Co2, light , cichlids ? Will i ever have plants

[lego7979]

I bought some beautiful long grass of some sort . Research shows you need co 2 in a tank to have plants . First there is the cichlids against me eating then, then I don't know if I have the correct light or not, and know three things I need co2 . I do have the correct substrate stuff for plants. Check my pictures see what u think????

 

[lego7979]

Mystery solved . Those are cheap under the cabinet made in china lights .

 

[George9]

AHAH! cheap Chinese lights.......(not meant to be offensive)

 

[Fishkeeper26]

You want lights in the 6500-10000k range for plants.

 

[o.jonathan.o]

6700k is the best. 10000k is just a little too much for fw plants

 

[mfdrookie516]

6700k is the best. 10000k is just a little too much for fw plants

A little too much what?

K rating has very little to do with anything... I have 10,000k's on 3 of my 5 planted tanks with no noticeable difference from the ones running 6500/6700k. The spectrum is what's important, and the kelving rating has nothing to do with that. It used to be that bulbs closer to 6700k had the best spectrum for plants, but nowdays, they just slap any number on there based on what they think it looks like.

 

[o.jonathan.o]

A little too much what?

K rating has very little to do with anything... I have 10,000k's on 3 of my 5 planted tanks with no noticeable difference from the ones running 6500/6700k. The spectrum is what's important, and the kelving rating has nothing to do with that. It used to be that bulbs closer to 6700k had the best spectrum for plants, but nowdays, they just slap any number on there based on what they think it looks like.

Sorry. I'm just going by what ppl here have told me?

 

[lego7979]

I actually found another "made in china " cheap light that is for plants at Walmart that goes underneath cabinets and is 6700k , it was only eleven dollars because I didn't know if I wanted to do the play thing but it is making them look beautiful. I bought two of them . They are 75 watts but only use 17 . So far I been using those and plant food . Here's a picture.

 

[Atxpunx]

I actually found another "made in china " cheap light that is for plants at Walmart that goes underneath cabinets and is 6700k , it was only eleven dollars because I didn't know if I wanted to do the play thing but it is making them look beautiful. I bought two of them . They are 75 watts but only use 17 . So far I been using those and plant food . Here's a picture.

<img src="http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=51787"/>

Is this light the " light of America " brand at walmart ? Ive wanted to try these but don't know where to get replacement bulbs. Are they 24 inch bulbs or some weird size that only the company sells.

 

[lego7979]

Is this light the " light of America " brand at walmart ? Ive wanted to try these but don't know where to get replacement bulbs. Are they 24 inch bulbs or some weird size that only the company sells.

They are 24 but my local fish store has a 24 one bulb for plants , and forget replacement bulbs at eleven dollars I can by a whole new one if need be but I think Walmart sells the replacement bulbs , yes lights of America .

 

[Atxpunx]

How are these lights treating your plants? I'm jonesin to buy one but wanna make sure it's worth the ten bucks

 

[lego7979]

There doing good , IMO, it's the fish not being so nice! The put out 6500k, and 75 watts and I have two of them and a 125 gallon tank so thats how many watts per gallon ? I think the light is working but I have to do research and see , should I be give plant food and should I have co2 stuff like that.

 

[Atxpunx]

Well co2 and plant food should help the progress of your plants. If one of the elements that help plants grow is stronger the other elements should be brought to the same level. At a certain point the lights don't help because the plants don't have the other things, I.e. Co2 to breath or nutrients to use.

 

[lego7979]

My local fish store guy and I talk alot and he has been doing this his whole life , he says you don't really need the co2 . But I really want it because I like the plants alot, but I can see a difference in color without the light .

 

[Atxpunx]

Well the owner of ur LFS profits from you buying things like more plants . All plants need co2 to breathe. It's like humans need oxygen. Having the co2 available allows the plant absorb the other things it needs. I would get a diy co2 system set up. It cost me six dollars to get the sugar yeast and two liter bottle.

 

[lego7979]

I want a DIY co2 water bottle thing, but that looks more difficult to understand than water chemistry . How long does it last, I know thousands of websites on it but it looks so hard.......

 

[Atxpunx]

Simply have two cups sugar, two teaspoons bakers yeast, fill with Luke warm warm water to the curvature of the bottle. To make the top drill a hole smaller than the tubing, cut the tubing at a 45 degree angle, put the tip of the tubing into the hole and pull it through with needle nose pliers. The tubing should be hard to pull through the hole hence not needing silicone to seal it. The mixture lasts about two weeks use an airstone for a diffuser and badow your done. Any other questions let me know

 

[Travis55]

Simply have two cups sugar, two teaspoons bakers yeast, fill with Luke warm warm water to the curvature of the bottle. To make the top drill a hole smaller than the tubing, cut the tubing at a 45 degree angle, put the tip of the tubing into the hole and pull it through with needle nose pliers. The tubing should be hard to pull through the hole hence not needing silicone to seal it. The mixture lasts about two weeks use an airstone for a diffuser and badow your done. Any other questions let me know

I'm not trying to thread jack but that sounds like a nice simple way to make the set up, could u post some pics? Thanks!

 

[Atxpunx]

Hmm I could. Lego7978 do you mind? I don't wanna thread jack either.

 

[xXNirvana69Xx]

I'd like to know how these bulbs perform as well because i know I can rip the light setup out of my factory hood and hide these inside.