Too much light, time for DIY yeast CO2?

[adeebm]

Ok, so I got 36" T5HO lighting for my 46gal tank. It's 2x45W so thats 90W for 46 gal so about 2W/gal. But then I realised that's just a general guideline, and T5HO has TWICE the lumens per watt of T12. So the 2W/gal limit for no CO2 was probably based on T12 which means I have too much light? I don't want to get some crazy expensive CO2 system, I'm already over my budget... Should I try some DIY yeast, or just get a lower wattage light?

--Adeeb

 

[crashball]

Are you seeing any ill effects that raise your question? Algae problems?

 

[Crepe]

Buy an azoo regulator/needle valve for 60 dollars and an aluminum 5lb tank for 40 if you can. Otherwise downgrade the lights. As the person above said, it may not be a problem until you actually see algae.

 

[neilanh]

I thought 36" T5s were 39W, not 45. Doesn't make a big difference here, though.

Something you can consider is instead of using 2 "plant" bulbs, have one of them be an actinic or a 50/50 bulb, thus reducing by 25-50% your total lighting output until you're ready for a full blown CO2 system.

The actinic light has no ill-effects on your plants/fish, and actually if you have colorful fish it'll make their colors pop even more. I have some actinic on my system and my praecox rainbows that blue they have in their scales almost glows. It's awesome.

 

[adeebm]

I thought 36" T5s were 39W, not 45. Doesn't make a big difference here, though.

Something you can consider is instead of using 2 "plant" bulbs, have one of them be an actinic or a 50/50 bulb, thus reducing by 25-50% your total lighting output until you're ready for a full blown CO2 system.

The actinic light has no ill-effects on your plants/fish, and actually if you have colorful fish it'll make their colors pop even more. I have some actinic on my system and my praecox rainbows that blue they have in their scales almost glows. It's awesome.

That a good idea, I'll do that. Thanks. I don't even have the plants yet just thinking in advance...

--Adeeb

 

[neilanh]

research and planning ahead of time is always a great idea.

for the mix bulbs, check out the giesemann aquablue+ bulbs. I mix these in with full daylight bulbs on my planted tank.

 

[adeebm]

for the mix bulbs, check out the giesemann aquablue+ bulbs. I mix these in with full daylight bulbs on my planted tank.

I have two Life-GLO bulbs atm. I think I'll just go exchange one of them at Petsmart for a 50/50 or Marine-GLO. They also have a FW plant version, but I looked at the color temp and spectrum and it doesn't seem like the best thing for plants...

--Adeeb