Slow Growth Or Too Much Light

[forever]

Hi All,
Looking for some help, i have been rather disappointed with the rate of growth in my tank, i currently have the below setup;
 
10x 3W Cree L.E.D's (6,500K)
23 x 3W 10,000k white LEDs
Lights on for 6 hours a day
 
I dose about once a week with EI dosing Macro and Micro (alternate weeks)
 
Most new plants seem to melt then come back, which i also find rather strange..
 
 

 

[SO19Firearms]

EI dosing is generaly alternate days rather than weeks..?

 

[forever]

it is yes, but i cut back after advice on the forum, as i don't dose co2, it was probably too much fert..

 

[SO19Firearms]

No CO2 EI is often about a 1/3 dosing - but it should (IMO) still be alternate days.
New plants melting and re-growing is them changing their leaf structure to accomodate a change in CO2 - Plants like crypts can be subject to this by changing the position in a tank even - So as long as they're growing back I wouldn't worry if you're not looking to inject  CO2.
 
Growth rate wise I'd look to limiting factors - It could be a lack of light, in which case I'd look at uping the time to 7,8,9 hrs and see what happens*, but not before I'd started dosing more often - otherwise we can't rule out nutrients as a limiting factor...and thats the easiest one to get right.
 
 
*at the risk of bringing in a lack of CO2 to the party

 

[forever]

Thanks for the help, ok so i will try dosing 1/3 of the normal recommended daily amount and see what happens