GuppyFan1

Hi Patrick. Nice looking tank. Should you decide to ad the additional 65watts, you might want to do it for short periods each day to mimick high noon conditions. I don't believe any of the plants that you have are really demanding of High Light conditions. You might run the 65watts for several hours then bump it up to 130watts for a couple of hours then back it down to 65watts for the remainder of the time that you have them on. Remember, if you have your lighting too high and your CO2 or ferts not correct, this will result in massive algea outbreak.

As far as the 2bps, this should be alright. Keep an eye on the CO2 ppm and should it get above 25-30 you might want to drop it down to 1bps. There are online calculators that will figure your PPM based on your PH and your KH. Hope this helps!

duzzy

I think from what I have read, co2 is more useful/efficient with better light and plant to in the next month to go from 1.25 to 2.25wpg hope this is useful

Darren

patrick76

Well thats what i was wondering should i kick it up from 65 watts 2.24 watts a gallon to 130 watts 4.48 watts a gallon. Also can i just keep dosing like i am now.

duzzy

Patrick I am a newbie when it comes to this stuff, I had anubias (you couldnt kill them will weed killer i reckon lol) in my last tank and all i did was buy a general fertaliser so i am not the one to ask but I will follow this post to find out, what is your current method of ferts and what do you use?

Darren

fordtrannyman

Hi Patrick,
I started with a 29 gal also. Currently running a 55w AHSupply 6700k and a 20w T12 7800k to eliminate foreground shadowing. In my experience this has been enough light to keep most plants. (Even a lot that are considered high light). I think adding an additional 65w to your tank is really overkill.
If you think about the actual area available in your tank and convert that to volume, it's gonna push your WPG near 2.7-2.8. I'm at about 23-24 gallons. So that gives me about 3.1-3.2wpg.
I also inject pressurized Co2 at a rate of about 1.5bps and diffuse through a HOB. Which gives me a consistent count of about 26ppm Co2 during photoperiod. This rate actually depends on your water parameters and finding a happy medium between fauna and flora. I follow a strict fert. regime also using a weekly nutrient reset method. Your plants will tell you if you need to make adjustments to your dosing routine.
Just an FYI on your MA957 in case you haven't figured it out yet. It works more consistently if you set the low side to 20psi and adjust the bubble rate with the needle valve.

Hope a different perspective helps.

patrick76

Dosing Dry Ferts
+/- ¼ tsp KN03 3x a week
+/- 1/16 tsp KH2P04 3x a week
+/- 1/16 tsp (5ml) Trace Elements 3x a week
50% weekly water change

patrick76

Yeah i figured that out with the MA957 quickly. Right now im running about 4 BPS still can't tell right now till my darn drop checker comes in. Its been like 2 weeks still waiting on it purchased off ebay. Fauna & Flora?

fordtrannyman

Good

PH and KH will get you close.
What is your diffusion method? 4bps sounds like a lot

Fish & Plants

patrick76

Right now im using the Ladder thing. I have a diffuser comming in with the drop checker. The only KH test i have is on a test strip and i don't thing it is right. It has always shown 300. The reason i think the strip test isn't right is because it shows my PH is like 8 and i have a liquid test kit that cost a good bit and it shows my ph at 7.2

patrick76

Got my drop checker and diffuser in today yeah!! Maybe now i can figure out how much CO2 i have in my tank. When you put the solution and 4dh water in the drop checker how long does it last?