Juwel Lighting Options

[soybean]

I have the standard Juwel T5 High Lite bulbs that came with my Rio 180 - 2 x 45w, one Day, one Nature.

The tank is moderately planted with Amazon Sword, vallis, wisteria, frogbit, a few other hygros I'm not sure on the name of.

I have a bit of a problem with green spot algae and I'm trying to find the right lighting/ferts combination to keep this in check.

1) I would like to try a Colour bulb to bring out the colours in my fish (obviously ), but which should I replace? The Day or Nature bulb? Or would replacing either be detrimental to my plants and I'd be better off sticking with these original two?

2) How long should I keep the lights on for? I'm currently trying 8 hours, split into two lots of 3 and 5 hours a day. Too much/little?

Thanks.

 

[StandbySetting]

Go for the colour you prefer, plants don't care, as long as it's not in the actinic range.

Go for a straight 8 hours photo-period instead of 2 smaller ones.

 

[soybean]

Go for the colour you prefer, plants don't care, as long as it's not in the actinic range.

Go for a straight 8 hours photo-period instead of 2 smaller ones.

I thought maybe the Day bulb had a higher Kelvin rating which is better for plants...? But if it won't affect them I'll likely remove the Day one, I think it's a bit too bright to look at.

Also, would you mind explaining the reasoning behind one photoperiod rather than two? I read about five minutes ago on another site that it's best to split it, though didn't explain why.

 

[StandbySetting]

I thought maybe the Day bulb had a higher Kelvin rating which is better for plants...? But if it won't affect them I'll likely remove the Day one, I think it's a bit too bright to look at.

Also, would you mind explaining the reasoning behind one photoperiod rather than two? I read about five minutes ago on another site that it's best to split it, though didn't explain why.

Kelvin ratings don't matter when it comes to plants as long as it's between 2000-15000k, choose the tubes that you prefer.

The duel period thing is an age old myth, it was supposed to ward off algae but it doesn't, it's best for the plants if you have one long consistent photo period.

 

[soybean]

I thought maybe the Day bulb had a higher Kelvin rating which is better for plants...? But if it won't affect them I'll likely remove the Day one, I think it's a bit too bright to look at.

Also, would you mind explaining the reasoning behind one photoperiod rather than two? I read about five minutes ago on another site that it's best to split it, though didn't explain why.

Kelvin ratings don't matter when it comes to plants as long as it's between 2000-15000k, choose the tubes that you prefer.

The duel period thing is an age old myth, it was supposed to ward off algae but it doesn't, it's best for the plants if you have one long consistent photo period.

Thanks for your help, I'll go for 2-10pm and see how it goes algae-wise.