Increase in Lighting for 55 Gallon Tank?

Hello folks:

I have a 55 gallon tetra/ram planted tank with a DIY CO2 generator and
2 65 Watt 6700K Coralife bulbs. Plant growth is ok, but some of the plants
seem to be 'reaching' for the light. Also they've taken on a bit of a
yellowish/light green hue, different then the nice dark green that they had
when I bought them. Would increasing the light to 2 96 Watt bulbs be the
thing to do? Water quality is good: pH 6.2, no nitrates, minimal nitrates
and a lot of phosphate which I deal with by 3 weekly water changes. I also
have Florite (sp?) gravel and use Seachem's Florish Excel and Trace. Thanks
for any info.

"Mr. Zee" wrote in message
.net...
Hello folks:

I have a 55 gallon tetra/ram planted tank with a DIY CO2 generator
and
2 65 Watt 6700K Coralife bulbs. Plant growth is ok, but some of the
plants
seem to be 'reaching' for the light. Also they've taken on a bit of a
yellowish/light green hue, different then the nice dark green that they
had
when I bought them. Would increasing the light to 2 96 Watt bulbs be the
thing to do? Water quality is good: pH 6.2, no nitrates, minimal
nitrates
and a lot of phosphate which I deal with by 3 weekly water changes. I
also
have Florite (sp?) gravel and use Seachem's Florish Excel and Trace.
Thanks
for any info.



You have enough light. The problem is Nitrates. You need to add some to your
tank, your plants have serious munchies Buy some Salt Peter (KNO3 aka
Potassium Nitrate) from the chemist/pharmacy and add about half a tspoon.
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

Thanks very much... I'll give it a try...
"Happy'Cam'per" wrote in message
...
"Mr. Zee" wrote in message
.net...
Hello folks:

I have a 55 gallon tetra/ram planted tank with a DIY CO2 generator
and
2 65 Watt 6700K Coralife bulbs. Plant growth is ok, but some of the
plants
seem to be 'reaching' for the light. Also they've taken on a bit of a
yellowish/light green hue, different then the nice dark green that they
had
when I bought them. Would increasing the light to 2 96 Watt bulbs be the
thing to do? Water quality is good: pH 6.2, no nitrates, minimal
nitrates
and a lot of phosphate which I deal with by 3 weekly water changes. I
also
have Florite (sp?) gravel and use Seachem's Florish Excel and Trace.
Thanks
for any info.



You have enough light. The problem is Nitrates. You need to add some to
your
tank, your plants have serious munchies Buy some Salt Peter (KNO3 aka
Potassium Nitrate) from the chemist/pharmacy and add about half a tspoon.
--
Kind Regards
Cameron

Hi

before you start putting nitrates in the tank

How tall is the tank
How far are the lights from the surface
what sort of reflectors are you using
when did you last change the bulbs

If you are going to feed ...I suggest you use the root tabs rather
than put free nitrates in the water


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Thanks again...Will do...
"MrHappy" noemail@thankyou wrote in message
...
Hi

before you start putting nitrates in the tank

How tall is the tank
How far are the lights from the surface
what sort of reflectors are you using
when did you last change the bulbs

If you are going to feed ...I suggest you use the root tabs rather
than put free nitrates in the water


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Posted with NewsLeecher v2.0 RC2
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MrHappy wrote:
Hi

before you start putting nitrates in the tank

How tall is the tank
How far are the lights from the surface
what sort of reflectors are you using
when did you last change the bulbs

If you are going to feed ...I suggest you use the root tabs rather
than put free nitrates in the water


----------------------------------------------
Posted with NewsLeecher v2.0 RC2
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----------------------------------------------

Free nitrates vs root tabs really depends on the plant and substrate.
KNO3 works VERY well for stem plants and floating plants. Swords and
crypts prefer substrate fertilization.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:52:38 GMT, Elaine T
wrote:

Free nitrates vs root tabs really depends on the plant and substrate.
KNO3 works VERY well for stem plants and floating plants. Swords and
crypts prefer substrate fertilization.

I'm curious as to whether it is a good idea under any circumstances
whatsoever to add nitrate to an aquarium stocked with fish. Nitrate is
the stuff we're trying to dilute out of there by changing water. I
would think it isn't a good idea to start adding the stuff on purpose.
(?)

-Derek

"Derek Benson" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:52:38 GMT, Elaine T
wrote:

Free nitrates vs root tabs really depends on the plant and substrate.
KNO3 works VERY well for stem plants and floating plants. Swords and
crypts prefer substrate fertilization.

I'm curious as to whether it is a good idea under any circumstances
whatsoever to add nitrate to an aquarium stocked with fish. Nitrate is
the stuff we're trying to dilute out of there by changing water. I
would think it isn't a good idea to start adding the stuff on purpose.
(?)

-Derek

I suppose it depends on whether you want the benefits that plants can give
to your tank or not. If they are deprived of nutrients they die (this is the
gardener in me rather than the tank keeper). Plants well fed and growing
have more beneficial impact on a tank than no plants - or dying plants that
add to the decaying matter in
the tank adding to the ammonia/nitrites...

A well balanced planted tank will keep the nitrates down.....without the
plants we need to do big water changes - for example my Malawi tank has
about 4 very manky plants....the nitrate values are higher than the planted
tanks where I add plant food to help the plants along - hence water changes
are more of an impotant issue...

Ultimately everything is a big balancing act in an artificial environment
:-)

Gill

Free nitrate and really depends on plants and roots label matrix. Potassium nitrate is applied to dry plants and floating plants. Sword and Like the substrate of recess.

Derek Benson wrote:
On Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:52:38 GMT, Elaine T
wrote:


Free nitrates vs root tabs really depends on the plant and substrate.
KNO3 works VERY well for stem plants and floating plants. Swords and
crypts prefer substrate fertilization.


I'm curious as to whether it is a good idea under any circumstances
whatsoever to add nitrate to an aquarium stocked with fish. Nitrate is
the stuff we're trying to dilute out of there by changing water. I
would think it isn't a good idea to start adding the stuff on purpose.
(?)

-Derek

It's funny - when I think of something odd to add to a tank, CO2 always
comes to mind. You're turning off your airstone and adding what?!? ;-)

It doesn't take much nitrate. Recommended nitrate levels in planted
tanks are about 5-10 ppm depending on who you read. That's not enough
to bother even discus but it can make a huge difference in plant health
and growth. Rapidly growing plants can and will remove all the nitrogen
of all forms out of the water in lightly stocked tanks and then starve.

I have a 10 gallon heavily planted tank with only 4 guppies and 2 Otos
in it at the moment. Nitrates go to zero a couple days after a water
change with my 4 ppm tapwater unless I add more. If I don't add
nitrates, the java moss goes brown, the rotala stalls, the baby's tears
stop pearling, and sheets of blue green algae form over the substrate.
I add about 8 ppm nitrates, siphon off the BGA, and all is well again.

Another thing Mr. Zee should be adding is potash, if it isn't in his
trace element mix. KN03 adds some, but ideally you want around twice as
much potash as nitrogen.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html '__
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com