Marine Lights on a Planted Discus tank

[spock]

Hi

I have heard that I should add a marine light to my Discus tank to really show of the colours

I am using 3 Flors on 36 18 18 tank, would you consider this enough light to grow plants well

Thanks for a great forum, excellent

[DR.V]

It really depends on you wether you want to add or not.

I think the setup u have is enough.

Is your tank planted ?

Good quality food and regular water changes also enhance discus colour.

[anti-generic]

G'day spock.
adding a anctic (blue marine) light can brighten up your discus colour.
but you might also need to consider your plants.
i know im getting a little side track here but please bare with me.

you are adding 3 fluros
may i ask how many watts are those fluros and what colour spectrum are they?

plants need a spectrum of around 6500 kelvin to simulate sunlight. but 10000k can also work. the higher the kelvin the brighter the light is. e.g 4000k looks yellow while 15000kelvin looks blueish

the amount of watts determines the light penetration into water and thus determines the rate of photosynthesis. it needs to match the amount of fertilizers in your water. If this balance is wrong, it will most likely result in a algea bloom of some kind.

in your tank you have approx 45gal.
you will need about 2.5watts per gallon as a basis.
each standard fluro is about 36watts i think.
so 3 of them is an excellent choice.

just make sure you have atleast 1 6500kelvin fluro in your mix.

cheers,
Eric

[flukes]

When i first read that i though you going to put metal halides on the tank.
:lol:

Ya discus would be wearing sunglasses 8-)

[duck]

Hi
I have heard that I should add a marine light to my Discus tank to really show of the colours
This might be the case but it will do nothing for your plants,Unless you like a blue looking tank.


I am using 3 Flors on 36 18 18 tank, would you consider this enough light to grow plants well

What do you mean grow plant's well?
You can grow plants with the amount of light you have but limited in choice of plant's,IMO you need aleast 4-5 globe's +CO2 then you can grow plant's well.
Do you want to add CO2?
If i recall correctly 3 ft globe are 30 watt each.

[spock]

Thankd for all the comments, I have been away, thus the slow reply

I am now running '

1 10000k
1 6500 k plant light sylvina
1 ?K plant light, - it is High level of red and Blue, The brand is General, i got it in aAia

I am now running CO2 from a cylinder, no solindoid

I am using kitty litter and sand as the base. The kitty litter is something like an Allgripate, I will get the correct name.

Nothing much us happening in terms of growth, I am concerned the kitty litter was a bad idea.

The Nirate level is Zero and the Discus are looking happy.

[duck]

The Nirate level is Zero.
This is your main problem.
If i said you need to increase your Nitrate's would you?

[spock]

Duck

Yes I woulkd increae the nitrate if you suggest it :) , I assume by adding an N fertizler :?:

[duck]

Increase the Nitrate to atleast 10ppm to start with,N yes what alot of people use is KNO3 potassium Nitrate.
How many fish have you got? you might have enough not to add any.

[spock]

Duck

Added the N last night as you recommended

It is a Std three foot tank with 5 Discus about half grown

I guess I will sit back and wait now to see what happens

[duck]

Do you know how much Co2 you got going in?
This N fert's more info if you can.
With 5 discus in i would think you need to add much nitrate unless you do daily WC

[spock]

The Co2 is about 3 bubles per second

I have a Co2 indicator, but it does not seem to change colour!

Thus I really have no idea of how much CO2 I have in the tank

I will get the brand and details of the fertizler.

I have now found a 3 foot twin T8 light at a Turks electriacal wholesales shop for about $60


This will give me 4 globes each of 30 - 36 w, being about 120 W on a std three foot

BTW, I will try to get a photo next week, and some plants are starting to grow.



Thanks

[duck]

To work out your CO2 Take a PH reading ,Then a KH reading then look here
http://fish.bakerweb.biz/calculators.html

OR this one
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_co2chart.htm