More lighting means algae?

traco · 10-31-2007, 05:56 PM

Currently, I have a 55 watt T-5 fluorescent (48" strip) and two 15 watt Aqua Glo fluorescents (two 22" strips). I have Eco Complete for substrate, two HOBs (Aqua Clear 70 and Penguin 350).

Fish are BN plecos, some guppies, platies, cories and a few shrimp. Plants that are doing okay in there are some low lying crypts, a tiny tiger lotus who is trying to come back, anubias, java fern and onion plants. I have root tabs for fertilizer.

I'm not wanting to run CO2 or have high light plants but would like to get some growth on the ones I have and get a few more. Would adding two 65 watt power compacts help or would I start running into lots of algae problems?

Thanks in advance.

Barb

kunerd · 10-31-2007, 06:31 PM

size of you tank is needed. and yes if you add more light with out addind some co2 you will get algea. You can get pressurize, diy, or use flourish excel. Also you can start dosing dry ferts also to get more growth. read up on ei dosing.

traco · 10-31-2007, 10:34 PM

Oops, sorry. I was typing in everything but the size tank!

It's a standard 55 gallon tank.

tazcrash69 · 11-01-2007, 01:44 PM

More light does not mean you will have more algae, but it will mean that you have a bit less room for error since changes will happen faster. If you don't want high light plants, or CO2, check out the Lo-tech forum. You can have a nice planted tank without CO2, but on a 55, I wouldn't add more lights without the rest of the hardware (CO2, filters that won't out gas the CO2, and ferts) to support it.

10-31-2007, 05:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
traco Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 7	More lighting means algae? Currently, I have a 55 watt T-5 fluorescent (48" strip) and two 15 watt Aqua Glo fluorescents (two 22" strips). I have Eco Complete for substrate, two HOBs (Aqua Clear 70 and Penguin 350). Fish are BN plecos, some guppies, platies, cories and a few shrimp. Plants that are doing okay in there are some low lying crypts, a tiny tiger lotus who is trying to come back, anubias, java fern and onion plants. I have root tabs for fertilizer. I'm not wanting to run CO2 or have high light plants but would like to get some growth on the ones I have and get a few more. Would adding two 65 watt power compacts help or would I start running into lots of algae problems? Thanks in advance. Barb

10-31-2007, 06:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
kunerd Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (9) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Spring Lake Park, MN Posts: 682	size of you tank is needed. and yes if you add more light with out addind some co2 you will get algea. You can get pressurize, diy, or use flourish excel. Also you can start dosing dry ferts also to get more growth. read up on ei dosing. __________________ Filstar Pimp #27 "Insert your own tag line here"

11-01-2007, 01:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
tazcrash69 Scape? What's a scape? (View User Tanks) PTrader: (21) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hawthorne, NJ Posts: 3,014	More light does not mean you will have more algae, but it will mean that you have a bit less room for error since changes will happen faster. If you don't want high light plants, or CO2, check out the Lo-tech forum. You can have a nice planted tank without CO2, but on a 55, I wouldn't add more lights without the rest of the hardware (CO2, filters that won't out gas the CO2, and ferts) to support it. __________________ Walter Visit my 125 profile and gallery or my 5 gallon low-tech. Proud member of:NJAGC.net --May the floor under your tank always be dry, and your glass clear!!!

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10-31-2007, 10:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
traco Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 7	Oops, sorry. I was typing in everything but the size tank! It's a standard 55 gallon tank.

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