Tropical Fish Forums

[gbercume]

I'm a newbie at planted tanks I've kept a reef tank and a55 gallon tank with tropical fish tetras and dwarf gouramis now I'm setting up a 220 planted tank I'm concerened about the halides I'm forced to use for plants I'm hopeing some body has used them to give me a idea how it looks I'm useing 3 175 watt 6500k bulbs but specs say they put out yellow green light the 10 k and 20 kbulbs put out white to blue my buddies tell me they are going to look like algae growing all the time gary
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g bercume

[Plantbrain]

I use the Iwaski 6500K's for the 175-250W ranges, there is a 400w 6500K version also but I seldom use 400W lights.

I use 5500K on some 1000 Watt lights as they do not make a 6500K bulb for the higher wattages

Whoever is telling they turn or otherwise cause algae in a FW tank, run from those folks, they are way out there is the land of speculation and are clueless about the mechaism of algae inducement in FW systems.

You should check out www.gregwatson.com for ferts, and consider using ADA' Aqua soil for the substrate and Tropica master grow for the traces.

That and a good CO2 system will help.
If possible, add 3-6 PC 55-65w lights and run the MH's for about 4 hours each day and the PC's for 10 hours.

More light is not better in FW tanks.


Regards,
Tom Barr
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www.BarrReport.com >(////):> The monthly aquatic plant horticulture journal

[eelman]

[Plantbrain]