Question About Lighting

[Boo1966]

Hi I have recently joined this forum, I have been posting in the new tank forum but wondered if you guys would be able to give me some advice please.

My tank is set up with black fine gravel large pieces of bog wood which I soaked for 2 weeks! I have purchased lots of aquatic plants and my tank is nearly cycled current readings are

Ammonia 0 Nirtite 0.1 Nirite 20 ph 7.5

My questions are is the lighting that came with my tank enough I have two lights
1- power glo T8 and 1 aqua glo T8 are these lights enough? How long should my tank lights be on each day?

The tank seems dark without the lights on is there anything I can do?

I have treated with aquatic plant fert as per the instructions.

I have a fluvial u4 filter is this enough?

Any advice gratefully received

Theresa

 

[StandbySetting]

6 hours a day would be a good start, if growth is good and you face no problems then I'd up it to 8 hours, but you don't really want to go over 8 hours.

The Fluval U4 wont provide enough circulation in my opinion, an external filter would be much more suited.

 

[RadaR]

That is enough light. Anymore and you would need to add liquid carbon or inject CO2 which in turn demands much more from you.
How bright you percieve the light and what the plants are actually getting in the way of PAR (photosynthetic active radiation), are two different things. It may look dark but the PAR is probably fine.

 

[minnnt]

I think the U4 would be ample. I am running a U3 on the 125 version of your tank and when using the spray bar it gives nice flow. My Vallis is constanstly waving.