Too much light?

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xEchOx

Fire Eel
MFK Member
Mar 2, 2006
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For the past year or so I've struggled with plants. Even simple ones like swords and java fern. For whatever reason they never grow, and eventually just brown until I pull them out. This has been happening in my 29g, and my 10g.

The setup I'm working with right now is a 10g tank. I have eco-complete (20lbs) as substrate, and a 65w PC coralife light. I had the 65w pc on my 29g, but in a desperate effort to see some progress I put it on the 10g and rescaped the whole thing. I have Cabomba, Java Fern, Jungle Vals, Micro sword, and a mystery sword all newly planted.

Its only been set up for a few days, but already the Cabomba appears to be thinning out. I haven't seen growth, but I wouldn't expect it for a few more days since the roots haven't really taken hold.

Do I have too much light? Am I doing something wrong?
 
Kelvin rating is 6700.

Can I possibly cut back lighting time? Maybe run it for say 4-6 hours? Or is it just not going to work?
 
There is never too much light.

You just have to balance the rest of the nutrients too match the lighting levels.

What is your dosing schedule for the tank and what ppm of co2 are you running to match that light?
 
No CO2. I might set it up this weekend if I get time, but it will probably only be reaction DIY. I don't want to spend the money on a injection setup. I've also heard mixed opinions about CO2. What I've gathered is that you do not need it, it only speeds growth.

My ferts have not arrived yet, but I purchased the Seachem Flourish - Potassium, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Trace, and Excel.

I have not used liquid ferts in the past, but did not need them. The plants I had then grew wild with only flourite and the 65w pc. That was in my 29g.
 
well just a heads up the trace is just water down flourish. its a waste. excel is a liquid co2 so you might just try that vs the diy see how it goes. java ferns and microsowrds are a really slow growers. swords are a heavy root feeder might require some root tabs.

also when you move plants it takes time to transition so thinning can be normal.
 
xEchOx;4029101; said:
No CO2. I might set it up this weekend if I get time, but it will probably only be reaction DIY. I don't want to spend the money on a injection setup. I've also heard mixed opinions about CO2. What I've gathered is that you do not need it, it only speeds growth.

My ferts have not arrived yet, but I purchased the Seachem Flourish - Potassium, Phosphorus, Nitrogen, Trace, and Excel.

I have not used liquid ferts in the past, but did not need them. The plants I had then grew wild with only flourite and the 65w pc. That was in my 29g.
Click to expand...

65wt PC will cause a 10g tank to be a algae factory with out high levels of co2 or excell. I use 3ml daily on my 10g with 30watts of CFL 6500k to keep algae at bay along with DIY co2.

If you have the ability to raise the light above the tank 8-10" this would help lower the amount of light and there for algae problems. If you couple that with 3-4ml of excel daily and your other ferts a couple times a week. Then you should have success.

Also there are mixed results with short photo periods. Some say that short light periods cause the plants to go into winter hibernation and considerably slow there growth process which leads to algae growth. I have seen this with many plants myself. If it were me I would raise the light and run a 4-5hr light ON period followed by a 3hr light off period and then another 4-5hr light ON period.

good luck
 
Sounds good guys. Thanks for the tips.
 
So i thought I would give an update on the issues we've been discussing. I went out yesterday and bought a diffuser for the DIY CO2 I'll be setting up either tonight or tomorrow.

I have not been able to raise the light up. I will probably end up just ordering the plastic mounts for the coralife lamps. It will only raise the light a few inches, but for now its the best I can do.

The microsword has already been growing. I didn't know how it would respond because I've never had it before so for the first few days I left it in the plastic pot it was in. It began sending out runners so I planted it in the substrate last night and hopefully it will take hold.

The cabomba is..... I dunno. Its a big plant for the 10g. The tips of the buds? are growing, but the lower portion of the plant seems to be thinning out. It may be too big for the tank.

I'll get some pics up later tonight and keep posting so I can show you guys some progress, or lack thereof - whichever comes first.
 
What kind of fish and how many do you have in the tank? Given the amount of light you are pouring into the tank you could be simply running out of organic or inorganic nutrients. Also temperature fluctuations can do a real number on plants. Having a 65 watt bulb blasting into a 10 gallon tank will cause the temp to rise. Try hooking a fan into the same timer you have for the lights.
 
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