STILL too much light?

[Markahsf]

A while back, I created a topic asking if my lighting was too much. Everyone suggested I raise my lights so I did.

It's a 20" dual T5HO with two 18 watt bulbs. Since then, I've raise my lights about 4 or 5 inches.

The picture makes the lights look much brighter than it actually is because of the reflections but in reality, the tank really doesn't look all that bright.

Anyways, do you guys think it needs to be raised a few more inches or am I good right there? Thanks.

[Cardoc]

How high are your lights from the top of the substrate? It looks about right though for meduim to high light.

[VeeSe]

Is that a 10G? If so, you could probably raise them another 2-3 inches and be good, especially if you've got no CO2

[Markahsf]

Originally Posted by VeeSe

Is that a 10G? If so, you could probably raise them another 2-3 inches and be good, especially if you've got no CO2

I use excel and I've been thinking about a DIY CO2 system but yeah it's a 10 gallon.

[Hoppy]

If that is a FishNeedIt light, on a 10 gallon tank, with 2 inches of substrate, you have high light, around 60 micromols of PAR. Almost any other T5HO light fixture and you have even more light. Assuming it is a FishNeedIt light I agree with VeeSe, that you need to raise it about 2 more inches. That would drop the PAR to about 40.

[Markahsf]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

If that is a FishNeedIt light, on a 10 gallon tank, with 2 inches of substrate, you have high light, around 60 micromols of PAR. Almost any other T5HO light fixture and you have even more light. Assuming it is a FishNeedIt light I agree with VeeSe, that you need to raise it about 2 more inches. That would drop the PAR to about 40.

It's an odyssea fixture. I did saltwater tanks before freshwater planted and from my experience on dealing with T5HO's, one thing I can tell you is that these reflectors are garbage. That's why I never had the lights too high.

Since you guys know a lot more than me, I'll raise it a couple more inches. Better safe than sorry. The excel did a pretty good job at keeping my tank free of algae though. The root tabs also helped a bunch. The plants were thriving but I made this thread to avoid ANY problems whatsoever. I only had it on there for a few weeks so by doing this, I'll probably avoid long term damage to my plants.