Nearly 5 watts per gallon? Is that bad?

julesann · 03-28-2006, 09:05 PM

I have a 27 gallon tank and have a new 30” coralife double strip 65 wattx2 (4.81 wpg) I was planning to run for 10 hours a day using an Eheim Prof. 2222 canister and soon to be adding a 2.5 gal. aluminium CO2 can using Milwaukee regulator, glass diffuser. That's nearly 5 wpg. Is 10 hours too long? Will I be growing an algae farm? I have algae waters who don't seem interested in eating algae, so I'm concerned.

TheOtherGeoff · 03-28-2006, 09:17 PM

i would try it and see how it goes. you are running co2 so you should be ok. if you are worried about two much light them just leave off one of the lights.

JonMulzer · 03-28-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julesann

I have a 27 gallon tank and have a new 30” coralife double strip 65 wattx2 (4.81 wpg) I was planning to run for 10 hours a day using an Eheim Prof. 2222 canister and soon to be adding a 2.5 gal. aluminium CO2 can using Milwaukee regulator, glass diffuser. That's nearly 5 wpg. Is 10 hours too long? Will I be growing an algae farm? I have algae waters who don't seem interested in eating algae, so I'm concerned.

How about running it with a midday peak? Four hours of 65, two hours of 130, 4 hours of 65.

jasonh · 03-28-2006, 09:35 PM

My guess is you'll go through a lot of CO2, a lot of ferts, and be trimming quite often...

**Hoppy** · 03-28-2006, 09:38 PM

I currently have 110 watts over 29 gallon, running for about 11 hours a day, and it isn't an algae farm, but it does grow algae as well as plants - surprise!! I think you could handle this ok, and you will get a thrill out of how fast and well the plants grow.

Pete City · 03-28-2006, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonMulzer

How about running it with a midday peak? Four hours of 65, two hours of 130, 4 hours of 65.

I do a variation of this on my 40, 2hrs@96, 4hrs@192, 2hrs@96, but try starting out with Jon's method. I'm also running 4.8wpg.
I would suggest that you run just the single 65 until you get your CO2 setup. I think this will help avoid some algae problems.

Pete

julesann · 03-29-2006, 07:25 PM

Got it. Down to one bulb until the Co2 is up and then maybe staggered. Thanks guys!

Solace · 03-29-2006, 09:06 PM

130w over 29gal here.. I do have some algae but im hoping that I can grow enough shrimp to handle it

The algae is not unsightly and is not a huge issue for me.

03-28-2006, 09:05 PM	#1
julesann Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VICTORIA, B.C. (Canada) Posts: 305	Nearly 5 watts per gallon? Is that bad? I have a 27 gallon tank and have a new 30” coralife double strip 65 wattx2 (4.81 wpg) I was planning to run for 10 hours a day using an Eheim Prof. 2222 canister and soon to be adding a 2.5 gal. aluminium CO2 can using Milwaukee regulator, glass diffuser. That's nearly 5 wpg. Is 10 hours too long? Will I be growing an algae farm? I have algae waters who don't seem interested in eating algae, so I'm concerned. __________________ CLICK TO VIEW MY NEWBIE TANK TANK: 27 gal. Flourite + Florabase, Eheim 2222, 9W turbo twist UV, CO2 via Milwaukee regulator, glass diffuser, Coralife 55x2 (4 wpg), LED lunar moonlight. FAUNA: 2 Panda Cory, 3 Dwarf Otto, 2 Yoyo loaches, 1 Clown Pleco, 1 Dwarf Gourami. FLORA: Anubias Nana, Hygro Tropic Sunset, Crypt Wendtii Gr/Br, Water Hyssop, Dwarf Crypt, Rotala Rotundifolia, Hygro Corymbosa, Taiwan moss, Stargrass, Riccia, Cuba, Pearl Grass, Weeping Moss, Microsword.

03-28-2006, 09:17 PM	#2
TheOtherGeoff Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 1,392	i would try it and see how it goes. you are running co2 so you should be ok. if you are worried about two much light them just leave off one of the lights. __________________ The Fish Tank, Tranquility in Motion 20 Long all gone now 75 Gallon Planted discus has come to an end.......but only for The Trout Tank

03-28-2006, 09:35 PM	#4
jasonh Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5/100%) Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 286	My guess is you'll go through a lot of CO2, a lot of ferts, and be trimming quite often... __________________ Jason

03-28-2006, 09:38 PM	#5
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (53/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,206	I currently have 110 watts over 29 gallon, running for about 11 hours a day, and it isn't an algae farm, but it does grow algae as well as plants - surprise!! I think you could handle this ok, and you will get a thrill out of how fast and well the plants grow. __________________ Hoppy

03-29-2006, 07:25 PM	#7
julesann Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: VICTORIA, B.C. (Canada) Posts: 305	Got it. Down to one bulb until the Co2 is up and then maybe staggered. Thanks guys! __________________ CLICK TO VIEW MY NEWBIE TANK TANK: 27 gal. Flourite + Florabase, Eheim 2222, 9W turbo twist UV, CO2 via Milwaukee regulator, glass diffuser, Coralife 55x2 (4 wpg), LED lunar moonlight. FAUNA: 2 Panda Cory, 3 Dwarf Otto, 2 Yoyo loaches, 1 Clown Pleco, 1 Dwarf Gourami. FLORA: Anubias Nana, Hygro Tropic Sunset, Crypt Wendtii Gr/Br, Water Hyssop, Dwarf Crypt, Rotala Rotundifolia, Hygro Corymbosa, Taiwan moss, Stargrass, Riccia, Cuba, Pearl Grass, Weeping Moss, Microsword.

03-29-2006, 09:06 PM	#8
Solace Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11/100%) Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 395	130w over 29gal here.. I do have some algae but im hoping that I can grow enough shrimp to handle it The algae is not unsightly and is not a huge issue for me. __________________ § Will work for good water and co2. §

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