lighting question

[BIG FISH]

My wife and I recently like 2 weeks ago setup a planted aqaurium.
It's a standard 20g aquarium.

We have the following plants;
Rotala Sp. Vietnam
Stargrass
Bacopa
Jungle Val
Corkscrew Val
Micro Crypt.
Marsleia Minuta

I have a 4x 24" T5HO - I am currently running the following photo period;

10:00a.m. - 2x bulbs
12:00p.m. - the other 2x bulbs kick on
5:00p.m. the later 2x bulbs kick off
10:00p.m. All bulbs are shut off


So my question is this -

Should I just run all four bulbs and not do the split up bulb combos?


Don't know if this is relevant, but -

We are dosing Seachem Flourish Excel - daily at the recommended dosage for our size tank.

With water changes of 10-20% every other day.

Sparse feedings 3 times daily of nls 1mm algae max sinking pellets.

Current livestock includes;

1x samouri gourami
1x thai flying fox
1x corydoras abrbatus
1x corydoras melanistrus
2x gold otos
1x panda garra rufa
1x purple tyol snail
2x striped nerite snails
1x upside down catfish

[mnemenoi]

Is this a CO2 injected tank? Its listed as High tech, but without CO2 its considered low tech (well medium tech as I know all the hassle well as it is what we run and can be just as complex). As to photoperiods, usually with even high tech or low its best to start at 10 hours and move up and down there. In low tech set ups its best to run 4-5 hours and break for a 2-4 hour siesta and then another 4-5 hours. It allows the CO2 to rebuild and the plants end up out competing the algae. In a low tech set up, we water change every couple weeks depending on our Nitrates. Its best to keep them between 10-20ppm, we have dropped them to 0 and the plants started acting up. Took us awhile to realize it was our abysmal Nitrate readings. If your high tech there are different practices. I've also heard medium tech being referred to for DIY CO2, so there are a lot of considerations and recommendations I can make based on those factors. Post up and I'll be happy to help.

[mnemenoi]

and would have replied earlier, but it was the Walking Dead season finale LOL

[mistahoo]

No CO2 is definitely not high tech. T5HO on for that long is a bit much, but IMO I couldn't comment on the lighting period without knowing how densely planted the tank is or if it's a 20 gal long or a tall one.

[mnemenoi]

Here is an explanation for a mid day break in lighting and its affect in a low tech planted tank, in an injected tank the CO2 levels would never fall below a certain injected rate, so it does not really apply. It was written by Diana Walstad over at Aquatic Plant Central.

[BIG FISH]

Okay, the tank is 20g - 24" x 16" x12" - standard 20g tall I guess.
No c02 and I want it to stay as easy to maintain as possible.
I have ~20 stems of rotala-
~20 stems of vals - (10 stems each)
~15 stems of bacopa
~40 leaves - of marselia minuta
~1 big stem of wisteria
~100-150 pieces of duck weed, i thin to nothing and it comes right back.

I know on my old planted tanks I used to run the lights all of them for ~10hrs and those setups had powercompacts.
So I guess I want to know is the T5ho the same? If I had luck doing this with pc's is it feasable to think it will aplly to t5ho's in the same scenario?

[mistahoo]

Here is an explanation for a mid day break in lighting and its affect in a low tech planted tank, in an injected tank the CO2 levels would never fall below a certain injected rate, so it does not really apply. It was written by Diana Walstad over at Aquatic Plant Central.

Great read. Trying to study back up on high tech tanks in preparation for my next setup. Now it's just a waiting game while I collect everything I need

[mnemenoi]

They are basically on the same level for sure, T5's have a bit better penetration then PC do, but on that size tank depth its really doubtful that would come into play. You can try running it 10 hours, but our tanks get to be a swamp of algae running that photoperiod that long, perhaps you'll have better luck. Post some pics of the tank and we usually get together and trade plants at the GHAC meetings. Just not a whole lot of folks into planted tanks here in Houston so we just nerd out to plants on the side and trade off stems, mosses and cuttings for stuff we have wanted to try out

[mnemenoi]

I like your back in the game and looking forward to seeing what you have in mind. Let us know if there is something your after, not much for high tech plants, but we always have a few things that are tough to get. Saw Quoc talking about your tank on the FB group, LOL might even get him back into the game....

[mistahoo]

I like your back in the game and looking forward to seeing what you have in mind. Let us know if there is something your after, not much for high tech plants, but we always have a few things that are tough to get. Saw Quoc talking about your tank on the FB group, LOL might even get him back into the game....

I have big plans for the next tank. What all do you have? As far as plants I'm gonna keep it pretty simple. Lmao yeah he stopped by the house like last week or something. He might get back into the game

[mistahoo]

They are basically on the same level for sure, T5's have a bit better penetration then PC do, but on that size tank depth its really doubtful that would come into play. You can try running it 10 hours, but our tanks get to be a swamp of algae running that photoperiod that long, perhaps you'll have better luck. Post some pics of the tank and we usually get together and trade plants at the GHAC meetings. Just not a whole lot of folks into planted tanks here in Houston so we just nerd out to plants on the side and trade off stems, mosses and cuttings for stuff we have wanted to try out

PC and T5HO are pretty close indeed. I would run 8 hours without injected CO2. Even on 10 hours you'll eventually run into algae issues with such intense lighting. Running all 4 bulbs is fine. I would personally run the lights as follows (This is just how I would do it. It's up to you if you want to do this)...

8:00-10:00am 2 bulbs
10:00-12:00pm 4 bulbs
12:00-4:00pm lights out
4:00-6:00pm 4 bulbs
6:00-8:00pm 2 bulbs
8:00-8:00am lights out

[mnemenoi]

I agree with your photoperiod recommendation. As to what we have, we have a lot. All sorts of Anubias (even some micro which is crazy hard to find and get), lots of Hygros (Willow and Giant and some listed as 'blue', though think I'll be ditching it eventually) Lot of indica variants and stems, downoi and mosses, frogbit, lots of crypts, bucces, bolbitos. Then have the crazy magic 10 gallon and never know what your likely to find in there, always a surprise lol.

[mistahoo]

Probably will get with you to pick up some plants once I have the new tank. Definitely want some downoi, but my current setup won't be so good for them. Any recommendations for aqua soil similar to ADA but without the pH buffer?

[mnemenoi]

Eco-Complete, Flourite, we have really been digging the Flourite dark for its look and ease of working with various hardscapes. There is a decent Flourite black sand that handled stuff well. You could go with Fluval's stratum as its kinda weak and exhausts kinda quick and looks similar.

[mistahoo]

Going for the same looks as ADA soil, but no buffer if possible. The fish I'm going with do well in our waters so no need to drop ph