How Many T5 Tubes Should I Use?

[simonas]

As you may know I;m making an effort with plants for the first time and trying to learn a bit

I've seen plenty of mention of wattage per gallon. What is the test for this and what wattage per gallon should I aim for with a non co2 basic planted set up using liquid ferts?

My tank works out to be 187 US gallon. Its 24 inch deep.I have on the tank 3 x 54w t5 tubes. I turned one off recently due to increase in algae but that may have been caused by a lack of flow. Thats now been sorted.

What is my wattage per gallon with the 2 or 3 tubes and what would be better for the plants 2 or 3 bulbs bearing in mind I;m also using fourish trace and excel and the tubes are on for 7 hours a day

Thanks Simon

 

[KittyKat]

I would probably use only 2, but that's mainly because I'm lazy, don't like algae and like to have them on for longer than most people. I have good success with 1-2 wpg and I don't use CO[sub]2[/sub] and extremely rarely fertilisers (pellets only, no liquid).

 

[simonas]

cheers Kitty Kat
In reality I have less than 1 watt per US gallon don;t I? in that case I'm beginning to wonder whether I should have the three on?

 

[lljdma06]

In a tank that large, it won't make a difference. You can have less than 1WPG and grow stuff fine. I'd still run only 2 tubes...

llj

 

[simonas]

cheers Llj

Good suggestion by the way in relation to my algae to increase flow as the algae has gone from the substrate and isn;t spreading on the plants

Simon

 

[lljdma06]

cheers Llj

Good suggestion by the way in relation to my algae to increase flow as the algae has gone from the substrate and isn;t spreading on the plants

Simon

Well, your tank is a lot like my 36g. Low-light with T5s, pretty well planted, deep tank (21" for mine). When I increase the flow, my algae goes away. Right now, I decreased it (had little fish that kept getting sucked up) and I have algae on the substrate. Doesn't matter much to me because I'm going to dismantle the 36g and put the plants in my ADA tank, so I didn't address the issue. The 36g is the one I'm entering for the ASW competition. There's a thread somewhere...

llj

 

[Ferg1985]

This is one thing that has always confused me about my main tank, light levels.

I have a plant pro T5 and a tropical T8 (can't remember the wattage of that one) and the tank is 24" deep so I'm thinking this is why the plants aren't surviving (I mean, for them to rot at the base could be the weakened stems due to struggling to reach the light??) So I am thinking of adding a second plant pro T5 once I know where I am upto in the new year, (as it is only 24" across).

 

[KittyKat]

I have a plant pro T5 and a tropical T8 (can't remember the wattage of that one) and the tank is 24" deep so I'm thinking this is why the plants aren't surviving (I mean, for them to rot at the base could be the weakened stems due to struggling to reach the light??) So I am thinking of adding a second plant pro T5 once I know where I am upto in the new year, (as it is only 24" across).

On the contrary, I find that with low light levels, the plants tend to grow sturdier.. to me, rotting stem would indicate that they lack something in the water..