[Soup12]

*standard 55 gallon tank (only trying to grow plants on the side with light) 21" tall tank

have finnex ray 2 high output (24" length) ------- I figured since tank was high it would be good to use HO light... growing java fern and mini water lettuce as floaters.


*standard 29 gallon tank (sticking with all "low tech" plants) 18" tall tank

finnex ray 2 high output (24" length) -----------plants are growing fine, but algae is blooming. plants are anacharis, java moss, salvinia, frogbit, mini water lettuce, and java fern.

 

[Hoppy]

The 55 gallon tank should have around 30-35 micromols of PAR, which is between low and low medium light. Not too much light, but without CO2 you will probably have some algae problems. Excel should be adequate in place of CO2.

The 29 gallon tank probably has around 50 micromols of PAR, medium light. So, without CO2 you would expect algae problems. Excel might work ok in place of CO2, but that isn't certain.