Front Or Back ?

[alex1]

Hi,
A bit of an acedemic question really,but I am about to buy an upgrade tube for my hood and at present I can only add it to the front or the back as there is a large area in the middle where the present factory fitted starter units go.
I will probably fit it at the front to help the shorter plants.What do you think, would it better at the back to help the lower regions of the taller plants(or does it make no difference)?
This extra lighting will only lift my lighting levels to around 2WPG so I am not talking really high tec.

My only other concern is that my plants are doing really well at present, I have all but eliminated the beard algea I had and my low light plants are growing. I am worried that adding the extra light will upset the balance. I do have injected CO2, and fertilise weekly.
Daft question I know, but can anyone give thier view/experience.

 

[Themuleous]

I would put the new lighting at the front, because this will probably make the colours on your fish look more vibrant, most fish shops do it for that very reason. As for the plants, I'm not really experienced enough with planted tanks to help, but 2WPG is not high my any means.

Hope this helps a little

Sam

 

[George Farmer]

The tube at the front will look better as mentioned. It will help the shorter foreground plants too.

Be careful when adding extra light. You may need to add extra fast growing plants to deal with the balance shift and potential algae.

Adding more CO2 will help too (up to 35ppm).

 

[oldwhitewood]

The only issue with tubes at the front is if you have stem plants in the background they will lean forward towards the light so you will have to stay on top of them otherwise they will overshadow your mid and foreground plants.

 

[Themuleous]

The only issue with tubes at the front is if you have stem plants in the background they will lean forward towards the light so you will have to stay on top of them otherwise they will overshadow your mid and foreground plants.

Good point

S

 

[alex1]

Thanks for the help, I have now put the light at the front as mentioned.
I will have to watch out for the tank balance. I will add more co2, should I add more nutrients as well, or should I just asses it by the plants?
I do not want to mess up the whole balance of the tank, having worked to get it as it is right now(layout still not how I would like it though).