How is this for light!!

[CTS]

Well i just upgraded my light in my 50 Gal tank. i now have 120 watts. I believe this is 2.4 watts per gallon. Is this good for plant life? thanks in advance!!!

 

[StarOrbs]

Thats good, assumming you have bulbs that are full spectrum and are with the range of 5000K - 7100K. I believe those are the best. If you are going to have a lot of plants CO2 would probally be good..

All the plant gurus here should be able to help you. I'm still setting mine up for plants heh.

 

[guppygirl]

yeps, what K value are your bulbs?
I would reccomend adding co2 immediately, as I set up my 55 gallon with a 130 watt light and I'm still having algae problems! I just now set up my co2 for a couple days now.

 

[CTS]

I'm still having algae problems! I just now set up my co2 for a couple days now.

will this kill the algae?

 

[CTS]

The K Value is 4100. Is that ok?

 

[guppygirl]

K value is a little low, but I think you could get by with it for now. The more experienced members here might share a little more insight.
The thing with co2 is it won't KILL the algae, but it will help the plants outcompete the algae. So no, it doesn't kill the algae.

 

[abstract]

the 4100k bulb will work well..but you should get a 6000-7000k bulb to supplement it...it will provide a fuller spectrum for the plants and help bring out the colors of your fish

 

[Silly me]

4100K is normal cool white tubes.. even the hight amount of light will only produce a small amount of usable light.. I know Vallis, swords and java fern do well under these lights. Water sprite also grow like weeds under collwhite light, but the leafs turn brown not long after, and create millions of smaller plants.

Since you have the ballast and fitting installed, you could buy fullspectrum lights when you have the money and slowly start replacing the older tubes to get your tank ready for more demanding plants.

 

[Angry_Platy]

will this kill the algae?

Adding carbon dioxode to a tank with algae will not kill the algae. It will cause the plants to grow faster under optimal light conditions hence using the nutrients for growth hence leaving no nutrients left for algae to grow. Since I started getting diligent with keeping my CO2 topped up and started using fertiliser I haven't had any algae, and that was a few weeks ago now. I also have higher light at 3.2wpg so if algae were going to grow it would surely grow under those conditions.

As for my plants....I have val which grows 15-20cm a week and sends out runners like mad....I also have blue stricta which I trim back to nothing once every 3-4 weeks......some red plant which grows well.....my wisteria which grows along the bottom of the tank (due to the high light)....to name a few....

Get the balance right and your plants will love you. I can't say I love my plants right now....i am sick of them growing sooooo fast