Would Shadows Affects Growth?

[Vin Swords]

hi there, i started this setup few days ago with 4 x 54w - 3 x 14k 1 x 7k T5 on 400L tank, 10ml organic carbon per day and 40ml leaf zone per week ATM... Sand as the sub (not new.. around a year old.) planning to grow runaway forest of lush green with flooded forest looks, which means there will be lots of root shadows and few water lattice floating around,

would shadows affects growth?

Thanks in advance...

 

[coldcazzie]

Yes. The shadows and floating plants would block the light meaning less light for the plants underneath them. If you're going for amazon forest there is a journal in the plant journal section at the moment on the same thing which has a great plant list in it to give you some ideas on what you can grow

Not sure liquid carbon would be very cost effective in a tank that size, you considered pressurized?

 

[Vin Swords]

Hi there. Thanks for the reply. I will have look at that journal.. So what you recon? 4x54w is not enough?? What shall I add more?

My tank takes 10ml per day, 500ml/50day carbon cost £13..

Co2 is bit of work isn't it?

 

[coldcazzie]

hmm... how planted are you wanting it? I dose 9.5ml per day on my tank and it's only 240 l! But its very heavily planted, so I have to dose accordingly. I had some issues with my pressurized so I took it off until I can test it, but then it will be going back on.

The floating plants & roots will block some light, but you should be able to get around it with careful plant placement...have you got a picture of it from the front and the top? That way we can see which bits would be less well lit.

400L is about 105usg so 4x54w is just over 2wpg which should be fine... how far above the surface are the lights? Also, what are the tank dimensions?

Maybe you could ask one of the mode to move this to planted? You'd get better advice there - I'm still learning myself!

 

[StandbySetting]

You'd be much better off in the long run using pressurised CO2 and switching to a fertiliser that contains N+P, the most cost effective way would be to make your own.