What's My Light Level

[Zolek]

I know that as tank size increases the watts/gallon rule breaks down. I have a 75 gallon tank with 130 watts of light. Would you consider this medium light or is it still low as its below 2wpg? Without CO2 Im having trouble growing some "medium light" plants like amazon swords, green wendtii and want to narrow the problem down.

 

[aaronnorth]

i would ay it is over 2WPG. Where the rule gets more leanient is tanks over 30gallons. Are you dosing any nutrients? or root tabs as the plants you have idted are heavy root feeders.

 

[Renate]

i would ay it is over 2WPG. Where the rule gets more leanient is tanks over 30gallons. Are you dosing any nutrients? or root tabs as the plants you have idted are heavy root feeders.

Why does the rule get more lenient for tanks over 30 gallons? I have read that at Rex Grigg's site but I don't understand it.

My amazon swords and wendii are growing slow too. I believe the amazon sword is growing slow because it is in a spot with only gravel. Have been told that the amazon sword can grow big roots thus I am glad the 2 swords are growing slow. The wendii almost melted, which is probably due to the heat, for I use to keep the house temp at 85 degrees. Now that I have lowered the temp it is spring back.

 

[aaronnorth]

cryptocorynes go through a phase of cryp melt when moved or the water stats change dramatically.

[URL="http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html"]http/www.rexgrigg.com/mlt.html[/URL]

It is all to do about lux per square inch. With a smaller tank there is less area therefore more lux s needed to get the correct level. Above is a better explanation but i agree it is confusing.

 

[Zolek]

I'm growing them in plain sand although im lightly dosing nutrient into the water column. My anacharis grows like crazy, up to an inch/day sometimes, is it draining all the nutrients from the water?

 

[aaronnorth]

it will be using a lot but you will need heavier dosing as the plants have nothing to get a food source to their roots. Unles you dose root tabs or sticks.

 

[Renate]

Most of my plants are bunch plants. I am using dry ferts. Instead of root tabs, can I put liquid or powder in a plastic pill container, which dissolves, under the plants?

 

[aaronnorth]

Most of my plants are bunch plants. I am using dry ferts. Instead of root tabs, can I put liquid or powder in a plastic pill container, which dissolves, under the plants?

i dont see why not but the liquid route wont be as effective as it will just get pushed around unitl it eventually gets back into the water column.