Lighting on my 29

[r3d]

Right now ive got 2 65 watt ballasts with 6700k bulbs
my tank has no co2 and the back half of the tank is flourite with plants and the front half is straight gravel no plants

so my question is, would 2 65 watt 6700k lights be over kill on my tank and would I be better off just unplugging one of the ballasts
or is there such thing as lighting overkill? Im new to this
thanks in advance

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

IMO that is way to much light for a 29g tank with no co2. i would use co2 atleast a diy set up with just one 65watt cfl. With that much light you would need alot of co2 and fertilizers to make it work.

 

[jcardona1]

yeah, id run just one of those bulbs and dose Excel on a daily basis

 

[r3d]

Flourish excel? ill pick some up tomaro if so

 

[FSM]

yeah thats it. Its a way to avoid adding CO2 while still supplying the plants with carbon.

 

[jcardona1]

yeah thats it. Its a way to avoid adding CO2 while still supplying the plants with carbon.

its great stuff when used regularly. Can get a little expensive though after a while

 

[FSM]

its great stuff when used regularly. Can get a little expensive though after a while

do you think it is an effective substitute then? I'm setting up a 29, and am trying to decide if I should even bother trying to screw around with a DIY CO2 reactor or just use excel.

 

[jcardona1]

do you think it is an effective substitute then? I'm setting up a 29, and am trying to decide if I should even bother trying to screw around with a DIY CO2 reactor or just use excel.

yeah it can be an effective substitute when used with moderate lighting levels. ive seen great tanks with Excel alone. is it efficient, i really dont think so. it will be fine for a 10g, but for something like a 29g, i think youll find yourself buying these $10+ bottles all the time. before you know, you could have purchased a pressurized co2 setup

 

[oOMO3NOo]

excel can also melt a few species of plants. be careful when using it. most plants are fine with it but there are a few that are not. i agree with jcardona1 anything over ten gallons i would say an actual system is the way to go. even on a ten i would do DIY system and excel but i like haveing more then enough CO2 and carbon then is needed (without killing fish of course) because i think that gives you the best possible plant growth. IMO

 

[r3d]

cost wont be an issue im fine with trying excel first
i went to a few stores and picked up FloraPride and Flourish
i was told flora is no where near as good as excel but i got it anyways
and flourish is the closest thing I found
will either of these be similar to excel? or do i just need to search harder to find the right one