Re: How much light is too much light?

[Dave Gomberg <gomberg@wcf.com>]

I have it on the highest authority that natural waters often reach into the 
pH9 and even 10 range.  I was incredulous, but these are very serious 
aquarium horticulturists talking.   My guess is that fish that live in the 
presence of plants have learned to tolerate the high pHs.   The Rio Negro 
is another matter, pH 4.   Been there, done that.

At 03:15 PM 1/14/01 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm checking the postings through and I know this thread is a bit stale but
>I'd just like to put my 2 cents in.
>
>A couple of years ago I increased the lighting on my planted tank to 220
>watts compact fluorescent.  This over a 120 gallon 24 inch deep tank.  The
>effect it had was to cause the pH to fluctuate quite wildly over each 24
>hour period.  The plants were growing so quickly that the KH was depleted
>and the pH would go from 6.8 in the morning to 7.8 by mid afternoon.
>Although this may seem to be problematic, in fact the apistos had a whale of
>a time and successfully raised a brood.  I don't know what more sensitive
>fish would do under the same circumstance.
>
>I'm not sure what the highest pH reading could have been by the end of the
>day when the lights went out though.  Once I saw how much fluctuation was
>happening, I'd turn the lights off early until I was able to set up a CO2
>system.  From what I've read there is some natural pH fluctuation in the
>wild although exactly how much, I don't know.  So perhaps some is normal and
>fish don't mind.
>
>Gabriella Kadar
>Toronto, Canada
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Szalies Jean-Marc <JeanMarc.Szalies@distri.be>
>To: 'apisto@listbox.com' <apisto@listbox.com>
>Date: Monday, January 08, 2001 2:45 AM
>Subject: RE: How much light is too much light?
>
>
> >As much as you want !
> >Use ricia.
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Jason Sullivan [SMTP:jsull97@earthlink.net]
> >>
> >> I am trying to maintain several planted tanks ranging from heavily
>planted
> >> "show" tanks to a couple more lightly planted "breeder" tanks.  My best
> >> success has come with higher lighting capabilities (2 to 4 watts per
> >> gallon
> >> for various depths).
> >>
> >> My concern is not stressing my rams (microgeophagus/papiliochromis
> >> ramirezi).  For example, a power compact 55watt light over a 20High (new
> >> setup with more sparse plant growth to date).  The plants will be in
> >> heaven
> >> but I don't want the rams unduly stressed.
> >>
> >> QUESTION:  What level of lighting have others found acceptable/stressful
> >> for
> >> rams?
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >> J Sullivan.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
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--
Dave Gomberg, San Francisco            mailto:gomberg@wcf.com
NEW Planted Aquaria Magazine:        http://www.wcf.com/pam
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