why 10 hours or less photo period?

fusQer · 11-03-2006, 07:12 PM

ok so i changed the photoperiod from 9am-9pm, to 1230pm-830pm. i first saw the tank at about 11am and the fish were all gasping at the surface, im assuming from lack of o2 due to the lights not coming on at 9am to begin the photosynthesis process, releasing o2 from the plants.

i have an air bubbler that comes on for one hour at 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am, 8am. I also have the milwaukee PH controller which is not on any timer. I use the air bubbler to give the fish oxygen; I leave the co2 on to reduce PH swings, which is also why I turnon the air bubbler for only an hour at a time. This allows the co2 injection to "catchup" to the o2. For example the ph will be 6.9, air bubbler comes on ph goes up to 7.0, air bubbler turns off ph goes to 6.9. If I do the air bubbler without co2 then the PH will goto 7.3 overnight or higher.

AAAAaaanyways, what do you guys do about this? Im thinking of just shutting the air bubbler off for good and hooking up the co2 to the timer of my lights. I have rainbows and I think they are particularly susceptible to low o2.

tazcrash69 · 11-03-2006, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusQer

AAAAaaanyways, what do you guys do about this? Im thinking of just shutting the air bubbler off for good and hooking up the co2 to the timer of my lights. I have rainbows and I think they are particularly susceptible to low o2.

I used to let my CO2 run full time. had a couple problems with gasping fish.
I know have it on a seperate timer. CO2 starts pumping 1 hour before the lights, and shuts off 1 hours before the lights go off.
I didn't like using a airstone since my water is hard and cloaded up my glass covers.

danepatrick · 11-03-2006, 07:42 PM

this is why:

**oblongshrimp** · 11-07-2006, 11:05 PM

Some of it depends on how many plants you have in your tank also I think. I have a 120gal tank with 2 175w MH lights that i have set on a timer for about 12hours a day. I generally don't have much of an issue with algae and when I do its because i got lazy on my ferts or my CO2 got messed up.

bastalker · 11-07-2006, 11:26 PM

Setting up a new tank with minimal plants, the light period should be fairly shorter (6-7 hours). A new tank with a heavy plant load should see maybe 7-8 hours of light till the tank is balanced, an the plants are established. Then increasing the light gradually over the course of a few months, say 10-15 mins a week works good IME. For low light tanks, 10-12 hours is ok once your tank is established, an the plants are growing good.

If yer gonna run 10-12 hours with high light, you better have all yer ducks in a row!! Good c02 saturation, GH/KH where it should be, an EI dosing down to a science...

Hoppy · 11-08-2006, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danepatrick

this is why:

Now, that was a very eloquent and informative explanation, one that all of us can probably understand and appreciate.

dhavoc · 11-09-2006, 10:15 PM

hey looks exactly like my tank right now. damn green water explosion. waiting for a uv light to come in and also going to try that willow branch method (luckily i have a small willow tree over my outdoor water garden). happend right after i started EI and staggered my lights (7x54w over a 120g) to 7 on for 4 hours and 4 on the rest of the day (9hours with a 2 hour siesta - all off in between). before i did that, no green water even though the lights were all on 10 hours a day. i am trying to get the right fert balance down, but this isnt a highly planted tank, more of a modified iwagumi style with HC, petite nana, downoi and eriocoulans. plants are pearling and growing great, just cant see anything but peas soup.....

11-03-2006, 07:42 PM	#18 (permalink)
danepatrick Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (44) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: baton rouge, la Posts: 1,311	this is why: __________________ "Some of the worst things imaginable have been done with the best intentions." - Jurassic Park 38 gallon Journal

11-07-2006, 11:26 PM	#20 (permalink)
bastalker Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mystic, Ct. Posts: 852	Setting up a new tank with minimal plants, the light period should be fairly shorter (6-7 hours). A new tank with a heavy plant load should see maybe 7-8 hours of light till the tank is balanced, an the plants are established. Then increasing the light gradually over the course of a few months, say 10-15 mins a week works good IME. For low light tanks, 10-12 hours is ok once your tank is established, an the plants are growing good. If yer gonna run 10-12 hours with high light, you better have all yer ducks in a row!! Good c02 saturation, GH/KH where it should be, an EI dosing down to a science... __________________ Filstar Pimp #18 My 125G Wild Green discus tank

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11-03-2006, 07:12 PM	#16 (permalink)
fusQer Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 362	ok so i changed the photoperiod from 9am-9pm, to 1230pm-830pm. i first saw the tank at about 11am and the fish were all gasping at the surface, im assuming from lack of o2 due to the lights not coming on at 9am to begin the photosynthesis process, releasing o2 from the plants. i have an air bubbler that comes on for one hour at 12am, 2am, 4am, 6am, 8am. I also have the milwaukee PH controller which is not on any timer. I use the air bubbler to give the fish oxygen; I leave the co2 on to reduce PH swings, which is also why I turnon the air bubbler for only an hour at a time. This allows the co2 injection to "catchup" to the o2. For example the ph will be 6.9, air bubbler comes on ph goes up to 7.0, air bubbler turns off ph goes to 6.9. If I do the air bubbler without co2 then the PH will goto 7.3 overnight or higher. AAAAaaanyways, what do you guys do about this? Im thinking of just shutting the air bubbler off for good and hooking up the co2 to the timer of my lights. I have rainbows and I think they are particularly susceptible to low o2.

11-07-2006, 11:05 PM	#19 (permalink)
oblongshrimp Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Phoenix, Arizona Posts: 1,135	Some of it depends on how many plants you have in your tank also I think. I have a 120gal tank with 2 175w MH lights that i have set on a timer for about 12hours a day. I generally don't have much of an issue with algae and when I do its because i got lazy on my ferts or my CO2 got messed up.

11-09-2006, 10:15 PM	#22 (permalink)
dhavoc Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (14) Join Date: May 2006 Location: HI Posts: 395	hey looks exactly like my tank right now. damn green water explosion. waiting for a uv light to come in and also going to try that willow branch method (luckily i have a small willow tree over my outdoor water garden). happend right after i started EI and staggered my lights (7x54w over a 120g) to 7 on for 4 hours and 4 on the rest of the day (9hours with a 2 hour siesta - all off in between). before i did that, no green water even though the lights were all on 10 hours a day. i am trying to get the right fert balance down, but this isnt a highly planted tank, more of a modified iwagumi style with HC, petite nana, downoi and eriocoulans. plants are pearling and growing great, just cant see anything but peas soup.....

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