planted tank light duration

[James_in_MN]

How long do you keep your lights on for planted tanks? I've seen a suggested time of 8-12 hours a day, so I have my lights on for 10 hours. All of my lights are on a timer.

20g high: amazon swords, java fern, anubias, crypt, and others (can't remember offhand)

10g: java ferns, java moss

2.5g: java moss

I am starting to see some algae accumulation on the tank walls, so I may cut back to 8-9 hours.

 

[rich311k]

I run for ten hours, it really depends on how the plants are doing and if the algae is getting out of hand.

 

[Mr. Limpet]

You could also try a split photo period. I do a 4on/4off/6on with most of my tanks and that seems to help. Also Anacharis is a sponge for excess nutrients, no3, etc. that may be feeding the algae.

 

[mfdrookie516]

I run my 20 long for 6 hours, my 40 breeder for 7 hours, and my 125 for 8 hours (4 on, 4 off, 4 on).

 

[Hubert90]

I've recently took on rookie's advice! 8 hours! With 4 on 4 off 4 on technique and my battle with fuzz algae is finally ending

 

[Fdsh5]

The 4/4/4 technique worked great for me too

 

[Aspencer]

I run my 20 long for 6 hours, my 40 breeder for 7 hours, and my 125 for 8 hours (4 on, 4 off, 4 on).

What light do you have for you 20L?

 

[mfdrookie516]

it's a 2x39w... without co2 injection... the reason I'm only doing 6 hrs

 

[Aspencer]

it's a 2x39w... without co2 injection... the reason I'm only doing 6 hrs

How is your algae situation? I have had on my 20 g L 2 x 24w and there was algae growth everywhere, just with plants and sand substrate. I cut down to one bulb and everything fine so far. I have no stem plants though.

 

[James_in_MN]

The split photo period sounds like an interesting idea. I wasn't aware you could do that without messing with your fish's little brains.

Since I'm running 10 hours now, I may just reduce the length of time they're on. I'll definitely change the time my 10g since it has low tech plants only and I moved some of the java moss to the 2.5g. It's also the only one that's showing more algae growth.

 

[andresdeo]

Does cutting back from 10 to 8-9 hours reflect itself on plant growth as well as algae reduction?

 

[doublenerds]

I run a 4-3-5 photoperiod, with lights off during the warmest part of the day when no one is home.

I have had no algae to scrape and every week I cut my cabomba to 50% of tank height, and every week it's back to the top of the tank.

I dose Excel a couple of times a week but don't do pressurized CO2.

The only plant that has not done well in my tank is baby dwarf tears...it's alive but has almost no growth w/ medium high light.