Edward

I noticed that under high light intensity a hungry plant turns away from light source and when full of nutrients it turns back. This can be observed in a matter of few hours.

Laith

That's an interesting observation... never noticed that.

Elkmor

It's a kinda magic. Only chosen can notice that.

Elkmor

Interesting fact: my wife, the biologist, said, that some of dry plants can rotate their leafs parallel to light in case of very hight temperature. She have no information on water plants.

yildirim

Hello all,

In my 32g tank with a little more than 4wpg I only have GSA on older leaves of Anubias which after several tries I considered as normal to have it. My tank is very heavily planted and all the nutrients are above the suggested levels (perhaps much more). I pump CO2 into the tank with a DIY setup and never take into consideration so called CO2 charts of pH and kH. The onlt indicator for me for CO2 is my fishes responses. Unless u have enough nutrients, co2 and plenty of plant I never considered lighting as a very important issue for algal growth. But anyway due to my working hours and I wish to see my tank when lights on during the time I'm at home, I apply a midday siesta for two hours in my tank. Besides that lights are on for 5hrs in the morning and 2 hours siesta and then on again for app. 8 hours which means that my tank is lighted with more than 4wpg for app 13 hours (which most of you will consider as a long period). So according to my current configuration going for over a year my vote goes for midday siesta. This much and long lighting didn't cause me an alg problem but incredible growth and too much pruning.

YILDIRIM

mlfishman

I like the look of the plants that high light yields. Lower lighting may make it easier to grow the plants with less algae but lets be realistic here. Alot of people are trying to shoot for the stars with their tank, and recreate some of the top notch tanks with vivd colors that they see all over the net. if someone does not have the time to put it that it requires to maintain a high light tank properly then no it wont work< and lowering the light is better> But if you take the best quality mid to low light tanks and compare them to the top notch high to ultra high tanks the higher light ones are always more stunning in terms of plant quality and color (there are exceptions but for the most part) to each his own but i"d rather walk that line and deal with hte issues of a high light tank

Laith

It depends what one is considering as low, mid and high light tanks. Most of the well known aquascapers that produce those top notch tanks are for the most part *not* using 4+ wpg on their tanks!

standoyo

ha... glossy mags use flash photography...

gf225

Fascinating thread.

Since using EI and pressurized CO2 I've never had algae issues (except BGA via too low NO3).

I only have 2 WPG T8 though and run 10 hours straight. I assume it is my lower lighting intensity that helps - although it is still enough to carpet glosso very quickly.

tonym

i use split photo period it helps but the best way is to have fast growing plants to out compete algae ( ps also good for compost heap)