My first two weeks with EI Method.

[mathman]

I am new to the forum and I have no idea how to add my own pictures to a " thread reply"

I have two light fixtures and ONLY one of them is being used.

A Power Compact (PC light) made by Jalli with four bulbs each 55W and 10,000K for a total of 220W. It has two switches so yes I can add different timers if I want two lights to come on first and then later on in the day the other two.

The other light fixture is made by Current USA and it has two T5HO bulbs each of 54W and 10,000K for a total of 108W.

What would be the best fixture to use. If you say the 220W what suggestions do you have on the timers? Should I leave 2 bulbs on for 6 hours and then have the other two turn on for four hours? what is best?

thanks.
by the way I will have pictures in the original thread in case you want to see.

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

You can add pictures one of two ways....

Use the 'go advanced' tab when replying. There are multiple icons on top of the form for various fonts and whatnot. There is a paper clip to manage attachments. Use this to browse your PC and get the pics that way. They must not be too large in terms of size....

Or, you can create a free account on say photobucket or flickr(?), post all the pics you want at the site (no limit to size or number), and then simply post the LINK to the pictures in the thread. When you save an album on pbucket, it provide a link or url to that album.

Hope this helps.

 

[mathman]

Thanks Gerry....what is your opinion about the two light fixtures?

 

[Left C]

Thanks for all the input. I use a 5gallon co2 cylinder with a Milwaukee ph controller which I have set to a ph of 6.9. My ph varies from 6.9-7.1 if it's a lack a of co2 I can crank up the co2 more if I need to.
I am trying to grow dwar baby tears, amazon swords, java ferns, Anubias, tiger lotus, crypts, and two stem plants whose names I've forgot. ...

I doubt that you are adding very much CO2 with your pH controller set at a pH of 6.9 unless your aquarium's KH is rather high.

Try unplugging the solenoid long enough for the added CO2 to dissipate and then read the pH level on the controller. Then gradually move it's setting down a full pH point. Be sure to do it slowly over the course of a few days. Fish are sensitive to CO2 increases and they can "freak out" (become stressed needlessly. Should you feel that 1 full pH point is too much, just try half of that or 0.5 pH.

... I have two light fixtures and ONLY one of them is being used.

A Power Compact (PC light) made by Jalli with four bulbs each 55W and 10,000K for a total of 220W. It has two switches so yes I can add different timers if I want two lights to come on first and then later on in the day the other two.

The other light fixture is made by Current USA and it has two T5HO bulbs each of 54W and 10,000K for a total of 108W.

What would be the best fixture to use. If you say the 220W what suggestions do you have on the timers? Should I leave 2 bulbs on for 6 hours and then have the other two turn on for four hours? what is best?

thanks. ...

Take your pick. Whichever fixture that you like is fine. Should you go with the PC fixture, your suggestion of having 2 bulbs on for 6 hours and then all 4 bulbs on for 4 hours is fine.

Does your Jalli Fixture use straight pin PC's? I would remove two of the 10,000K bulbs and replace them with GE 9325K bulbs. These bulbs appear "pinkish" and really bring out the colors in your aquarium. They are $14.20 each plus shipping at LightBulbsDirect: http://www.lightbulbsdirect.com/page/001/PROD/Aquarium/F55BX-AR-FS

Should you decide to use your twin bulb T5HO fixture, I would remove one of the 10,000K bulbs and replace it with a "pinkish" bulb such as Current's freshwater bulb, Giesemann's Aquaflora, AquaMedic's Plant Bulb, Coralife's Colormax, ZooMed's plant bulb, etc.
Current's freshwater plant bulb: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.c...fm?c=3578+3733+13821+13823&pcatid=13823&r=558
Giesemann's Aquaflora: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13821+21456&pcatid=21456
AquaMedic's Plant Bulb: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.c...play.cfm?c=3578+3733+13821+22128&pcatid=22128
Coralife's Colormax: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13821+22128&pcatid=22128
ZooMed's plant bulb: http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+13821+22551&pcatid=22551

These "pinkish" bulbs will highlight the colors in your aquarium plus they have a color spectrum that plants can use.