Lighting Requirements

hawkdaddy · Jan 29, 2012

Hey guys, i was wondering if any of you knew how much light my 165L community tank should be getting. For a while i gave it all that i had, (2x30" 25W, and one 23.5" 30W purple). After a while i noticed a lot of algae beginning to grow on the plants leaves. Is all three lights at once too many? None of my fish have any drastic light preferations, and the plants are all fairly standard community plants, (Vallis, Java Fern, Hygrophilia)
Any responses appreciated

TrainRek77 · Jan 29, 2012

I think brown algae is kind of unavoidable in a newly planted aquarium. I have 4 24 watt 5000k bulbs over a 29 gallon tank. The light has only been on there a week and I have a huge brown algae bloom. There is a good blog on it in the bigger guide. I just clean often and try to control it.

gatorsean · Jan 29, 2012

yeah you could probably get away with not using the purple tube. also it is a good idea to keep your photoperiod at 6 hours until the algae goes away. adding co2 either pressurized or liquid helps with algae too by making the plants more efficient at absorbing the nutrients in your tank