75g Planted Tank Issues

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

I see, I did see a banana plant at the store but it wasn't in the best of condition. I'll see what I can do with the crypts, if they don't make it, I'll try some java ferns.

 

[FSM]

I did buy the plants from a display tank without a glass lid. I also read that plants will suffer if the have lived in tanks without lids and then moved into tanks with lids?

That sounds like BS

Whats your Temp and PH? Also, 10,000K is too much... get a pair of 6,000K bulbs.

That's BS
Actinic bulbs do look really bad on planted tanks, though, and generally produce less light usable for photosynthesis (~2/3)



You have too much light and not enough CO2/nutrients. The problem is not the light fixture; adding more light won't help at all.

This is my tank, same amount of light as yours (2x54W)
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4115964&postcount=33
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=4197904&postcount=34

Crypts are supposed to be super easy, but I've heard they tend to melt when transferred between tanks. I didn't have that problem.
Iron alone isn't going to do much. With high light levels people generally add nitrate, potassium, and phosphate. You can get dry fertilizer to dose these for a fraction of the price of seachem liquid ferts.
A CO2 system would also make a huge difference in growth, but isn't really necessary.

 

[pjsmetana]

That's BS
Actinic bulbs do look really bad on planted tanks, though, and generally produce less light usable for photosynthesis (~2/3)
...
You have too much light and not enough CO2/nutrients. The problem is not the light fixture; adding more light won't help at all.
...
A CO2 system would also make a huge difference in growth, but isn't really necessary.

10,000K do not work for everyone. I've honestly found that 5,000K-7,000K on a non-Co2 planted tank works much better when combined with root tabs and weekly liquid ferts. Obviously not everyone will get the same results as we all deal with different water, tank size, lighting, placement, and so on. I have a 6,500K Coralife on my 26g planted. Sure, some plants do not grow fast at all but every one of them grows and is very brightly colored with really strong roots. This was not the case with the 10,000K or any ugly Actinic. Yeah, he has too much light. Keeping that at a balance makes the most healthy plants. Too much of any one thing is bad.

I agree that CO2 makes a huge difference in growth. But thats it. I've also found that its not even remotly worth the cost of it, unless you add more of everything else with it. Thus resulting in much more of an expense, just to have to trim your plants more often. The only time I think CO2 is really worth it, is when you are impatient and want to start your tank off with a nice bed of grass. Grass beds take forever without CO2. I've been watching my microsword for 4 months, and so far I've barely more than a few sprouts. But I know my tank will be here a year from now, and by then I'll be happy I did not use CO2.

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

Ok, so I just have the 48" light fixture at the moment, no carbon, and using liquid ferts and iron. I'm trying to go down to get some root tabs, potassium, and phosphate as well.

And I agree with pjsmetana, the Antinic light that came with the fixture is hideous. I will try and swap that in for a 6,700k COLORMAX bulb. It says it's ideal over the ugly blue antinic light.

I am not going to invest in a co2 system.

 

[jcardona1]

i agree with FSM. actinic lights are worthless on a freshwater planted tank, ditch them. 10,000k and below will be fine, my 55g had nothing but 10,000k lighting. as far as your lighting goes, you have waaay too much lighting. i wouldnt even be using T5HO bulbs on a non-co2 tank with the plants you have...

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

i agree with FSM. actinic lights are worthless on a freshwater planted tank, ditch them. 10,000k and below will be fine, my 55g had nothing but 10,000k lighting. as far as your lighting goes, you have waaay too much lighting. i wouldnt even be using T5HO bulbs on a non-co2 tank with the plants you have...

I'm trying to swap in the actinic light and the 10,000k light for a colormax and another 6,700k light.

But if I take the 48" fixture off that leaves me with .53w per gallon, which isn't enough?

BUT I have a new plan, so far I got some Seachem root tabs and put some of those in to save the plants until I get things straightened out. I'm going to the fish store soon to try and swap the bulbs, and while I'm there, I'm going to pick up 3-4 bags of eco-complete substrate. Anyway, I just have the 48" fixture now.

 

[jcardona1]

the wpg rule is useless and obsolete, especially when dealing with T5HO bulbs since they are so much brigher than regular output bulbs. here, take a look at this thread. you should aim to be in the low light category...

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=331913&highlight=par+meter

 

[Columbian Shark Catfish]

That does make sense, although I'm still a little confused.

So would my 48" fixture be considered in "high" lighting, meaning I can use considered "high" lighting plants? Or is it considered too much and may cause algae problems w/o co2?

Given that it's a standard 55g, and I have a standard 75g, I'm guessing it would be around the Medium-High because of the width?

So give me your honest opinion on 2 54w bulbs, both 6,700k, would that be good? That is, if I get them by trading in my 2 10,000k bulbs that I currently have.

If there are any bulbs that you could recommend for a standard 75g planted tank, with eco complete substrate, root tabs, and seachem excel, medium to high plants, I would greatly appreciate it!

 

[FSM]

It means you should be using CO2 and adding fertilizer to get good plant growth; your plants aren't limited by light with what you've got, but are limited by those other factors.

There is no data to show a difference in growth between 6500k and 10000k, as far as I know. No reason to spend money on something completely unnecessary.

You should try suspending the light fixture above the tank (I used shelf brackets to hang the T5 fixture on my 29 gallon, or you can suspend from the ceiling, rig up some taller leg supports, etc)

 

[jcardona1]

That does make sense, although I'm still a little confused.

So would my 48" fixture be considered in "high" lighting, meaning I can use considered "high" lighting plants? Or is it considered too much and may cause algae problems w/o co2?

Given that it's a standard 55g, and I have a standard 75g, I'm guessing it would be around the Medium-High because of the width?

So give me your honest opinion on 2 54w bulbs, both 6,700k, would that be good? That is, if I get them by trading in my 2 10,000k bulbs that I currently have.

If there are any bulbs that you could recommend for a standard 75g planted tank, with eco complete substrate, root tabs, and seachem excel, medium to high plants, I would greatly appreciate it!

dont stress too much about the bulbs. as long as you arent running actinics, you should be fine. ive even seen people get decent results with the 18,000k power glo lights. i prefer all 10,000k because i like teh color i get vs. the 6500Ks.

and yes, high light category means you better have all your supplements in check (co2, ferts) or else youre gonna have a box of algae. the moment something is out of balance algae will show up to let you know, its nature's way of telling you something is wrong

what about using one T5HO bulb? where does that put you in terms of that chart? you can raise or lower the fixture to be where you want, since it's determined by height