[herefishyfishyfishy]

So I have a 75g tank that I am starting plants in. My biggest struggle has been lighting... I have read countless blogs and forum posts and this still confuses me. I have a coralife T5 HO 4 bulb setup that sits 4" above a glass tank cover. I currently have 2 54w 10000 Daylight bulbs and 2 54w 6700 bulbs. My current plan is to run the 10000s all day and turn on the 6700 from 11am to 2pm to simulate mid-day.

I am trying to grow Cardamine lyrata and Egeria Nanas Ancharas to begin with.

What am I missing/doing wrong?

Note this is a tank with lots of plant-friendly fish.

 

[jrman83]

I don't see a description of the problem? You have more than enough light to grow anything. If you are having problems, I would say it is not a lighting problem. I would look to whether your CO2 is adjusted correctly and check your fert dosing regime. If you are not doing either of those...thats your problem. You likely have too much light without CO2.

 

[herefishyfishyfishy]

I don't see a description of the problem? You have more than enough light to grow anything. If you are having problems, I would say it is not a lighting problem. I would look to whether your CO2 is adjusted correctly and check your fert dosing regime. If you are not doing either of those...thats your problem. You likely have too much light without CO2.

I guess my question is - is that too much light? I'm not adding co2 so I will work on that... I am using seachem flourish for fert.

 

[jrman83]

Not too much I don't think, but it is without pressurized CO2. With that much light you should also probably be dosing ferts based on some form of regular dosing. Refer to the top of the Fertilizer thread for guidance.

Are you able to raise the fixtures off of the tank a little?

 

[herefishyfishyfishy]

Not too much I don't think, but it is without pressurized CO2. With that much light you should also probably be dosing ferts based on some form of regular dosing. Refer to the top of the Fertilizer thread for guidance.

Are you able to raise the fixtures off of the tank a little?

I will check that thread out. Unfortunately I can't raise it more than 4".