Light and Co2 question

[steve617]

I have only had my 46 bowfront running for 3 weeks. I now have about all my plants installed. I think most are the lowlight plants. The bowfront came with a 30 watt bulb. (I think and I had a extra 18" powerstrip which I added a 6500k bulb which put a total of 45 watts. I just ordered a 78 watt 6700k PC light and was going to replace both strip I have now with it. I really don't plant on getting into Co2 and was wondering if that lighting would be better or should I just stay with what I have. My filteration is a aquaclear 70 and a Emperor 280. (Perhaps a slight overkill.) My substrate is from aquariumplants.com, Most plants and driftwood from mikeswetpets.

Now for a question how long should I leave the lights on during the day? Im thinking 6 to 8 hours. Thanks for any advice on my setup concerning lights, lack of Co2 and even filteration.

 

[lipadj46]

Try 8 hours a day with what you have and see how things go. If the plants are not growing try a bit of fertilization and excel or add a second light and then see again. If you get algae dial things back a bit. And then eventually (if you are like many of us) even though you say no CO2 you will want to go to CO2. So have fun experimenting!

 

[steve617]

Thanks the one reason about a no to Co2 is lack of knowledge. Perhaps I need to learn more about it. I do use the Excel Flourish 1 or 2 times a week and Big Als plant Food Supplement 1 time a week.

 

[Andrewtfw]

8-10 hours is fine. Some of your plants are more light demanding so going with the new fixture was a good idea. Is the tank open top? Remember that a glass top (especially a dirty one) can diffuse up to 50% of the color spectrum.

 

[lipadj46]

with fertilizers make sure your plants are getting all the macros (nitrogen from nitrates, phosphorous from phosphates and potassium from the positive end of the fertilizer salts). If your plants don't have all of these then they will show defficiencies and algae will grow (lkeep an eye out for plants that aren't green and full looking). You can either buy the solid salts for cheap or buy the seachem liquid ferts. Also if you add macros then micros are needed, I use flourish comprehensive at the moment. Then if your light is good (or "too good") then carbon will be your next deficiency and excel can only be dosed so much without killing fish or making them look like fish zombies gasping for air. Then you may starting thinking CO2.

Anyhow like I said take it slow and see how things go before you start dumping in ferts and making the top of your tank look like the surface of the sun (like that idiot my wife is married to) because doing so will require CO2 injection.

 

[steve617]

lipadj46, any suggestions with a small budget in mind on Co2 on my tank. Like I said I just don't know that much about Co2, however I,m learning.

Andrew it does have a cover on the tank.

 

[lipadj46]

lipadj46, any suggestions with a small budget in mind on Co2 on my tank. Like I said I just don't know that much about Co2, however I,m learning.

Andrew it does have a cover on the tank.

On a budget you can buy the Milwaukee regulator setup for around $80 or if you have a more money you can get the Sumo setup for $225. With the milwaukee setup you will probably end up replacing the needle valve for around $50-$70. A 15lb tank should cost around $70 full from your local welding shop. You can either build a reactor or buy an Up Aqua inline CO2 atomizer for $20 on ebay. You can get thicker polyethylene tubing from Home Depot for cheap to handle the higher pressures requied by the CO2 atomizer.

If you just wnat to mess around you can always build a reactor and use yeast and sugar but on a 46 gallon you should be using CO2. Again though CO2 is not really necessary so before you jump to CO2 get your lighting and fertilizing straight. Unless of course you want CO2 then go for it.