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standard aquarium lighting

phillipson

New Member
Joined
18 Nov 2024
Messages
9
Location
telford
Hi there.
A couple of months into the new planted aquarium and after initially thinking all was well I'm a bit disappointed with plant growth, some melting, some yellowing, no pearling.
I know I'm sufficient in CO2 and dosing with a liquid fert so after looking at lighting requirements I'm wondering if the standard lighting isn't man enough?
It's a AquaOne 145l with 20w lighting and after reading around it seems like double that is more recommended.
I have a variety of plants from a beginners box of easy grows.
Many thanks in advance for any recommendations on lighting 🙂
 
Hi all,
It's a AquaOne 145l with 20w lighting
That isn't a lot of light.
I'm a bit disappointed with plant growth, some melting, some yellowing, no pearling.
A photo would be really useful.
and dosing with a liquid fert
Which fertiliser? It really is the <"million dollar question">, not all <"fertilisers are equal"> or in some cases <"even really fertilisers">.

The other question is "do you know how hard and alkaline your water is"? Because <"you have some yellowing"> iron might be a deficient nutrient, and iron deficiencies are much more likely <"in hard, alkaline water">.

Your water company (Severn-Trent I'm going to guess) should be able to tell you:
<"Check my water quality | Water Quality | My Supply | Severn Trent Water"> - A random Telford post-code "TF1 1AA" gives
  • "Hardness Level - Very Hard" and
  • "Hardness German (dGH) 17.65".
cheers Darrel
 
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Hi Darrel thanks for reply,
Sounds like an increase in light might be a contributing factor then
Fert is JBL Ferropol
I'm using RO and remineralising with Saecham Equilibrium gh and kh are around 8 dh
Cheers
 
Santa is bringing me a Hygger 48w full 957, fully adjustable light and programmable so I can turn it down if necessary.
Can't do any harm eh ?
 
Hi all,
Darrel thanks for reply,
You are welcome, I think your reply should help sort out your issues.
Sounds like an increase in light might be a contributing factor then
Difficult to say, it would depend a little bit on what the plants are. Ferns, mosses, Anubias barteri and most Cryptocoryne spp. will grew in <"very gloomy places">.
Fert is JBL Ferropol
Ok, so not <"really a fertiliser">. Have a look at <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">, there are also "aquarium" alternatives like "TNC Complete" <"TNC Complete | The Nutrient Company"> or "Tropica Specialised" <"Tropica Specialised fertiliser - liquid fertiliser for planted tanks - Tropica Aquarium Plants">.

Basically your plants can only make use of more light and added CO2, if PAR and CO2 are the factors limiting growth. If growth is limited by one of the other parameters? It won't make any difference.

Have a look at <"What is the “Duckweed Index” all about?">.
I'm using RO and remineralising with Seachem Equilibrium gh and kh are around 8 dh
I'm guessing that is actually some of your problem, basically you can use a lot less (whatever Seachem tell you). While we are on the subjects of problems I have one with <"Seachem's advertising"> it is, at best, <"disingenuous"> and personally <"none of my money"> is ever going in their direction.

We have an <"Equilibrium thread">, but you can basically add a small amount of alkalinity (dKH) and calcium (Ca++) via your tap water, it is, honestly, <"a no brainer"> and you are going to add magnesium (Mg) with your fertiliser addition.

cheers Darrel
 
Hi there.
A couple of months into the new planted aquarium and after initially thinking all was well I'm a bit disappointed with plant growth, some melting, some yellowing, no pearling.
I know I'm sufficient in CO2 and dosing with a liquid fert so after looking at lighting requirements I'm wondering if the standard lighting isn't man enough?
It's a AquaOne 145l with 20w lighting and after reading around it seems like double that is more recommended.
I have a variety of plants from a beginners box of easy grows.
Many thanks in advance for any recommendations on lighting 🙂
I have one small 60 litre tank, I use a 24 watt All Ponds cheapie white and blue LED and the 32 watt supplied Superfish light. I found the Superfish inadequate and I don't grow really high light plants in that tank.
My 250 litre four foot tank I currently use 260 watts of cheapie outdoor floodlights and top up sometimes with either 66 watt Dennerle LED light bar or Superfish 52 watt light, but only run additional light when the plant density is high and only for a few hours. With that amount of light I can grow Rotala macrandra, and in the past Eleocharis. I have successfully also had this larger tank running with two 24 watt All Ponds bars, the Superfish 52 and the Dennerle 66 - 166 watts worked because the lights were only an inch or two above the water surface, the floodlights are 8 inches or so higher, which makes access easy and reduces elongation by stem plants.
I have also used a Hygger RGB about 70 watts, but the lumens from each watt isn't very good, works well in combination with other lights and brings out colours in fish, but, the built in timer is a pain to use and doesn't allow much flexibility, I sometimes use two photo periods especially in the late spring when sun light hits the tank in the morning and I want the lights and CO2 on.
Hope that helps.
 
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thanks for your informative replies, thanks Darrel for all the links. I'll get one of those fertilisers you suggest and report back after Crimbo when I've got my new light as well👍
 
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