What is my PAR? (new to planted/lighting)

crice8 · 08-11-2012, 02:56 AM

Hello im new to the whole planted aqaurium thing. I have had several normal aquariums in the past though. I decided I really like the new realm of this world. I have a odyssea T5HO 4x18w 72w total Fixture 16" above my substrate in my 20 gallon tall tank. The bulbs are 6500k so ideal for the plants. What is my lighting level considered?
My goal is a nice dwarf grass carpet. I have a good steady DIY co2 supply setup and im dosing flourish iron and comprehensive.

My substrate is the black caribsea sand.
How is this setup for my plants?
What is my par value?

**Hoppy** · 08-11-2012, 04:11 AM

You probably have very high light.

crice8 · 08-11-2012, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoppy

You probably have very high light.

Will my plants do well if I provide them plenty of co2 and ferts?

**Trickerie** · 08-11-2012, 06:39 PM

If you provide them 35ppm of co2 and EI ferts they should be ok, but being new id probably suggest medium-high with co2 and EI ferts.

Whats your CO2 levels at? Your DIY co2 better be working in prime condition to get enough in there for that light.

crice8 · 08-11-2012, 06:47 PM

I have two 1.75 liter bottles pumping out a steady flow to both diffusers

**Hoppy** · 08-11-2012, 10:00 PM

I see an airstone, which I assume is bubbling CO2 into the water. That isn't a very effective diffusing method, so I doubt that you have enough CO2 for that much light. And, it will be very hard to keep the level of CO2 constant from day to day with DIY CO2. When the CO2 level drops it tends to encourage algae to start growing. That's why using pressurized CO2 with high light is really mandatory. Also, if the CO2 level is high enough for the light you have, it will be too high for the fish to live with when the lights go off, another reason why pressurized CO2, shut off at night, is so important.

crice8 · 08-11-2012, 10:26 PM

the airstone is temporary until my other glass diffuser gets here in the mail

**Trickerie** · 08-11-2012, 11:12 PM

Everything Hoppy is telling you I agree with. Even with a glass diffuser, keeping the levels of co2 with DIY at a high enough concentration will be incredible hard. You will also have to run an airstone on a timer at night to gas off co2 or you will kill your fish (if it is indeed in the proper range). Measure your PH and your KH and get back to us with those numbers.

crice8 · 08-11-2012, 11:18 PM

will do! I want to go pressurized asap just looking for a good deal on a regulator. Know of any? basically I need whatever to simply put it on a bottle and be good to go

**Trickerie** · 08-11-2012, 11:31 PM

I use the AquaTek regulator on a paintball setup. I had to take it apart and reassemble to get the thing to sit vertically when used with the paintball canister, but its a good regulator for the money IMO. Comes with solenoid and a cheap bubble counter.

crice8 · 08-12-2012, 12:38 AM

Yeah I have been looking into the aquatek. I thought about putting it either straight on a 5lb tank or getting the adapter and putting it on a 24oz paintball tank.

**Trickerie** · 08-12-2012, 01:40 AM

Using it on a paintball tank, to get the air line output to be pointing up (so that you can use a brass bubble counter, etc) you need to loosen/tighten some parts to get em configured right. Ive also found that a paintball tank didnt last nearly as long as I was expecting it to. I'd for sure get the 5lb tank if I had room for one.

08-11-2012, 02:56 AM	#1
crice8 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 207	What is my PAR? (new to planted/lighting) Hello im new to the whole planted aqaurium thing. I have had several normal aquariums in the past though. I decided I really like the new realm of this world. I have a odyssea T5HO 4x18w 72w total Fixture 16" above my substrate in my 20 gallon tall tank. The bulbs are 6500k so ideal for the plants. What is my lighting level considered? My goal is a nice dwarf grass carpet. I have a good steady DIY co2 supply setup and im dosing flourish iron and comprehensive. My substrate is the black caribsea sand. How is this setup for my plants? What is my par value? Last edited by crice8; 08-11-2012 at 03:36 AM.. Reason: added info

08-11-2012, 04:11 AM	#2
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,204	You probably have very high light. __________________ Hoppy

08-11-2012, 10:00 PM	#6
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,204	I see an airstone, which I assume is bubbling CO2 into the water. That isn't a very effective diffusing method, so I doubt that you have enough CO2 for that much light. And, it will be very hard to keep the level of CO2 constant from day to day with DIY CO2. When the CO2 level drops it tends to encourage algae to start growing. That's why using pressurized CO2 with high light is really mandatory. Also, if the CO2 level is high enough for the light you have, it will be too high for the fish to live with when the lights go off, another reason why pressurized CO2, shut off at night, is so important. __________________ Hoppy

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08-11-2012, 06:39 PM	#4
Trickerie Nerd (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 707	If you provide them 35ppm of co2 and EI ferts they should be ok, but being new id probably suggest medium-high with co2 and EI ferts. Whats your CO2 levels at? Your DIY co2 better be working in prime condition to get enough in there for that light.

08-11-2012, 06:47 PM	#5
crice8 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 207	I have two 1.75 liter bottles pumping out a steady flow to both diffusers

08-11-2012, 10:26 PM	#7
crice8 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 207	the airstone is temporary until my other glass diffuser gets here in the mail

08-11-2012, 11:12 PM	#8
Trickerie Nerd (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 707	Everything Hoppy is telling you I agree with. Even with a glass diffuser, keeping the levels of co2 with DIY at a high enough concentration will be incredible hard. You will also have to run an airstone on a timer at night to gas off co2 or you will kill your fish (if it is indeed in the proper range). Measure your PH and your KH and get back to us with those numbers.

08-11-2012, 11:18 PM	#9
crice8 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 207	will do! I want to go pressurized asap just looking for a good deal on a regulator. Know of any? basically I need whatever to simply put it on a bottle and be good to go

08-11-2012, 11:31 PM	#10
Trickerie Nerd (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 707	I use the AquaTek regulator on a paintball setup. I had to take it apart and reassemble to get the thing to sit vertically when used with the paintball canister, but its a good regulator for the money IMO. Comes with solenoid and a cheap bubble counter.

08-12-2012, 12:38 AM	#11
crice8 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 207	Yeah I have been looking into the aquatek. I thought about putting it either straight on a 5lb tank or getting the adapter and putting it on a 24oz paintball tank.

08-12-2012, 01:40 AM	#12
Trickerie Nerd (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: May 2012 Location: West Palm Beach, FL Posts: 707	Using it on a paintball tank, to get the air line output to be pointing up (so that you can use a brass bubble counter, etc) you need to loosen/tighten some parts to get em configured right. Ive also found that a paintball tank didnt last nearly as long as I was expecting it to. I'd for sure get the 5lb tank if I had room for one.