Water lettuce and lighting question

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jaws7777

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I've been growing some out in my sump and so far its been doing great but im relatively inexperienced when it comes to lighting intervals and the effects it has on plant growth.

Last week i changed lights to a more powerful panel (45w full spectrum) and i noticed with in days the plants looked better. Their leafs all perked up where before they were pretty flat and some where submerged under the water surface.

BUT for the past two days the leafs have been looking thinner and less full also yellowish tips on the ends.

Right now they get about 8 or 9 hrs of light. Do i need to increase or decrease the amount of light time they get ?


To add i noticed since increasing the wattage the plants are producing more daughter/sister (not sure of the terminology) plants more rapidly.
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markstrimaran markstrimaran Wailua Boy Wailua Boy kno4te kno4te
 
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Think 10-12 hrs of light should be good. I've read that some humidity is needed. As well as bright lights may initially irritate them but will eventually start to grow. That's all I know but I think Wailua Boy Wailua Boy knows better.

I think just up the hours and will see. Sorry for the late reply. Busy at work and family stuff.
 
I agree with kno4te kno4te , 10-12hr is usually sufficient. You could increase lighting to 18-24hrs and would increase nitrate removal but lighting may disturb the inhabitants of the tank but with no ill effects to the plants. Your lettuce actually looks like its showing a slight deficiency, probably a micro nutrient or even nitrate. Just watch for more yellowing of leaves and you might want to consider fertilizing with trace elements like Flourish. The plants wont be able to remove as much nitrate if they are deficient in any element. They look good though, once they start dividing; you know they're happy.
 
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They are dividing now but are starting to look a little ragged. I may give the flourish a whirl. Nitrates were around 20ppm when i last checked
 
So the plants are dividing. Up to 40 plants but they are still yellowing. Started dosing flourish this weekend and covered the sump to increase humidity.

Confused about some info i read online about lighting. Some sites say it doesnt like strong light while others say it does.

Light is a 45w full spectrum LED on for 10 or 11 hrs
 
I've seen it(water lettuce) grow great outdoors in practically desert type conditions in direct sunlight, I think it can handle most indoor lighting. I would really add a umbrella sedge plant and let it fill in, its so easy to grow; I promise you'll have no problems with that one and no additional ferts needed. You can hack it down to a stump and it will keep popping up.
 
Wailua Boy said:
I've seen it(water lettuce) grow great outdoors in practically desert type conditions in direct sunlight, I think it can handle most indoor lighting. I would really add a umbrella sedge plant and let it fill in, its so easy to grow; I promise you'll have no problems with that one and no additional ferts needed. You can hack it down to a stump and it will keep popping up.
Click to expand...

May do that and move the lettuce to another tank. I raised the light a bit maybe it was too close amd causing some burn
 
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