why 10 hours or less photo period?

fusQer · 11-03-2006, 03:04 AM

i currently run 12 hours and am having some hair algae problems even though i have been dosing 15ml a day for past 4 days in a 55g. i have 4WPG.

what should i try besides rosy barbs?

i also inject co2, tapwater ph is at 8.0, after co2 injection my co2 is at 6.8.

Jason Baliban · 11-03-2006, 03:14 AM

just run those lights for 7 hours. I use the same setup on a 75 and run it for only 7 hours.

http://baliban.com/webpics/75_black.jpg

Your plants dont need that much light for that long. They shut down internally while the lights are still going....then algae uses it.

jB

Canoe2Can · 11-03-2006, 03:17 AM

I can think of two good reasons:

1. It's more natural. Most aquarium plants come from tropical or sub-tropical regions. In the tropics, the day is basically 12 hours year round. And since the first hour or two and the last hour or two are pretty negligible, 8-10 hours is fairly natural.

2. It's good advice for the uneducated who think that the reason their plants aren't growing is because they need "more light," so they leave the lights on 15 hours a day. Plants need a dark cycle.

As for thread algae eaters:
-Livebearers like guppies, platies, etc, will nibble on it some
-Supposedly SAEs will too, but I'm starting to have my doubts
-Florida flag fish will definitely eat it, but they might cause other problems
-Many species of shrimp will eat it, esp. Amanos, cherries

justlikeapill · 11-03-2006, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Baliban

Your plants dont need that much light for that long. They shut down internally while the lights are still going....then algae uses it.

jB

Can you explain how they shut down internally? I've never heard of this before.

fusQer · 11-03-2006, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Baliban

just run those lights for 7 hours. I use the same setup on a 75 and run it for only 7 hours.

http://baliban.com/webpics/75_black.jpg

Your plants dont need that much light for that long. They shut down internally while the lights are still going....then algae uses it.

jB

thats it? when do you get to enjoy the tank! what about light from the lightss in the bedroom and just everyday light ? is that enough for algae ? im thinking not

Jason Baliban · 11-03-2006, 03:23 AM

yup.....i run my lights from 4pm to 11pm.....i am at work during the day. Then on the weekends i run them from 3-11 just so i can see it for a little longer. The light from the room or even windows is not enough to cause a prob with algae.

jB

fusQer · 11-03-2006, 03:32 AM

your tank is nice, i dont see any fish though

Jason Baliban · 11-03-2006, 03:34 AM

Thanks!!

There are 60 rasboras dead in front there. Maybe you have to open your browser larger or something to see the full size image.

Unless you were joking?

jB

tazcrash69 · 11-03-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justlikeapill

Can you explain how they shut down internally? I've never heard of this before.

You can see this with some fine leaf stem plants.
Towards the end of the day the leaves will fold up (think of an upside down umbrella closing ). Basically they're done for the day.

**turbowagon** · 11-03-2006, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Baliban

There are 60 rasboras dead in front there. Maybe you have to open your browser larger or something to see the full size image.
jB

They look alive to me.

Beautiful tank, by the way. I just reduced the lighting on my 29-gallon from 130W/10 hours to 65W/8 hours, so far so good.

justlikeapill · 11-03-2006, 02:48 PM

Oh man! I have noticed that on my ludwigia! Thank you!

Jason Baliban · 11-03-2006, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbowagon

They look alive to me.

Beautiful tank, by the way. I just reduced the lighting on my 29-gallon from 130W/10 hours to 65W/8 hours, so far so good.

boy, i set myself up for that

HAHAHAH

Thanks on the tank comment.

Good luck with the lighting change. The only adverse effects i have seen, are just really really slow growth. If this happens raise it 30 minutes.

jB

fusQer · 11-03-2006, 04:55 PM

I see your dead fish now that I maximized the picture, haha. how did you get them all to pose right in the center of the tank like that

im looking forward to not having any hair algae, sigh

Jason Baliban · 11-03-2006, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusQer

how did you get them all to pose right in the center of the tank like that

LIGHTLY tap on the glass before you take the picture.....that will tighten up the shool a bit.

jB

tazcrash69 · 11-03-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason Baliban

LIGHTLY tap on the glass before you take the picture.....that will tighten up the shool a bit.

jB

Great tip. I'm learning a lot here today.

BTW, jB, mailbox is full. I can't pm you.

11-03-2006, 03:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
fusQer Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 362	why 10 hours or less photo period? i currently run 12 hours and am having some hair algae problems even though i have been dosing 15ml a day for past 4 days in a 55g. i have 4WPG. what should i try besides rosy barbs? i also inject co2, tapwater ph is at 8.0, after co2 injection my co2 is at 6.8.

11-03-2006, 03:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jason Baliban Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (76) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 1,491	just run those lights for 7 hours. I use the same setup on a 75 and run it for only 7 hours. http://baliban.com/webpics/75_black.jpg Your plants dont need that much light for that long. They shut down internally while the lights are still going....then algae uses it. jB __________________ www.projectaquarium.com

11-03-2006, 03:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jason Baliban Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (76) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 1,491	yup.....i run my lights from 4pm to 11pm.....i am at work during the day. Then on the weekends i run them from 3-11 just so i can see it for a little longer. The light from the room or even windows is not enough to cause a prob with algae. jB __________________ www.projectaquarium.com

11-03-2006, 03:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jason Baliban Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (76) Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenixville, PA Posts: 1,491	Thanks!! There are 60 rasboras dead in front there. Maybe you have to open your browser larger or something to see the full size image. Unless you were joking? jB __________________ www.projectaquarium.com

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-03-2006, 03:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Canoe2Can Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Indiana, PA Posts: 710	I can think of two good reasons: 1. It's more natural. Most aquarium plants come from tropical or sub-tropical regions. In the tropics, the day is basically 12 hours year round. And since the first hour or two and the last hour or two are pretty negligible, 8-10 hours is fairly natural. 2. It's good advice for the uneducated who think that the reason their plants aren't growing is because they need "more light," so they leave the lights on 15 hours a day. Plants need a dark cycle. As for thread algae eaters: -Livebearers like guppies, platies, etc, will nibble on it some -Supposedly SAEs will too, but I'm starting to have my doubts -Florida flag fish will definitely eat it, but they might cause other problems -Many species of shrimp will eat it, esp. Amanos, cherries

11-03-2006, 03:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
fusQer Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 362	your tank is nice, i dont see any fish though

11-03-2006, 02:48 PM	#11 (permalink)
justlikeapill Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13) Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Georgia Posts: 480	Oh man! I have noticed that on my ludwigia! Thank you!

11-03-2006, 04:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
fusQer Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1) Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 362	I see your dead fish now that I maximized the picture, haha. how did you get them all to pose right in the center of the tank like that im looking forward to not having any hair algae, sigh

Advertisements
Get Rid of Advertisements