Print Page - new lighting a shock to plants??

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on February 11, 2006, 11:50:48 PM

So, I finally broke down and ordered some new lighting for my tank:

http://www.bigalsonline.ca/catalog/product.xml?product_id=24057;category_id=1875;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

(thanks to Peter & Charlie for the tips btw & hooray for Big Al's Price Matching!).

Also, for those of you who are wondering from a previous thread, no my husband didn't buy it for Valentine's Day, actually he doesn't even know I ordered it yet :twisted:

My question: right now I have about 0.5 WPG (yikes) over my tank. When I switch to this new lighting, are my plants going to love it right away or will there be a shock (like when you put your indoor plants outside for the summer and they get 'sunburnt'??)?? Silly question I know, but I've just never had this much light before! 8)

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: Toss on February 12, 2006, 07:32:42 AM

Shorten the lenght of "on" time initially....like 6 hrs per day (guessing) then increase it slowly. I am afraid more with unsuspected algae growth than sunburn. My two cents

Enrico

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: BigDaddy on February 12, 2006, 11:06:18 AM

Hopefully, first off, you got the freshwater light and not the salt light...

Depending on which plants you have, they will react with differing levels of transplant shock. My lace java fern completely died off right down to the rhizome. Lost every leaf. Thankfully now it's picked up again.

Going from .5 WPG to just over 2 isn't too bad. Most plants would welcome the new light levels.

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on February 12, 2006, 02:29:27 PM

OK, BD, now you're scaring me...

Isn't the Coralife 50/50 okay for FW tanks??

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: mseguin on February 12, 2006, 02:32:16 PM

You don't need actinic for a fw tank.

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: babblefish1960 on February 12, 2006, 03:42:50 PM

Though you don't need actinic for freshwater per se, (is this not beneficial in some way?) I personally use actinic lights for moonlight over a portion of two large tanks, and the breeding fish always go there to raise the fry, as they seem to be able to see better to protect their charge from sneaky fish looking for live midnight snacks.

Moreover, there isn't the abrupt "lights out" shock, as I also use separate timers for every ballast, and it looks lovely too.

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: Mettle on February 12, 2006, 04:19:06 PM

But in this case it's a single 50/50 bulb. So one half can't be turned on/off at will.

Title: new lighting a shock to plants??
Post by: PaleoFishGirl on February 12, 2006, 11:05:26 PM

Sigh. Anyone want to buy a 50/50 or trade for the 6700K??

OVAS

Aquarist Forums => Freshwater General Discussions => Plants => Topic started by: PaleoFishGirl on February 11, 2006, 11:50:48 PM