Too much light?

Just realized this today. Having setup my 20 gallon long, I used my 30" coralife fixture with two 31 watt T5HO bulbs. Time to take a bulb out. Don't know how I missed that. Forunately, only a week in to this tank's life.

Here's where I have a question. My 55 gallon is using a 48" coralife fixture with two 51 watt T5HO bulbs. The fixture sits about 2" to 2.5" above the tank, so about 3" to 3/5" above water surface, on for 8 hours a day, using glass tops. I have no visible algae a month in with this tank. I dose Excel every day, about 6 ml. No pressurized CO2. I prefer to plant heavy and grow slow, so am I ok with two bulbs here, or should I remove one? I'm thinking in this case, one bulb may be a bit low, but since they are T5HO, I'm not sure.

 

Thanks, Gerry. That's what I keep telling myself, but wanted some reassurance.

50% to 60% each Sunday on the water changes. I've never had much trouble with algae. BBA before I made the water flow a much higher priority.

I worry about the light intensity more due to the lack of pressurized CO2. I think growth-wise I'm doing well. I left one stem of hygrophila difformis in this tank as I know it's growth well and it has stayed bushy and not rushed to the surface, which is what I wanted to see. My crypts fill out quickly, relatively, as does my anubias. I'm getting good rooting and decent growth with staurogyne, so I'm pleased with that.

 

Sorry, I missed your comment about 1 T5HO being plenty, or rather, I think I misread it initially.

Are you saying 1 bulb is plenty?

 

Right. I realize without the PAR data, we are stuck with our opinions, but I respect the opinions of many here, you included, more than my own in my limited experience.

When I take pictures of my 55 gallon, my first thought is always, the light is too bright in the tank, even as I take photos with the brightness cranked down to get the shutter speed manageable. The lights look very bright on the tallest plants. Often, the red highlites in my h polysperma is impossible to see due to the brightness of light on them. The reason I take photos of my tanks so often is I get a better overall perspective on what is going on sometimes from a still image--less distraction I guess. If the plants can grow, and I have no real difficult plants in this tank, on one bulb, that's what I'd prefer to go with.

For instance, see the h polysperma near the center right? That's with the camera brightness cranked down nearly as far as it will go. It's not quite that bright to the naked eye, but it's not far off.

 

Gerry is spot on. IME, a fast rush to the surface leads to a stemmy wisteria plant. I want a bushy, compact plant.

BTW, Gerry, I did end up removing 1 bulb on this tank and I have seen overall healthier looking plants after several weeks now. Thanks for gently pushing me in that direction.