Lighting Schedule

[Loopy]

I personally do not see a problem with that.

Most importantly, your livestock if any needs to be monitored.

If your fish start gulping for air at the surface something is not jiving right.

Thanks Loopy,
Right now I'm using a diy method for my co2 and will start leaving it on with a venturi diffuser 24/7. I've also added a power head wave maker to come on when lights are out set on timer. While utilizing the midday break lighting schedule. Will that do?

[jas5098]

Thanks alot loopy. I will keep u updated.

[blue33]

Extracted from Amano Aquajournal:

"We usually recommend to give an aquarium a good deal of 8- to 9-hour lighting per day for encouraging plant's healthy growth. In case of having an algae problem, you may still need to secure at least 6 hours of lighting each day."

Btw, they are referring to straight hours, no breaking.

[Laconic]

From JBL's website:

"Lighting an aquarium for approx. 12 hours a day is considered the most suitable length of time for plants and fish from tropical regions. Any special requirements of individual species should also be taken into consideration. It is important to note that insufficient light intensity cannot be compensated for by extending the length of time an aquarium is lit. Taking a "lunch break" in the lighting exposure is unnatural and interferes with the biorhythm of the plants."

I have just switched my lighting schedule to Dennerle's suggested method. Will update on the effects of it on the plants and algae.

[Loopy]

I have read a lot of material on suggested "rules" that people suggest, hell, we all have. But like everything else, even in nature I find - there is an exception to the rule.

There are simply too many variations that directly or indirectly contribute to a successful plant tank. I know of people who can't grow Nana's and Crypts no matter how they try even though they have followed every known perimeter, dosing and lighting. I have always found this weird. But hey it happens

The interesting thing is all my plant tanks differ from one another in terms of their needs. I failed to mention the third one is on a normal lighting schedule.

[jas5098]

Seems to be working. Hair algea is amlost non existent. Staghorn is gone maily due to improving water circulation and added pottasium and maintaning a 0.1 ppm level of iron and daily exel dosing. Plants are thriving. My red temple shows sighs of pottasium deficiency and will be keeping up with pottasium.
I've also ordered a pressurized co2 system and will be getting it soon.
Thanks Loopy

[blue33]

Keeping planted tank there's no fix rules, look at your plant and it'll tell you what they need. I actually dont really follow EI most of the times.

[Loopy]

Anytime dude. Glad it worked for you too. The pressurized CO2 System is a dream come true. Hit me with a PM and keep me updated.

Seems to be working. Hair algea is amlost non existent. Staghorn is gone maily due to improving water circulation and added pottasium and maintaning a 0.1 ppm level of iron and daily exel dosing. Plants are thriving. My red temple shows sighs of pottasium deficiency and will be keeping up with pottasium.
I've also ordered a pressurized co2 system and will be getting it soon.
Thanks Loopy

[blue33]

...improving water circulation and added pottasium and maintaning a 0.1 ppm level of iron and daily exel dosing...

Err... Hmm...... Sounds very familiar to me...

[Loopy]

I think that you quoted the wrong person. And having so many posts, I would like to start encouraging you to have better more informative contributions to this community instead of one-liners that carry a stagnant amount of information.

Err... Hmm...... Sounds very familiar to me...

[Shadow]

Read this from the Dennerle website (http://www.dennerle.com/en/HG10.htm):

Has anyhow tried it? And if yes, is it really effective?

I just try this siesta on my new Iwagumi setup, it does not work at all. My light period was 4 hours ON + 2 hours OFF and 4 hours ON. It has been two weeks and hair algae growing out of nowhere. At this moment it is nothing serious, Yamato will clear it over night but it proved that siesta does not work. If it is work then hair algae shouldn't grow in the first place. Well at least it does not work for me.

by the way, I'm using EI and my drop checker show yellow color (abundant CO2)

[blue33]

I think that you quoted the wrong person. And having so many posts, I would like to start encouraging you to have better more informative contributions to this community instead of one-liners that carry a stagnant amount of information.

Guess who's the one-liners...

[blue33]

I just try this siesta on my new Iwagumi setup, it does not work at all. My light period was 4 hours ON + 2 hours OFF and 4 hours ON. It has been two weeks and hair algae growing out of nowhere. At this moment it is nothing serious, Yamato will clear it over night but it proved that siesta does not work. If it is work then hair algae shouldn't grow in the first place. Well at least it does not work for me.

by the way, I'm using EI and my drop checker show yellow color (abundant CO2)

It works only if you're using Dennerle lighting system, it's so expensive using their light stuff... Even Mr Chan also mentioned he heard alot of his clients said after using Dennerle lighting they got no algae. True or not, i'm not sure.

[Shadow]

huh really must use Dennerle lighting system? There must be something wrong with the lighting system them

I'm usually ok with straight 8 hours ON (no siesta) with normal PL as well as MH light. It just happen that I'm currently doing Iwagumi. I do expecting algae on the fist few weeks before the filter mature. Mainly due to excess ammonia from Aquasoil and not enough plant mass to absorb it.

[jas5098]

Shadow,
Try a 4 hour break instead. I don't use Danerle lights and it's working. It could also be other factors that my algea but giving my tank a break was one of the things I changed.

[Shadow]

Too late fixed the algae problem already .