Lighting question (did read sticky)

[Dynamite]

As noted I have read the lighting sticky, I am more of confused as when I did the math method I ended up with 64.004 and for when I looked at the chart it said I was considered high light. That being said the two results I found contradict each other though I am finally understanding the light, this has confused me for the moment.
For the aquarium it is a 30 gallon an my light is one bulb t5ho. Lumens are 3k. My light sits on my aquarium Tim and is 14 inches away from the aquarium. My main question is which numbers and answer do I go with?
Thank you!


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[thepotz]

ok, I know what you're talking about, but that doesn't sound right for 1 t5 bulb, although it might be, cuz I havn't done the math. In my opinion I'd just get 2 t5's for this setup. as long as you have alot of nutient in your substrate, your plants should grow fine with 2 t5's. I have a layer of Miracle grow's organic potting soil, with some Miracle grow organic topsoil mixed in (to give it some long term nutrient), and some clay that I grated with a cheese grater mixed in, and some metal shavings from behind my grinder in my garage mixed in, then I covered that soil mix with some sand that I just dug from the bottom of a river by my house and washed, and patted it down over the top of the potting soil mix, to keep it from clouding up the water. or you can get play sand from home depot. Then you just decide if you want to inject co2 or not. If you want explosive fast growth, then go with co2. if you want normal natural growth then go with natural aeration (airstones) I use a glass bottle to inject co2 in my tank, and I just use the yeast method for generation co2. (although it gets tiring mixing the yeast and sugar every 2 weeks) but this way 100% of the co2 gets dissolved in the water. but I make sure my water is aerated first through my algea scrubber,(dripping off it) then injected with co2 by the bottle. (since o2 and co2 can occupy the same water) This helps your fish breathe right without losing co2 through water agitation. Now if you have algea probs, you can either turn 1 t5 off, or inject more co2. if you don't have the co2 option, then you can only turn off the 1 t5 and lower the interval of time the light is on. This is just what I've learned from experience, and you will too. I'd just do it and add or subtract later.

 

[thepotz]

also make sure you get warm water plants, unless you want to get into chillers.

 

[Dynamite]

Yea the aquarium has been set up for about 6 months now and I'm getting either low light or high light depending on which way I look at it. I have been looking into a co2. I might figure out how to fit another light on there as I can then make it a different bulb.


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