Apologies if this is the wrong place for this, but I think itmostly comes down to co2 over light
Right now I'm having alot of trouble striking a good balance between co2 and light, mainly for my red plants.
My main issue seems to be keeping my plants red and striking a good balance between light and co2. Right now I have 2 light units on my juwel, a juwel t5 unit with two 54w bulbs, and a juwel led unit with two 29w led tubes. I am finding that the lights don't seem to be good enough to keep my plants the colour I want, and some reds either aren't as red, or simply turning a mish mash of red/green.
I have tried reflectors on the t5s which are at the back, to increase intensity, and although this worked (such beautiful colours) it gives me a green algae on my plants, espcially my reds such as AR mini, and front glass (almost like a green beard algae). I know this is likely due to the co2 not matching the light intensity.
Photoperiod with the reflectors was down to 5 hours, whereas without im trying to get up to 10 (currently on 8).
I guess my question is how do I match the co2 to higher intensity lights? More bps/ bigger ph drop? Or is there a way to get better reds with longer duration/different lights?
Right now I'm at lime green drop checkers by the time the lights come on (one each side of tank), i have a APS 1400 with spray bar, a fx4 with spray bar, and two powerheads one each side for flow. I believe, though i may have to remeasure, im at, at least a 0.8 ph drop (6.8 before co2 comes on after airstones have been on all night, to 6 using the api ph test). Im using two diffusers due to the size of the tank, one each placed under a spray bar.
I'm wondering also if its worth changing my t5s to a LED unit, however if possible Id love to use what i have (with or without reflectors), and hopefully improve the co2. I just want to give my plants the best colour and health.
I have a juwel rio 350, dimensions 120x 50 wx 65 cms.
Filters: all ponds solutions 1400 spray bar
fx4 with spray bar
Powerheads: 2 x 3000 l/h
Co2: dual stage regulator, two co2 arts bazooka diffusers placed under spray bar
EI dosing
I had to take out my AR mini to get rid of bad growth and algae from the reflectors, and replanted them.
Right now I'm having alot of trouble striking a good balance between co2 and light, mainly for my red plants.
My main issue seems to be keeping my plants red and striking a good balance between light and co2. Right now I have 2 light units on my juwel, a juwel t5 unit with two 54w bulbs, and a juwel led unit with two 29w led tubes. I am finding that the lights don't seem to be good enough to keep my plants the colour I want, and some reds either aren't as red, or simply turning a mish mash of red/green.
I have tried reflectors on the t5s which are at the back, to increase intensity, and although this worked (such beautiful colours) it gives me a green algae on my plants, espcially my reds such as AR mini, and front glass (almost like a green beard algae). I know this is likely due to the co2 not matching the light intensity.
Photoperiod with the reflectors was down to 5 hours, whereas without im trying to get up to 10 (currently on 8).
I guess my question is how do I match the co2 to higher intensity lights? More bps/ bigger ph drop? Or is there a way to get better reds with longer duration/different lights?
Right now I'm at lime green drop checkers by the time the lights come on (one each side of tank), i have a APS 1400 with spray bar, a fx4 with spray bar, and two powerheads one each side for flow. I believe, though i may have to remeasure, im at, at least a 0.8 ph drop (6.8 before co2 comes on after airstones have been on all night, to 6 using the api ph test). Im using two diffusers due to the size of the tank, one each placed under a spray bar.
I'm wondering also if its worth changing my t5s to a LED unit, however if possible Id love to use what i have (with or without reflectors), and hopefully improve the co2. I just want to give my plants the best colour and health.
I have a juwel rio 350, dimensions 120x 50 wx 65 cms.
Filters: all ponds solutions 1400 spray bar
fx4 with spray bar
Powerheads: 2 x 3000 l/h
Co2: dual stage regulator, two co2 arts bazooka diffusers placed under spray bar
EI dosing
I had to take out my AR mini to get rid of bad growth and algae from the reflectors, and replanted them.
