Photo period for planted tank

[Anonymous]

Just wondering how long you keep your lights on for your planted tank? I'm starting to develop a little brown algae, even though my plants are growing well.

~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

Just wondering how long you keep your lights on for your planted tank? I'm starting to develop a little brown algae, even though my plants are growing well.

~wings~

Some very small amount of algaes after 2-3 months of operations it normal. Additionally, I have always had a very slight hard algae slowly build up on the glass which need scraping every 6 months or so.


So if the water is still clear it probably is nothing to worry about right now.

It is a sign that some nutrients are escaping the plants or that the lighting slightly favors the brown.

You could try reducing the lights (even turning them off for 2-3 days) to see if the algae goes away. Or even reducing feedings to see if that helps.

But as long as it is not a huge bloom then it probably is nothing to worry about.

Just as a reminder cal's tank has not had the glass cleaned in 8 months now. but he has low lighting.

Oh yea. My lights are on from 6am to 9 pm on my 10g. but only a single tube so not much watts.

 

[Anonymous]

yeah..it's not in plague proportions or anything. I have a single tube as well. Thanks.
~wings~

 

[Anonymous]

I run mine 12 hours a day. 225 watts of VHO over a 38G tank.

No algea except dust aglea on the glass that has to be cleaned off every week or two.

Knock on wood on the no algea statement.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

plants only need 8 hrs a day of GOOD light. :wink:


brown algae in a FW tank indicates that the light level may be too low, or wrong spectrum

 

[Anonymous]

plants only need 8 hrs a day of GOOD light. :wink:


brown algae in a FW tank indicates that the light level may be too low, or wrong spectrum

Ahh.. that could be, because i only have a 1 strip light. Hmm. Ok. Thanks

~wings~

 

[gpodio]

Depends on the intensity, 8-12 hours is the average most people have but if the intensity is high you can even go as low as 4 hours. Brown algae however sounds more like diatom or bacteria film, quite normal in newish tanks, I would keep an eye on it but wouldn't worry too much. Stir it up with your hand and let the filter take it in.

Hope that helps
Giancarlo Podio

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks gpodio. The tank is starting to be really nice though. I've got fish spawning..so something must be right.
~wings~