Are your lights on in the morning or afternoon?

Discussion in 'General Aquatic Talk' started by Dylan S, Sep 16, 2014.

Page 2 of 3
  1. NeilB
    Offline

    NeilB Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    51%
    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2014
    Messages:
    410
    Likes Received:
    230
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    South Africa

    jeessh...talk about a power nap...
     
    NeilB, Sep 17, 2014
    #21
  2. shihr
    Offline

    shihr Administrator Staff Member

    • Super Admin
    23%
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2007
    Messages:
    8,863
    Likes Received:
    1,786
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Edenvale
    where did you read/see this? every thread which asks about this, the std answer is 8hrs? :p i find that anything more than 10 hrs you will be growing algae..

    all my tanks are from 3pm-11pm except one tank by the window which is on from 11am-7pm
     
    shihr, Sep 17, 2014
    #22
  3. TheGrissom
    Offline

    TheGrissom Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    51%
    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2010
    Messages:
    940
    Likes Received:
    190
    Trophy Points:
    53
    Location:
    Port Elizabeth
    Mine is on from 05h30 - 06h30 (morning feeding), then from 10h00 - 14h00 and then from 16h00 - 20h00
     
    TheGrissom, Sep 17, 2014
    #23
  4. F1refly
    Offline

    F1refly Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2014
    Messages:
    387
    Likes Received:
    92
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Smithfield, Free State
    I know it should be roughly 8 hours...although I have no algae at all save for some green spot on the glass
     
    F1refly, Sep 17, 2014
    #24
  5. Deadpool
    Offline

    Deadpool Algae destroyer Staff Member

    • APSA Member
    • Sponsor
    73%
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2014
    Messages:
    3,983
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    your momma's house (in Centurion)
    Think it's save to say everyone has at least some GSA ;)
     
    Deadpool, Sep 17, 2014
    #25
  6. Linxie
    Offline

    Linxie Aquascaper

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Dec 15, 2009
    Messages:
    1,651
    Likes Received:
    758
    Trophy Points:
    123
    Location:
    Port Elizabeth, South Africa
    Mine's currently on from 10am - 9pm but this will change as soon as the LED setup is ready.
     
    Linxie, Sep 17, 2014
    #26
  7. Luis Embalo
    Offline

    Luis Embalo Valued Contributor

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2010
    Messages:
    5,342
    Likes Received:
    1,184
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Elsies River - Cape Town
    They grow just fine..

    I got a low tech tank, crypts and mosses, it gets some ambient light, there is no need for more than 4 hours.. and even that may be too much, I need to assess.

    The tank has ferts daily, and excell also, but light is minimal. :)

    You give more light you need to add more CO2, and this tank is not a high CO2 sort of tank. Even with pumped CO2, rarely I give more than 8 hours.
     
    Luis Embalo, Sep 17, 2014
    #27
  8. F1refly
    Offline

    F1refly Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2014
    Messages:
    387
    Likes Received:
    92
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Smithfield, Free State
    Excuse my ignorance. I didn't bother to work out the hours properly. I don't dose ferts (not yet anyhoo) and don't plan on getting a C02 System at all (too expensive for me) so should I lower the photo period to +- 8 hours? So is 12 hours way too much? Could my plants be getting too much sun for the amount of nutrients they're getting?
     
    F1refly, Sep 17, 2014
    #28
  9. Deadpool
    Offline

    Deadpool Algae destroyer Staff Member

    • APSA Member
    • Sponsor
    73%
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2014
    Messages:
    3,983
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    your momma's house (in Centurion)
    @F1refly ... why no fert dosing?

    All my tanks are low tech...and I dont think I'll ever change (I have my reasons)...with that being said, dosing makes the world's difference!! I personally went the PPS-Pro route, so no big water changes as with EI dosing...and my plants are growing quite nicely for a low tech I believe. They healthy, nice colouring...
     
    Deadpool, Sep 17, 2014
    #29
    Luis Embalo likes this.
  10. wearsbunnyslippers
    Offline

    wearsbunnyslippers Administrator Staff Member

    • Super Admin
    23%
    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,333
    Likes Received:
    1,122
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    what are your reasons?
     
    wearsbunnyslippers, Sep 17, 2014
    #30
  11. Deadpool
    Offline

    Deadpool Algae destroyer Staff Member

    • APSA Member
    • Sponsor
    73%
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2014
    Messages:
    3,983
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    your momma's house (in Centurion)
    Mostly...time constraints.

    I have 12 tanks running at the moment...granted most are breeding, but maintenance is killing me already on my display tanks alone. Can only imagine how much time I'm gonna spend trimming and maintaining high tech tanks. My better half is supporting me greatly as it is, I mean she bought me my 5ft for my birthday yesterday...but she's already not too happy "sharing my time" with tanks...so I better not push it...LOL

    And call me naive or stupid...I like to believe (in my own screwed up mind...LOL) that low tech are more natural, in the sense that there's no presurized CO2 in nature. I know most people on here will slaughter me for saying that...it's just my own personal belief...

    So please...be gentle...hahahaha :p
     
    Deadpool, Sep 17, 2014
    #31
    F1refly and NeilB like this.
  12. F1refly
    Offline

    F1refly Green fingers

    • APSA Member
    9%
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2014
    Messages:
    387
    Likes Received:
    92
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Smithfield, Free State
    I don't dose as Seachem stuff is to expensive for me. I'm waiting for Slagters Ferts and then I'll buy some bottles of his complete and maybe the other stuff
     
    F1refly, Sep 17, 2014
    #32
  13. Luis Embalo
    Offline

    Luis Embalo Valued Contributor

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2010
    Messages:
    5,342
    Likes Received:
    1,184
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Elsies River - Cape Town
    Actually I found that high tech is easier to maintain.. max of one hour week is needed, trimming and water changes.. :)

    Low tech is nice in a smaller tank, as I have a 60cm tank only at the moment, so low lighting period keeps it going very nicely.
     
    Luis Embalo, Sep 17, 2014
    #33
  14. wearsbunnyslippers
    Offline

    wearsbunnyslippers Administrator Staff Member

    • Super Admin
    23%
    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,333
    Likes Received:
    1,122
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Johannesburg South
    you really cant grow some plants to their full potential without CO2, that's about the only reason i use it, and it makes things a little easier on the plant growing side.. you can't compare whats going on in nature with what's happening in our tanks..
     
    wearsbunnyslippers, Sep 17, 2014
    #34
    Luis Embalo likes this.
  15. Luis Embalo
    Offline

    Luis Embalo Valued Contributor

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2010
    Messages:
    5,342
    Likes Received:
    1,184
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Elsies River - Cape Town
    There is actually a lot of CO2 in the waterways..

    Also, many of these plants will go dormant in the wet season, and pick up when there is a dryer season.

    Leaves, decomposing animals, rott, all of that releases carbon in the water.. :)

    You cannot compare nature to what you do in a 200L enclosure.. not the same..
     
    Luis Embalo, Sep 17, 2014
    #35
    wearsbunnyslippers likes this.
  16. Dylan S
    Offline

    Dylan S Plant menace

    • APSA Member
    10%
    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    Messages:
    581
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    73
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Wow.. Awesome reading all the responses. Seems like the majority have there tanks go on mid afternoon and run till evening.

    Yesterday was my first day doing that and of course the first issue has cropped up. Plants such as rotala and top of S repens are all bending to the left now towards the windows during the day! rotala stem is making a right angle!
     
    Dylan S, Sep 17, 2014
    #36
  17. Joshua Tree
    Offline

    Joshua Tree Valued Contributor

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2012
    Messages:
    5,089
    Likes Received:
    1,626
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Lights on 06h00 to 06h30 for feeding and 17h00 to 23h00
     
    Joshua Tree, Sep 17, 2014
    #37
  18. Deadpool
    Offline

    Deadpool Algae destroyer Staff Member

    • APSA Member
    • Sponsor
    73%
    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2014
    Messages:
    3,983
    Likes Received:
    2,736
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    your momma's house (in Centurion)
    a. How far from the window is your tank...

    b. Can't you filter the light coming through...i.e. blinds or curtains?
     
    Deadpool, Sep 17, 2014
    #38
  19. R.C.
    Offline

    R.C. Moderator Staff Member

    • Global moderator
    23%
    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Messages:
    4,399
    Likes Received:
    706
    Trophy Points:
    123
    Location:
    Cape Town
    You may also notice your Rotalas closing up come night time.
    They care not if your lights are still on or you still pumping CO2, they just go to sleep. :)
     
    R.C., Sep 17, 2014
    #39
    HC likes this.
  20. Dylan S
    Offline

    Dylan S Plant menace

    • APSA Member
    10%
    Joined:
    May 10, 2014
    Messages:
    581
    Likes Received:
    349
    Trophy Points:
    73
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Tank is about 2.5 meters from window and has a blind. Doesnt completely block out sun though. More of a diffusing effect
     
    Dylan S, Sep 18, 2014
    #40
Page 2 of 3

Share This Page