Hi all
I have 54l Juwel tank running from about 3 months now. I had few ups and downs but in general i feel need for something better (and nicer) that currently i have. To the point:
Because i had only t8 15w which is pretty low i decided to add some extra light. Juwel monolux cover (i think its the right name) is not the best in my opinion in terms of design and space that is available to eventual upgrades (or its just beyond my DIY skills). I wanted some nice,neat and cheap solution. In my work i have access to interior led lights used in automotive industry. They come in form of strip of 30 or 60cm long. I don't have any tech spec of them apart from LUX values measured at 1m from lamp which is respectively: 30cm version - 62lux and 60cm - 130lux. I don't know if those leds are even suitable for plants. So after modification hood looks like this.
After modification (3x30cm led used) i decided to use those light only for period of 2 weeks to see how it will work. There was no any fertilization used then. In effect hygrophila corymbosa "Kompakt" melted completely and echinodorus cordifolius "mini" start showing signs of deficiency in forms of yellowish leafes ends and holes.
Hygrophilia melted in similiar way - first lots of tiny holes and then leaves went transparent. On anubias i got spot algae.
So i changed routine with light. I went back to use t8 for a period of 9 hours with a use of led's in the middle of the photo period for 2.5h and i start dosing easycarbo at 2ml per day and Tropica plant growth specialized fert (green one) at 1 "pump" (as per label) 5 times a week.
Its bit better now but still long way ahead where i want to be. Anubias have new growth without spot algae, echindorus have only 2 or 3 leaves showing problem with lack of something (i don't have idea what is it), alternanthera reineckii "mini" shows new growth without algae as well (during that 2 week period with only led used it was covered with algae).
I'm bit worried because my floating lettuce looks like this
so its again "yellowish" leaves but still better comparing to that 2 weeks period with only leds used
Recently i added some moss attached to bog wood - samples i got wasn't best ones but once it will hopefully grow i will do something with it.
In the aquarium i have JBL aquabasis+ topped with manado. I'm doing 50% water change weekly, then after i'm adding 10ml of potassium + 5 pumps weekly of tropica fert and 2ml easycarbo daily. Filtrations in form crystalprofi e701 with a spray bar at the rear pointed toward front.
Lights: 7 months old sylvania grolux 10k + 3 strips of 30cm led strips
Life stock is 9 long fin white cloud minnow, 4 albino corys, 4 amano shrimps and 3 otocinclus.
Tank atm looks like this:
My budget is bit limited but t8 bulb probably have to be changed so for sake of extra 40 euro I was thinking of upgrading my lights to 2x24 t5HO (im aware of fact that more lights means more co2 and ferts demand)
If i will buy that light fixture will i have to use proper co2 setup or easycarbo will be enough. Same about other ferts. Or shall i stick with my current setup and with Your help try to reach "equilibrium" ?
p.s I'm sorry for bit chaotic post but hopefully You will be able to get whole picture
Regards
Lech
I have 54l Juwel tank running from about 3 months now. I had few ups and downs but in general i feel need for something better (and nicer) that currently i have. To the point:
Because i had only t8 15w which is pretty low i decided to add some extra light. Juwel monolux cover (i think its the right name) is not the best in my opinion in terms of design and space that is available to eventual upgrades (or its just beyond my DIY skills). I wanted some nice,neat and cheap solution. In my work i have access to interior led lights used in automotive industry. They come in form of strip of 30 or 60cm long. I don't have any tech spec of them apart from LUX values measured at 1m from lamp which is respectively: 30cm version - 62lux and 60cm - 130lux. I don't know if those leds are even suitable for plants. So after modification hood looks like this.
After modification (3x30cm led used) i decided to use those light only for period of 2 weeks to see how it will work. There was no any fertilization used then. In effect hygrophila corymbosa "Kompakt" melted completely and echinodorus cordifolius "mini" start showing signs of deficiency in forms of yellowish leafes ends and holes.
Hygrophilia melted in similiar way - first lots of tiny holes and then leaves went transparent. On anubias i got spot algae.
So i changed routine with light. I went back to use t8 for a period of 9 hours with a use of led's in the middle of the photo period for 2.5h and i start dosing easycarbo at 2ml per day and Tropica plant growth specialized fert (green one) at 1 "pump" (as per label) 5 times a week.
Its bit better now but still long way ahead where i want to be. Anubias have new growth without spot algae, echindorus have only 2 or 3 leaves showing problem with lack of something (i don't have idea what is it), alternanthera reineckii "mini" shows new growth without algae as well (during that 2 week period with only led used it was covered with algae).
I'm bit worried because my floating lettuce looks like this
so its again "yellowish" leaves but still better comparing to that 2 weeks period with only leds used
Recently i added some moss attached to bog wood - samples i got wasn't best ones but once it will hopefully grow i will do something with it.
In the aquarium i have JBL aquabasis+ topped with manado. I'm doing 50% water change weekly, then after i'm adding 10ml of potassium + 5 pumps weekly of tropica fert and 2ml easycarbo daily. Filtrations in form crystalprofi e701 with a spray bar at the rear pointed toward front.
Lights: 7 months old sylvania grolux 10k + 3 strips of 30cm led strips
Life stock is 9 long fin white cloud minnow, 4 albino corys, 4 amano shrimps and 3 otocinclus.
Tank atm looks like this:
My budget is bit limited but t8 bulb probably have to be changed so for sake of extra 40 euro I was thinking of upgrading my lights to 2x24 t5HO (im aware of fact that more lights means more co2 and ferts demand)
If i will buy that light fixture will i have to use proper co2 setup or easycarbo will be enough. Same about other ferts. Or shall i stick with my current setup and with Your help try to reach "equilibrium" ?
p.s I'm sorry for bit chaotic post but hopefully You will be able to get whole picture
Regards
Lech
