Timing Suggestions For New Planted Tank

[jaywings19]

I'm ready to populate my first planted aquarium. However, I want to get some opinions on the photoperiod routine for the lights, CO2, and airstone.

The tank is 72G (US) and approximately 22" tall. My questions are as follows:

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1. In terms of lighting... my light fixture has dual switches (2 bulbs = 130w per switch). I think 260w over 10 hours is way too much for a 72G tank... and 130w over 10 hours might be too little. So I'm thinking about doing a 10 hour light routine as follows:

4 hours (130w - one strip)
2 hours (260w - both strips)
4 hours (130w - one strip)

Does that make sense? Or should I just go with 10 hours of 130w for the first few weeks to stagnate the algae?

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2. In terms of CO2... should the CO2 start approximately 1 hour before the lights come on? Turn off 1 hour before lights out?

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3. In terms of Airstone... should the Airstone start approximately 1 hour before lights out? Turn off 1 hour before lights on?

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Sorry for all of the questions. I hope you don't mind taking a few minutes to answer them. Any help you can offer is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[mgamer20o0]

1 yes that can work. many people have a couple hour boost of full light spectrum.
2 i run mine 24/7 but if you have it go on a hour before lights turn off and on it should be fine.
3 dont run air stone but yea thats fine too.