The light tubes on my tank are due for replacing, but I can't decide whether to stay with the T8, change them to T5HO or to just get a new light unit altogether. I've read the tutorial on lighting and get the impression that 1-1.5 w/usg is okay and as what I have I think 1.6w/usg that I don't need to change, but the plants don't seem to be doing very well at all.
Tank is an Aqua one Aquastyle 850, 165L measurements are 84lx44wx58hcm
The bulbs in it are 2 x T8 8000k25w and 1 xT8 15000k Tripower 20w. I've stuck silver foil gaffer tape behind the tubes to reflect the light.
I have Tropica plant substrate and FE CO2 and use EI dosing, 50% water change each week. I use an Easy Aqua Super Mist Atomiser and a Hydor Koralia powerhead 900l/hr to push the CO2 around
EI that I use is Macro- 500 ml water, 6 tsp Pot Nit, 3tsp Pot Phos, 12 tsp Mag Sul
Micro- 500 ml water, 2 tsp Trace
I dose Macro 62ml on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Micro 62ml on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Nothing on Sunday. 50% water change Monday before dosing.
Plants at the moment are
Aponongeton longiplumulosus red
Bacopa australis *
Hygreophila pinnatifida *
Limnophila sessilifora *
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' *
Staurogyne repens
Cryptocoryne various types
At the moment nothing seems to be growing very much apart from the ones markes * and these seem leggy, presumably due to lack of light. I also have BBA or Staghorn algae which I can't seem to get rid of. Do I need more fast growing plants to use up the nutrients before the algae? I've tried a 3 day blackout and that made no difference, so I got CO2 as I read that fluctuating CO2 was the cause.
If I keep the T8, does anyone know of cheaper ones, the lengths are 20w 58cm and 25w 75cm. They seem to be special lengths, no doubt to keep your custom for their tubes.
This is the light unit I was thinking of changing to (90cm), but is it too much light? Even if I replant with more demanding plants? They do a 2 tube hood, but would this be any better than the light level that the T8's give me?
http://www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquar ... bulbs.html
The other option would be to replace the ballast to T5HO controllers and tubes, but I can't seem to find the right length tubes they all seem to be too short or too long. I also wondered whether these would give off a lot more heat than T8's, I don't want a fire!
Another option would be to keep the T8 lighting and alter the filter. At present there is a inhood trickle filter, this works great for filtration and oxygenating the water, but I suspect that it gases out the CO2. My drop checker take 4.5/5 hours to get to lime green at 2 bubbles/sec. I never see any pearling on the plants. Should I keep the T8's and get an external filter and inject the co2 into the filter intake? Keeping the plant types that I have with this option.
All I want is a planted tank that looks healthy and not full of algae and week plants, is that too much to ask? I've spent weeks reading around the forum and at the moment my head is spinning from all the info. Please can anyone suggest how to achieve my dream? Sorry its a long post, but I tried to give all the information that could be needed!
Thanks
Ann
Tank is an Aqua one Aquastyle 850, 165L measurements are 84lx44wx58hcm
The bulbs in it are 2 x T8 8000k25w and 1 xT8 15000k Tripower 20w. I've stuck silver foil gaffer tape behind the tubes to reflect the light.
I have Tropica plant substrate and FE CO2 and use EI dosing, 50% water change each week. I use an Easy Aqua Super Mist Atomiser and a Hydor Koralia powerhead 900l/hr to push the CO2 around
EI that I use is Macro- 500 ml water, 6 tsp Pot Nit, 3tsp Pot Phos, 12 tsp Mag Sul
Micro- 500 ml water, 2 tsp Trace
I dose Macro 62ml on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Micro 62ml on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Nothing on Sunday. 50% water change Monday before dosing.
Plants at the moment are
Aponongeton longiplumulosus red
Bacopa australis *
Hygreophila pinnatifida *
Limnophila sessilifora *
Hygrophila corymbosa 'Siamensis' *
Staurogyne repens
Cryptocoryne various types
At the moment nothing seems to be growing very much apart from the ones markes * and these seem leggy, presumably due to lack of light. I also have BBA or Staghorn algae which I can't seem to get rid of. Do I need more fast growing plants to use up the nutrients before the algae? I've tried a 3 day blackout and that made no difference, so I got CO2 as I read that fluctuating CO2 was the cause.
If I keep the T8, does anyone know of cheaper ones, the lengths are 20w 58cm and 25w 75cm. They seem to be special lengths, no doubt to keep your custom for their tubes.
This is the light unit I was thinking of changing to (90cm), but is it too much light? Even if I replant with more demanding plants? They do a 2 tube hood, but would this be any better than the light level that the T8's give me?
http://www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquar ... bulbs.html
The other option would be to replace the ballast to T5HO controllers and tubes, but I can't seem to find the right length tubes they all seem to be too short or too long. I also wondered whether these would give off a lot more heat than T8's, I don't want a fire!
Another option would be to keep the T8 lighting and alter the filter. At present there is a inhood trickle filter, this works great for filtration and oxygenating the water, but I suspect that it gases out the CO2. My drop checker take 4.5/5 hours to get to lime green at 2 bubbles/sec. I never see any pearling on the plants. Should I keep the T8's and get an external filter and inject the co2 into the filter intake? Keeping the plant types that I have with this option.
All I want is a planted tank that looks healthy and not full of algae and week plants, is that too much to ask? I've spent weeks reading around the forum and at the moment my head is spinning from all the info. Please can anyone suggest how to achieve my dream? Sorry its a long post, but I tried to give all the information that could be needed!
Thanks
Ann