What is eveyone running for light

Ramphonic

Ramphonic

AC Members
Mar 31, 2009
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I was wondering what everyone is using for a light on there low light tank. I bought a ahsupply 55w retro kit a few months ago and I think I am stuck between low and high light. I have it in a stock hood over my 29g

What I wanted is an easy to care for tank with a few real plants for my angels. What I got is a fester of BGA, then green water now BBA. Everyone recommends more and more C02 and to use ferts but thats the wrong direction for me. I have spent way to much of my time and money on this.

Can I take a step back or have I already gone too far
 
Well, just because you're using CO2 doesn't mean you have to be using high light. But, even with it being AH supply, 55w over a 29g isn't spectacularly high light.

What exactly are you doing? I found (the hard way) that the worst thing you can do is to sporadically do things (e.g. add DIY CO2, then let solution run out and wait 3 weeks to make new solution). So, give us some more details. What type of CO2? What fert regiment are you doing? What type of plants are you keeping? What's your substrate? What's your photoperiod (i.e. amount of time you have lights on)? How long have you had the tank up? What are your water conditions (pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, etc.)?

Planted tanks are a balancing act, and the first thing you need to figure out is what is out of balance.

If you could provide a picture of the tank that'd also be helpful
 
the ammonia is part of your problem (from my understanding, it is ammonia that is the biggest contributor to algae). how old is this tank? it doesn't seem like it has finished its cycle yet
 
The ammonia just started a few days ago. The algae has been going on for months.

I bought the setup with fish 3 months ago. The previous owner had it for a year. I changed over the lights and bought the plants for it.

Alot of wasted food was falling into the voids in the gravel so i changed it out 2 weeks ago. So I think it is mini cycling.
 
On all of those yes.I dose the 30 and the 55 with Excel.I don't on the 5's because I do not want to mess around with trimming them in such a small space.I also have higher light CO2 tanks that I didn't post because I don't want to add to your confussion on your problem. ;).
I think the thing when starting out is that you need to realize that low light means SLOW growth.It may take a 6 months to a year to have a tank fill in,but it is also much less of a headache.
 
My guess is that your CO2 is too low. that coupled with ammonia in the tank + decent lights = algae, especially bba. right now do you just have bba or is a mix of different algaes?

how is the CO2 getting into your tank (i.e do you have it running into a glass diffuser, a powerhead, what?). you should really order a drop checker, you can get them on ebay for like $5. Same with 4dkh solution.

also, you need to figure out why there is ammonia in the tank. are you missing any fish? if the tank has been up for a while then you shouldn't have any ammonia so it's coming from somewhere.
 
Im gonna order some excel and a co2 indicator.

My C02 is diffused via aquaclear powerhead.

Well I ended up pulling my reflector out of the light. Im told it is too efficient and over bright
 
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