PAR meter you can test for yourself.

 

[Phyroath]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I emailed the seller and they told me the light is a new concept. Riiz, I would try to increase the bubbles rate and will let you know the water parameter soon. Here are some pics of my setup.

 

[Phyroath]

I did w/c this afternoon. Start CO2 at 3 bubbles/s. My test strip shows the following:
PH:7.6
KH:6 degrees
GH:>7 degree range
NO2:0.5 mg/l
NO3:25 mg/l

 

[DSR]

Phanmc, thank you for the information. So the overwhelming weight of authority has simply got the whole idea wrong... ! that is so good to know. Tomorrow I will put some actinici lighting in my planted tank and some 6700K lighting in my reef tank... Man, I feel so liberated to know that the bulk of botanists have this whole photosynthesis thing wrong. I certiainly hope that they recognize your contribution... On a side note, any ideas on this whole gravity thing....? I am tired of dropping stuff... so if you could rewrite that natural law as well I would certainly appreciate it.