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How do the ranks of lighting go
low--
medium low--
medium--
medium high--
high--
very high--
and at what level is CO2 almost required

Hi,
Lighting and Plant demand,is generally classified in
three accepted ranges.

Low Demand is 1-2 watts/gallon.
Medium is 2-3 watts/gallon.
High is 3+ watts/gallon.

Plants use the light in the red and blue range of the
spectrum. Lights for plants range from about 5000K
(degrees Kelvin) to over 10,000K. Light in the lower
end of the spectrum tends to give off a yellowish to
reddish tinge. While lights around 10,000K and above
tend to wash out colors or give a bluish tinge to things.
Light around 6700K tends to give a more true rendering
of color. Generally speaking, lights that are 10,000K
and higher are used almost exclusively for SaltWater
tanks where corals and other invertebrates are raised.
This light (blue light) penitrates deeper into the water
column and provides the needed energy for the corals
and invertebrates to produce the algae and conduct the
necessary chemical reactions for them to survive.

Idealy, one would decide upon the substrate, and the
number of watts/gallon that they can afford to provide,
and then purchase only plants that fall into that
category or lower.

CO2 is not necessary for a thriving planted tank.
However, it will provide the needed Carbon that plants
use to grow. It is easier for plants to obtain their
carbon requirements from the CO2 than from breaking
down some of the organic compounds found in the fish
waste and left over food and decaying plant materials.

Adding CO2 could, in some ways, be similiar to adding
nitro to your race engine. You get more HP from that
addition. Adding CO2 to your tank will cause the plants
to "take off" in growth.

Hope this helps...
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

thanx for taking time to post such a long reply
i have i think 4.5 watts per gallon on my 10g (20 ocianic light strip with reflectors, and 20 regular strip no reflector, both 18" GE bulbs), does a reflector double the output of light that an 18 inch bulb would produce?
and does anyone have any experiance with DIY co2 generator systems??

THANX

DIY CO2 is really quite easy....especially for the smaller tanks.

Materials:

2L soda bottle and cap
Airline tubeing
Check valve
Silicone
Drill.

You'll want to drill a hole just slightly smaller than the air line in the bottle cap, then slicone a short piece of airline into the hole, use plenty of silicone both on the inside and on the outside of the cap and let it dry fully.

Then useing the check valve connect the rest of the airline tube and run it into the tank. I use a smaller soda bottle for a bell reactor, other people run the line into the filter.

Yeast Mixture:
It varies...heres what I use
2 Cups sugar
warm (not hot) water....it should fill the bottle to the point where it starts to curve in near the top...I believe it's 6 cups....althoug it might be only 4 :%).
1/2tsp yeast.


I add the sugar then the water and shake till the sugar has desolved...then add the yeast and shake again (cover the top with your hand or another bottle cap.

Then, holding the cap with the airline siliconed in, screw the bottle onto the cap (turn the bottle not the cap in other words).....sorry if this came out a bit confusing....It really is easier then it sounds...you can also do a google search for DIY CO2.
HTH a bit .

^_^
*Proud member of the Committee for Sig Line Restoration*
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Last edited by Babelfish at 04-Oct-2004 11:00