Too bright for fish, Too dark for plants?

[trece]

Hey all

i have a 2x36W light.. using FSL YDW36-HRR bulbs(i believe thats PL) which i tried installing on my L046 zebra pleco 2ft tank (just 1 bulb almost all the time, 6-7hours a day) - upgraded from a blueish FL light which broke. they were doing pretty fine with that light
then, after i installed this i noticed that they stopped eating, even at night. i was told to cut back on the lights, is this the best way or can the zebs adjust to a slightly brighter aquarium in the day?

so, if i do change back to FL, i have some questions. i have abit of moss and hardy plants tied onto DW in one corner of the tank. they were introduced around the same time as upgraded my lights and im not sure how well they would do with the FL lighting, especially if i continue to use the blueish ones. would like to avoid taking plants out as i am thinking of adding a few small fish as well. plus i already have 3otos inside.
anyone can offer some suggestions?
especially those who have experience with this fish, how does lighting affect them? would floating plants like duckweed help by giving more shade/less direct light?

[Madman]

How long have the fish stopped eating?

Is it like 1-2 days, or 1 week plus?

[trece]

actually they havent been eating well about 1 week half
mistake i made earlier - its not that they stopped eating, i would describe it more like they totally cut down. in the past they would eat 1++ hikari carni pellets a day each, 2 if they're hungry. but now only half is eaten by the 3 adult and 1 teenage fish per day. in the first week i thought they were adjusting cos i did i kinda moved some wood and slates around. so after i did that they kinda did some switch around, exploring and experimented with the caves again. but now im getting worried, they dont like to come out of their caves, and havent eaten well for too long for my comfort. and i know its abit late...

somehow though, they still look quite decently fed. i dont wanna wait till they get all skinny and scrawny and on the brink of death before i do anything.

[Madman]

I don't keep pleco.... but somehow don't think it's the lights.... Just my 2 cents...

I blast my 4 ft with 7 * 40W in the past in my planted tank... sometimes I think my fish need sunglasses...

Hope they get better...

[celticfish]

When I first had my L046 they were in a Fiveplan 2ft with a Magnum II 55W PL.
No problem there.
Also, if you have been to C328 you can see them come out to feed in the evening when Mrs. Toh feeds them (close to closing time).
This is with the lights and human traffic at the store.
I suggest you look into what else you did before.

They have small stomachs and eat reaaaalllly sloooow.
So one Hikari canivore tab per adults is more than enough.
It could be they have been starving before and ate more to "beef up".
If they are looking fine leave them be.
Its generally a bad idea to move their furniture around.
For your group 3.5 to 4 tabs is good.

Leave the plants but do take out the moss (dirt trap).
Nanas and ferns are good low light plants.
Floating plants help in shade and nitrate removal.
But your view may suffer with less light...

Otos are fine but I wouldn't recommend other fish.
Maybe some corydoras or shrimps.