Hi Folks, I had some lighting/plant questions that I'd like your help/feedback from folks with more experience here?
My tank is 72x30x28 and I'm currently using T5 HO. My fixture came with marine/coral bulbs and I'm coming around to changing the remaining bulbs to more appropriate freshwater planted tank bulbs. The fixture currently requires 12 x 36" 39W T5 HO.
I currently have and will keep running below: I don't recall the nm at the moment, but all these I believe are fairly standard for freshwater planted?
2 x 10,000K
2 x 6500K (Aqua flora)
2 x 6000K (Midday)
Looking to replace the following with something like Geisemann T5 39W Tropic or Super Flora for freshwater planted, and I don't think the bulbs below are really doing anything for my plants?
4 x "blue actinic"
2 x "purple"
I'm only growing a small amount of various Anubias and java fern, and so I don't think I need all the lighting, but mind as well take advantage - if it will help. I don't plan to run all twelve bulbs all day, in fact only currently run 4 bulbs 9 hours a day, and the full 2 hours a day. I also see some brown algae that has grown on my leaves now, and, I also get some green hair algae, so I'm a bit confused if I have too much light or too little light, introduce some CO2 liquid to the mix? They aren't doing too bad, but I'm sure I could be doing better. I've attached a picture so that you have a better idea of what I'm dealing with (sorry I don't have a close up of the plants on hand) - not too many plants relative to the tank size as you can see.
Should I go and make the switch in bulbs, while keeping the algae at bay? I don't think my two little plecos can keep up, LOL. Any guidance/prescription on the best approach would be appreciated!
My tank is 72x30x28 and I'm currently using T5 HO. My fixture came with marine/coral bulbs and I'm coming around to changing the remaining bulbs to more appropriate freshwater planted tank bulbs. The fixture currently requires 12 x 36" 39W T5 HO.
I currently have and will keep running below: I don't recall the nm at the moment, but all these I believe are fairly standard for freshwater planted?
2 x 10,000K
2 x 6500K (Aqua flora)
2 x 6000K (Midday)
Looking to replace the following with something like Geisemann T5 39W Tropic or Super Flora for freshwater planted, and I don't think the bulbs below are really doing anything for my plants?
4 x "blue actinic"
2 x "purple"
I'm only growing a small amount of various Anubias and java fern, and so I don't think I need all the lighting, but mind as well take advantage - if it will help. I don't plan to run all twelve bulbs all day, in fact only currently run 4 bulbs 9 hours a day, and the full 2 hours a day. I also see some brown algae that has grown on my leaves now, and, I also get some green hair algae, so I'm a bit confused if I have too much light or too little light, introduce some CO2 liquid to the mix? They aren't doing too bad, but I'm sure I could be doing better. I've attached a picture so that you have a better idea of what I'm dealing with (sorry I don't have a close up of the plants on hand) - not too many plants relative to the tank size as you can see.
Should I go and make the switch in bulbs, while keeping the algae at bay? I don't think my two little plecos can keep up, LOL. Any guidance/prescription on the best approach would be appreciated!