Light CO2 and Pearling, would you make any change

Whiskey · Sep 16, 2014

Hello all!

I have a 75G tank.
I am starting to win the battle against BBA now that I have a firmer grasp on CO2 and I'm also trying to fill out the tank with plant mass to aid in this fight.

I dose EI
I have a PAR of 125 at the substrate in areas that are not shaded, and the light is very even.
Lights run for 8 hours per day.
I have CO2 injected from a reactor which drops the PH from 7.4 ish (degassed for 24 hours) to 6.1 daily.

My stem plants pearl well especially past the half way mark on the tank.
My Crypts pearl some by the time the light cycle is over
My Java fern you almost can't see through all the bubbles covering the leaves.
My repens get a few bubbles on the leaves by lights out, but don't pearl very well.

Growth is good, not amazing, but stem plants will grow from just a couple leaves to tank top in 2-3 weeks. Repens fills in well as well.

I have 2 more T5's and I could (without cost) get the par to about 200.

Would you make the change? Would you increase the light?

Thank you,
Whiskey

Gerryd · Sep 16, 2014

Hi,

I would not increase the light at all. Are you happy with the growth rates? More light will require more c02/ferts.

I would decrease to 6-7 hours max photoperiod (at max intensity).

125 par at substrate is plenty to grown any plant.

- - - Updated - - -

Hi,

I would not increase the light at all. Are you happy with the growth rates? More light will require more c02/ferts.

I would decrease to 6-7 hours max photoperiod (at max intensity).

125 par at substrate is plenty to grown any plant.

fablau · Sep 16, 2014

I agree with Gerry. I had this experience: used to have 8 hours a day of my simple fluorescent t8 lights giving me about 50 PAR at the substrate, but still I had some algae here and there, and some plants had pretty slow growth... Well, I reduced light to 6 and 1/2 and algae disappeared, while plants took off. Same ferts, same co2, just,reduced light...

What does it tell you?

aclaar877 · Sep 16, 2014

Interesting - I have noticed the same thing, as I upgraded lighting and CO2 this year, but don't see that much of a difference in growth rate in most plants compared to DIY CO2 and old PC fixtures. I don't see any obvious deficiency in any plant, but the swordplant leaves and stem plants don't grow vertically as quickly as they used to. I thought it may be because with higher light they don't need to reach for the surface as much. Perhaps my 9-hour photo period is too long. Maybe I'll drop it down and see what happens. Before reading this post I was considering the periodic "off day" where I keep everything off and give plants a break.

Tom Barr · Sep 17, 2014

I have similar PAR in my 120 gallon, that's a very extreme light range FYI, so you are asking for issues unless you are pretty good at this game.

PK1 · Sep 17, 2014

I agree with the assessments. I personally would reduce the light level, not increase it.

Whiskey · Sep 17, 2014

I definatally don't want to lower the light level,.....
And I'm not unhappy with the growth rate, I'm just trying to look at management in a new way. I used to have much less light, and I did that to combat algae, but the light level was so low that the plants were suffering. Barely hanging on is a good way of putting it actually and many plants were not living at all.

So I'm trying to look at this from a different perspective, making the plants happy rather than fighting algae. Pearling is one way I know of to ensure that the plants are happy, and I wonder if I the Repens could be pearling more,...

Know what I mean?

I used to have the lights on for 12 hours per day, it was tough enough to get used to only 8 hours of light,.. I don't think I could be happy with only 6

I really enjoy looking at the tank. I would be fine with only a small light for longer just to see it, but even 1 T8 at the waters surface is enough to grow algae so I hesitate to go that route.

Thank you!
Whiskey

fablau · Sep 18, 2014

Any situation and setup are different, if you are confident with you light photoperiod and light power, go with it!

cesg1982 · Feb 21, 2019

fablau said:
I agree with Gerry. I had this experience: used to have 8 hours a day of my simple fluorescent t8 lights giving me about 50 PAR at the substrate, but still I had some algae here and there, and some plants had pretty slow growth... Well, I reduced light to 6 and 1/2 and algae disappeared, while plants took off. Same ferts, same co2, just,reduced light...

What does it tell you?

Hi, what's the logic on this?

skija · Feb 22, 2019

I have the same Ph degased as you , 7.4 , rotala , stauro and micorsorum in same pearling situation as you say , but my ph is 6.5 - 6.4 when light starts . I use cerges reactor for CO2 , co2 starts 3 hours before light .

I wonder how did you measure your PAR ? I believe you have too much light if you say 125 PAR at substrate.

I reduced light intensity of my Aquas metal X 60 to 70 % , and its at 25 cm away from water surface ,but i have 9 hours lights on , have BBA here and there , but nothing serious , no other algae in the tank

I dose 2.5 ppm no3 , 0.7 Po4 , 4 K and 0.1-0.2 Fe each day , i have ADA AS

I prefer slower light intensity but my opinion is that 6 hours light period is not enough for some plants like rotala or other fast growers

Too much light hurts

Light CO2 and Pearling, would you make any change

Whiskey

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Gerryd

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fablau

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aclaar877

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Tom Barr

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PK1

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Whiskey

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fablau

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cesg1982

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skija

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