sorry... another lighting question

[fishfanatic]

In another form some folks suggested I do this.... get rid of my marineland reef led and replace it with a duel T5HO. My current light set up is the marineland reef led and a glo fixture (2 T5HO bulbs) I want my tank to be in the upper end of medium. What do you think?
It is a 40 gallon high.

 

[fort384]

what size tank, what wattage of T5HOs?

 

[fishfanatic]

They are each 39 Watt 5000k

 

[fort384]

You are running 78W of T5HO AND a reef LED on a 40g? I would call that high light.

 

[fishfanatic]

Yes on a 40 gallon. Another person told me it was low light or just bairly medium. It is good to hear you think it is high light. What light rating would it be if I just had the reef leds?

 

[fort384]

I don't know, it depends on the specs of the LEDs. But 2WPG of T5HO plus a light that is reef capable is definitely not low light or barely medium.

 

[fishfanatic]

There are 36 1watt 10000k and 6 blue leds. Over a space of 36 inches

 

[fort384]

I would call just the LED probably low light to medium low. With both fixtures, it is high light.

 

[fishfanatic]

I don't mean to second guess you but isn't the wpg rule a bad way to meashure light?

 

[mfdrookie516]

Not with T5HO on standard sized tanks. That's about the only time it works... between 30-55g tanks is where it works IMO

 

[fishfanatic]

Ok. I knew it does not work on small tanks, and I was not sure if I had a 'small tank' thanks for all the help!

 

[fishfanatic]

The second picture is of my dawarf baby tears when I first got it. The first picture is what it looks like now. That is about a month of growth. Is that a fast growth for it?

 

[fort384]

I would call that normal considering it is in a pot planted in plain gravel.

 

[fishfanatic]

I would call that normal considering it is in a pot planted in plain gravel.

Should I take it out of the pot? Do I remove the yellow'ish stuff around the roots? I am thinking about sucking it up and buying some specialty substrate, what kind should I get?

 

[jetajockey]

You'll get a lot more growth in a planted substrate. The kind you use is up to you. If you don't want to do a substrate swap you could just pull it apart and put it into more pots with some soil.

 

[fishfanatic]

I think I will keep it the same for a little while. Then I will have a chance to save up for some good substrate. I was thinking ether eco-complete or fluorite? I don't want to necessarily buy the cheapest, I want it to be a very good investment for my tank. Is there a substrate that is just overall better than the rest?

 

[jetajockey]

soil

 

[fishfanatic]

Would putting organic miracal-gro under PFS be considered soil?

 

[jetajockey]

yes that is a type of soil. I prefer mineralizing soil prior to adding it to the tank, but I've seen it done both ways.

 

[fishfanatic]

What is mineralizing? How is it done?