Lighting Help... T-8, Want Grow Algae for Malawi Cichlids

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M

malawi mayhem

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 27, 2007
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Stamford, CT
Hello!

First, not sure if this should be posted here or under African Cichlids. It is a hardware thing so that is why I decided here as I need help with lighting.

I have 2 tanks, both tanks have Malawi Cichlids, T-8 flourescent tubes and I know I am way over on changing the bulbs...

125G with AG double 36" 25W and an 8" pleco
110G - AG triple 48" W?, 1 24" ,55W High output comact and no pleco

The 125G has mostly Tufa that only has algae in the deeper nooks. There is also some TXHR (TX Holey Rock), which has no algae due to my overachieving pleco! The rocks look like I just put them in and the glass is kept cleaner longer.

The 110G has all TXHR which has a good covering of algae. This tank is well stocked and has had a lot babies snice I set it in late 2007. They all keep the algae under control and I have always felt it was a better way to go with these fish... it just looks more natural and gives them something to pick on other than the fish next to them. I remeber when the fish were all small the algae got to be about 1/4" and it was cool to it move on the rocks... it almost shimmered... then they got big and probaby the bulbs arte not putting out. No pleco means of course more glass cleaning which then puts more algae into the water when cleaning it... Not sure what the effects of this are....

So, what do you feel is the "Best" spectrum or bulb combination for growing algae for Malawi's to feed on?

My Definition of "Best" = It grows algae and also makes the fish still look great...!

Note: In the future I may look at changing to different system so if you have any input on something other than T-8 jump in please!

Also, your thoughts on Pleco vs No Pleco...

Best to you all and thank you for your help...!

John
 
T5s (Geissman bulbs), or metal halides.

In all honesty the whole "algae in the tank" is good when babies are around. As people feed their people way too much, way too many times a day, adult fish would usually skip the algae part ...unless you have some specialized herbivorous species that go for algae as a second source of nourishment.

The t8 system, if it works, just keep it that way, as mentioned T5s and MHs have higher light output.
 
I like 18,000k bulbs for color. Lower color-temperature bulbs probably grow algae better; they are supposed to be better for plants anyway.
 
Marius and FSM thanks for the response...!

Marius I knoiw exactly what you are saying....!!! The 110G is at my mom's and I take care of it... so I am not the one feeding them except for a few times a week. We only feed once a day, Hikari cichlid staple, floating type. But, I know she over feeds them each time.... she blows through food some weeks.... I have her using a shot glass now...!!!!!!

Also, I should dive into the fish that I have and make sure they are in fact all herbivours... next time... and i will get some pics up soon.

Back to the lights... I guess the guidence i was looking for was more on which "buld" combinations, in T-8 would you recommend. Atinic, etc... I will check out the Geissman bulbs and will see what they have in T8... right now I have 8000k stock AG bulbs... But, I know that there must be a better combo...

Maybe I'll give up on the algae and just go for color...?

Any other words of wisdom...?

Best,

John
 
Marius... just re-read your reply... I do have babies all of the time in both tanks.... so many that I am going to set a thrid tank njust to have a place to put them.. so I guess in my situation... the algae makes sense to try and cultivate....J
 
Sounds like you need to "double" up on your lighting. 2-3 watts per gallon is what you want.
 
A good recipe for algae is to just leave the lights on for a few days to a week. Light is the number one reason people get algae. Your fish make a decent food source for the algae. So now all they need is light. If the tanks are in a room with a window open the blinds for a few weeks. i garuntee if you give your tanks 16-20hrs a day of light they will get covered in algae in a few weeks. As soon as you start to get were you want to be with the growth lower the light period a few hrs. And keep doing that until you find the sweet spot for your lights and growth you want.
 
hybridtheoryd16;2939491; said:
A good recipe for algae is to just leave the lights on for a few days to a week. Light is the number one reason people get algae. Your fish make a decent food source for the algae. So now all they need is light. If the tanks are in a room with a window open the blinds for a few weeks. i garuntee if you give your tanks 16-20hrs a day of light they will get covered in algae in a few weeks. As soon as you start to get were you want to be with the growth lower the light period a few hrs. And keep doing that until you find the sweet spot for your lights and growth you want.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily more WPG, as that is irrelevant if we're not talking about planted tanks. Simple solution, more h/day of light. As suggested leave the lights on for longer periods of time 10-12h, and the algae will grow like crazy. If you want to have a winning combo, set the light for on during the evening, night (if the tanks are in a room where nobody sleeps). That way you'd get natural light during morning, mid-day, and artificial light for the rest.
 
I culture algae for rotifers, daphnia and bs. I've found the best bulb to be just a simple cool white bulb. It has more of the red light that algae loves.
 
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