2 T5ho - Co2 = algae farm

[blackneon]

Hi hoppy, im just wonderin if my hagen glo dual t5ho fixture is good or fair reflectors. Its currently hanging 7inches from the top of the tank. Its 25gal tank. Dosing ei 20-40gal with rex grigg reactor. Am i still on high light or medium with my set up. Thanks a lot in advance.

[Amy9]

Update: I totally rescaped, changed from pool filter sand to eco complete, scrubbed down the old driftwood that had the BGA, added another piece, and returned the poor leftover plants. The light is raised now, and I'm only running one 67K bulb. No C02 yet, I'm waiting for my check valves. It is pretty obvious I need to order some plants and rearrange. Always a work in progress. I really hope the BGA is finally gone. Here's the latest pic, it hasn't competely cleared yet:

[Amy9]

Originally Posted by blackneon

Hi hoppy, im just wonderin if my hagen glo dual t5ho fixture is good or fair reflectors. Its currently hanging 7inches from the top of the tank. Its 25gal tank. Dosing ei 20-40gal with rex grigg reactor. Am i still on high light or medium with my set up. Thanks a lot in advance.

Do you like your rex grigg reactor? They were highly recommended to me by my fish store guy.

[Hoppy]

Originally Posted by blackneon

Hi hoppy, im just wonderin if my hagen glo dual t5ho fixture is good or fair reflectors. Its currently hanging 7inches from the top of the tank. Its 25gal tank. Dosing ei 20-40gal with rex grigg reactor. Am i still on high light or medium with my set up. Thanks a lot in advance.

I assume your tank is 20 inches high, so the light is about 27 inches, minus about 2 inches of substrate, from the substrate - 25 inches. At that distance you should get around 35 micromols of PAR, which is low medium light. To get medium light, if that is what you want, lower the light to about 21-23 inches from the substrate.

[Amy9]

Originally Posted by Hoppy

I assume your tank is 20 inches high, so the light is about 27 inches, minus about 2 inches of substrate, from the substrate - 25 inches. At that distance you should get around 35 micromols of PAR, which is low medium light. To get medium light, if that is what you want, lower the light to about 21-23 inches from the substrate.

Actually, the tank is not quite 18 inches tall. I have a glass top that is normally on the tank. Should I just remove the "feet" and place the light back on the glass top? Or leave it elevated and add the other 65K bulb after I get the DIY C02 up and running?

Just noticed this wasn't for me.

[Amy9]

Ok, this is my first day with diy C02. I'm getting nervous because it's getting late, and I don't know if I'm going to kill my fish tonight. It's obvious that a diy c02 cannot be completely turned off, so I'm hoping someone will chime in on their personal experience.

[exv152]

You can always rig an airstone to come on when your lights go out.

[Amy9]

Okay, progress is slow but steady. Everything I've ordered arrived...ferts, check valves, drop checker. Had my DIY C02 up and running, but I never got over 1 bubble every few seconds, and even that fluctuated. I figured I had a leak, so yesterday I redid the whole thing. Algae is not gone, but it hasn't taken over either. I haven't installed my drop checker, and I've only dosed KNO3 once a couple of weeks ago.
So, here's my question. Since I'm starting over with my C02 setup, I decided to check some param's. I was startled to find that my nitrates were at 10ppm! I haven't had a nitrate reading since I planted. Could someone fill me in on what's going on?
Also, I know you seasoned planted guru's chuckle at some of the questions you must get, but could someone please tell me what this is? It came with my drop checker.

[beedee]

Looks like a check-valve/bubble counter combo unit.