400W MH lighting

[izzat]

Hi...

I got a good offer for the above product. But I'm going to use it for my 4ft by 1.5ft by 2ft tank. I had calculated the W/G and it's 4.45W/G. That's a lot of lighting power.

What can I take note of to prevent Mr Algae and his relatives from coming to visit me?

Thanks in Advance

[|squee|]

I don't know about MH lightings, but I'm sure there are a number of tubes in the set? Perhaps you can get the set, but not turn on one tube so that the wattage isn't over-killed that much.

Alternatively, you can still use all the tubes, but you could probably rig up a sort of timing system where you can "stagger" the tubes to be turned on.

Just thoughts

[PohSan]

To Terence,

Why use MH if you are not going to use it's full potential??

Regards,
Ong Poh San

[izzat]

It's just one bulb that blast this 400W of lighting. Not a few bulbs. So I can't stagger the timing for the bulb.

Pohsan, What do you mean? I got this set cause it was selling cheap. I want to know hwo can I prevent any algae from visiting me with the intensity of this light

[shortman]

It's just one bulb that blast this 400W of lighting. Not a few bulbs. So I can't stagger the timing for the bulb.

If you just using a single bulb over 4-6 feet tank with depth of 2 ft you gonna hang the bulb very high up just to cover the whole 4-6 feet tank.

For a 4 feet with 2 ft depth a 2 x 150w bulbs are much efficient than a 400w.

With that intensity you gonna get green spot, algae on glass wall and BBA even with high CO2 content. To counter it frequent water change and 90% of the substrate is cover with plant. A powerful chiller is a must. Cooler mean more CO2 in water.

YMMV

Agreed why use MH if you are not going to use it's full potential.

[izzat]

Ya Kho..

I guess that I must place it quite a height above the tank. Can't seem to find a cheap 2 x 150W set. Even if CO2 level is keep at 25-30ppm, I will still get algae?

[shortman]

Can't seem to find a cheap 2 x 150W set.

You should be able to get a fiiting for bulb and control gear each SGD 50.

if CO2 level is keep at 25-30ppm, I will still get algae?

It depends how much dissolve into the water.

[izzat]

Thanks Kho

I will try to find the control gears. I'm new to MH lighting so now is my venturing time with MH. Will update soon

[shortman]

I will try to find the control gears. I'm new to MH lighting so now is my venturing time with MH. Will update soon

Myself and Roger has recently done a DIY on the 2 feet and 4 feet aluminum hanger for the MH fitting haven't had time to post the image.

The cost of my 2feet hanger is SGD 55.00, MH fitting cover SG 15.00.

[Shae]

Why not use PC? in my opinion is just as good, slighty cheaper, doesnt cause as much of a problem with alagae and cheaper on the power consumption?

I dont know what you guys can source over there but here we use flourish excel to counter the affects of algae bloom and its friends etc.

Cheers Shae

[zmzfam]

Why not use PC?

Some people use MH to get the light to punch through the depth of the tank. Especially if the depth of the tank is 2ft or more.

... but here we use flourish excel to counter the affects of algae bloom and its friends etc.

Care to elaborate on that?

[Shae]

Its a product called "flourish excel" Kills algaes etc and helps growth of plants. Dont ask me how it works?? i wouldnt have a clue.

Shae

[izzat]

I will try to find the control gears. I'm new to MH lighting so now is my venturing time with MH. Will update soon

Myself and Roger has recently done a DIY on the 2 feet and 4 feet aluminum hanger for the MH fitting haven't had time to post the image.

The cost of my 2feet hanger is SGD 55.00, MH fitting cover SG 15.00.

Kho,

When you free, hope you will post a picture of it. It would be great so as all of us can see the DIY hanger that you and Roger did.

As about the Flourish Excel, it's a product by Seachem and it is a liquid fertiliser for a planted tank. Do it really prevent and get rid of algae?

[Shae]

It Does help

[whuntley]

As about the Flourish Excel, it's a product by Seachem and it is a liquid fertiliser for a planted tank. Do it really prevent and get rid of algae?

Yes, if you have enough CO2, N, K and light to get the plants to use it and outgrow the algae. 99% of modern algae-control methods are to grow the plants.

Wright

[ruyle]

Didnt i say it does?

Shae, we like to keep it friendly on this forum. His question was of polite
interest, not challenge. Also keep in mind our SG friends are at least and
at once bilingual and have my deep admiration for their command
of the English language--otherwise, guys like you and me would be left out in the cold!

Regards,

Bill

[Shae]

Apologies, i had written it in the wrong context.
I have change the post accordingly

Cheers Shae

[ruyle]

No problem, Shae, and thanks for the edit!

Bill

[izzat]

Yes, if you have enough CO2, N, K and light to get the plants to use it and outgrow the algae. 99% of modern algae-control methods are to grow the plants.

Wright

Thanks Wright

It seems that I must get a reactor to diffuse as much CO2 as possible...
How to I go about knowing that there is enough N and K?

I don't really like to depend on the testkits as they are quite unreliable

[Shae]

Why not try DIY Co2? cheap!!

http://www.sydneycichlid.com/diy/diyyeast.html

Shae