First , my tank specs:
Dimension: 4l x 2h x 1.5 d.
CO2: Pressurized. 1 bubble/sec. (Don't have drop checker to measure ppm.)
Fertilization: JBL ferropol + macros weekly once.
Plants: Heavily planted tank.
Current lights: 50W LED flodlight + 72W PLL
Filtration: 1800L/hr external canister+internal sponge filter.
Substrate: Bottom layer - JBL aquaplus, Top layer - Marfied Controsoil
Tank params : I do not have a test kit to test the nitrate and other stuff. But have a ph test thing which read 6.5.
Height of lights : 5 inches above water.
Problem: Plants not growing quite fast. Carpet plants almost melted away. Leaves are very old and so they get covered with brown mulm whenever the substrate is disturbed(either me or my cichlids). I tried everything from Compact Spiral -> Shop lights -> PLL(4x34W) -> LED(100W floodlight). The tall plants I brought from the LFS just melted away. They were so red and broad leaved at the LFS, but once in my tank, they became pale, smaller and eventually melted away.
Possible Upgrade : I went to the LFS and the guy told me that I had to upgrade my lights to T5HO which I never tried. HE told me I would need 4 x54W T5HO and that would solve all the problems. He also mentioned that since I had a 2 feet deep tank, I would need 10000K lights. Another point he made is that the electronics in the choke made it possible to run at 30W even though the lights are 54W. I didn't believe this statement as I know energy cannot be produced just like that. If the chokes used 30W, I would get lights for 30W an not 54W as he said. Please correct me if this is wrong.
Suggestions needed:
1. Should I go for 10000K - 12000K as he mentioned or stick to the 6500K ones which are best for plants?
2. What reflectors should I go for? Please let me know the type of reflector and not any brand as I may not get those brands here. I did hear that SLR reflectors are good. Any sample pic of a good reflector is what I am looking for. The ones he showed me did not have reflectors for each of the tubes, but were for all the tubes together. I am planning to get a good one from a lighting shop rather than from this LFS guy. But I need to be sure about the reflectors. He also asked me to buy plant grow lights by JBl which were expensive. Do I really need them at all?
3. Should 4x54W T5Ho be enough for my tank size( I am looking forward to some carpet plants like HC, baby tears)?
Video -[video=youtube_share;9zAi8hTmNyw]http://youtu.be/9zAi8hTmNyw[/video]
Pics - View attachment 3282View attachment 3283
Dimension: 4l x 2h x 1.5 d.
CO2: Pressurized. 1 bubble/sec. (Don't have drop checker to measure ppm.)
Fertilization: JBL ferropol + macros weekly once.
Plants: Heavily planted tank.
Current lights: 50W LED flodlight + 72W PLL
Filtration: 1800L/hr external canister+internal sponge filter.
Substrate: Bottom layer - JBL aquaplus, Top layer - Marfied Controsoil
Tank params : I do not have a test kit to test the nitrate and other stuff. But have a ph test thing which read 6.5.
Height of lights : 5 inches above water.
Problem: Plants not growing quite fast. Carpet plants almost melted away. Leaves are very old and so they get covered with brown mulm whenever the substrate is disturbed(either me or my cichlids). I tried everything from Compact Spiral -> Shop lights -> PLL(4x34W) -> LED(100W floodlight). The tall plants I brought from the LFS just melted away. They were so red and broad leaved at the LFS, but once in my tank, they became pale, smaller and eventually melted away.
Possible Upgrade : I went to the LFS and the guy told me that I had to upgrade my lights to T5HO which I never tried. HE told me I would need 4 x54W T5HO and that would solve all the problems. He also mentioned that since I had a 2 feet deep tank, I would need 10000K lights. Another point he made is that the electronics in the choke made it possible to run at 30W even though the lights are 54W. I didn't believe this statement as I know energy cannot be produced just like that. If the chokes used 30W, I would get lights for 30W an not 54W as he said. Please correct me if this is wrong.
Suggestions needed:
1. Should I go for 10000K - 12000K as he mentioned or stick to the 6500K ones which are best for plants?
2. What reflectors should I go for? Please let me know the type of reflector and not any brand as I may not get those brands here. I did hear that SLR reflectors are good. Any sample pic of a good reflector is what I am looking for. The ones he showed me did not have reflectors for each of the tubes, but were for all the tubes together. I am planning to get a good one from a lighting shop rather than from this LFS guy. But I need to be sure about the reflectors. He also asked me to buy plant grow lights by JBl which were expensive. Do I really need them at all?
3. Should 4x54W T5Ho be enough for my tank size( I am looking forward to some carpet plants like HC, baby tears)?
Video -[video=youtube_share;9zAi8hTmNyw]http://youtu.be/9zAi8hTmNyw[/video]
Pics - View attachment 3282View attachment 3283
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), which I dose once in two weeks I would say. I do not perform weekly water changes and that's the reason I do not overdose chemicals in a week. I would prefer the natural way of fertilization though. Not sure if that's the right way to do, but read some books by Diana Walstad persuaded me to do so. Having said that, I have to add 20L of water every week to compensate the evaporation.