House Lighting And Algae ?

[anon02]

I have a few questions about algae

Will normal energy saving lighting encourage algae growth
Will ambient daylight (as opposed to direct sunlight) encourage algae growth
Is it true that if I have some plants in the tank and use fertilizers that algae will not feed off of those ferts

I intend having some plants in my tank, I believe it`s what is called a low tech set up, anyway I want to use just the gravel and the lights that came with the tank with fertilizer supplements to add some easy plants just to balance out the tank. Can anyone recommend any plants that would be suitable ?

Thanks

 

[ian]

you need light and ammonia to trigger algae, so any light and ammonia will/can trigger algae. Old school thinking, recommends that you have to limit ferts as the algae will feed off left over ferts. Not true i'm affraid the plants will win the fight with excess ferts. It a planted tank now some of us (not all) will use some Nitrate and phosphates. In old school thinking this was these triggered algae as well and the algae would feed off of these, however we now know the plants utilise these a lot quicker that algae.

In a low tech tank you may not need the N and P, as the fish will provide these, you may also just need to dose trace elements every week or 2.

It would be handy to know your lighting and tank size.

 

[anon02]

you need light and ammonia to trigger algae, so any light and ammonia will/can trigger algae. Old school thinking, recommends that you have to limit ferts as the algae will feed off left over ferts. Not true i'm affraid the plants will win the fight with excess ferts. It a planted tank now some of us (not all) will use some Nitrate and phosphates. In old school thinking this was these triggered algae as well and the algae would feed off of these, however we now know the plants utilise these a lot quicker that algae.

In a low tech tank you may not need the N and P, as the fish will provide these, you may also just need to dose trace elements every week or 2.

It would be handy to know your lighting and tank size.

Hi Ianho,
The tank is 98 x 60 x 47 cms, 215 L
And the lighting is 2 x 36 inch x 30 watt + 1 x 30 inch x 25 watt

 

[ian]

are these T8s or T5's? you lighting is still low-mid light if normal t8's or t5's, without taking the high output T5's into account. How many plants are you intending to get? If you're only wanting to get a small amount you'll get away with just dosing some normal ferts every week or two.

 

[anon02]

The book doesn`t say what type of lighting it is (aqua one aquastyle tank). I only want a few plants, I`m going to have a community tank of small shoaling fish so it`s as much for them as for aesthetics, but I do want the tank to look balanced and in persrective

 

[SuperColey1]

Assuming that those are tube measurements and not the unit's measurement then its low light Ian.

they could be T12 or T8 standard. T5HO 36" will be 39-40W.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/295071-t5-vs-t8/

As a basic rule if the W is less then the inches then its a standard tube (NO-Normal output)

Are they 1.5 inches diameter, 1 inch diameter or 5/8 inch diameter?

That will tell you what T they are. The T number tells you how many 8ths of an inch they are in diameter so T12 = 12 8ths or 1.5 inches. T5 = 5/8ths of an inch.

AC

 

[anon02]

The tubes are 1" so T8 then with a reflector, and the centre tube casts a pinkish light

Thanks for all the help so far guys

 

[anon02]

Any further help anyone ?

 

[SuperColey1]

Anubias, Ferns (Microsorum), Cryptocorynes, You could use some of the easier stem plants like Ludwigia, Hygrophilia etc.

AC

 

[anon02]

Could I grow cabomba, amazon swords or elodea with that lighting ?

Thanks

 

[SuperColey1]

yes

 

[anon02]

yes

Thanks again