Lighting used by Macro Growers???

pitmindi · 06/14/2012, 10:23 PM

Hi Macro growers! What lighting do you use to grow your red and purple macro plants? Also, do you use any additives in the water? Thanks for any replys

Purple Rocks · 06/28/2012, 07:13 PM

For strictly macro i would run 6500-6700k, actually i would suggest growing anything under this light, but you may not like the yellow look of your tank.

As for additives, thats really tricky. I would suggest nothing for now.

In the horticultural industry, as a RULE OF THUMB plants that exhibit colors other than green, tend to require more, phosphorus, potassium, then a green leafy plant with no color or flowers.

THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT I SUGGEST HIGH PHOSPHATES.(keep them low/undetectable)
It is just food for thought.

dputt88 · 06/28/2012, 08:39 PM

hello,
i have been running a reef aquarium for 1 1/2 years. just set up a macro algae tank almost a month ago. i have been using the new Marineland Aquatic Plant LED's. i started with basic plants in this tank, cactus caulerpa, red gracilaria, ulva, and halimeda. growth has been great over the past week and a half so i recently bought some more macros and i am waiting for them to be delivered.
if i can keep this growth up i will highly recommend these for some time in the future. as with a price tag of just under $200 (18-24") and a lifetime of 50,000 working hours. that will save you a lot of money over fluorescent bulbs and a t-5 fixture of equal length.

pitmindi · 06/30/2012, 11:39 AM

Thank you for your info. I just set up my 120 gallon tank so it will be a few weeks until I add the macros. I have T5 fixtures with new bulbs from my freshwater setup so I will start with them and see how well the plants grow. I would appreciate a follow-up in a month or so by dputt88 to let me know how the Marineland LED are working because I might get them if they work well

dputt88 · 06/30/2012, 01:26 PM

i will do my best to update in a month, but just looking at the growth i already have im starting to think i may have a jungle on my hands in the future lol.

06/14/2012, 10:23 PM	#1
pitmindi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 188	Lighting used by Macro Growers??? Hi Macro growers! What lighting do you use to grow your red and purple macro plants? Also, do you use any additives in the water? Thanks for any replys

06/28/2012, 07:13 PM	#2
Purple Rocks Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 81	For strictly macro i would run 6500-6700k, actually i would suggest growing anything under this light, but you may not like the yellow look of your tank. As for additives, thats really tricky. I would suggest nothing for now. In the horticultural industry, as a RULE OF THUMB plants that exhibit colors other than green, tend to require more, phosphorus, potassium, then a green leafy plant with no color or flowers. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT I SUGGEST HIGH PHOSPHATES.(keep them low/undetectable) It is just food for thought. __________________ 180g Oceanic Mixed Reef, 4" DSB,180lbs rock 20g Sump, 60lbs shell - 75g refugium, 5" DSB 2 x 400w Sunpulse 10k running on Lumatek ballasts. & Growing bud the size of your forearm since 1999.

06/28/2012, 08:39 PM	#3
dputt88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 102	hello, i have been running a reef aquarium for 1 1/2 years. just set up a macro algae tank almost a month ago. i have been using the new Marineland Aquatic Plant LED's. i started with basic plants in this tank, cactus caulerpa, red gracilaria, ulva, and halimeda. growth has been great over the past week and a half so i recently bought some more macros and i am waiting for them to be delivered. if i can keep this growth up i will highly recommend these for some time in the future. as with a price tag of just under $200 (18-24") and a lifetime of 50,000 working hours. that will save you a lot of money over fluorescent bulbs and a t-5 fixture of equal length.

06/30/2012, 11:39 AM	#4
pitmindi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 188	Thank you for your info. I just set up my 120 gallon tank so it will be a few weeks until I add the macros. I have T5 fixtures with new bulbs from my freshwater setup so I will start with them and see how well the plants grow. I would appreciate a follow-up in a month or so by dputt88 to let me know how the Marineland LED are working because I might get them if they work well

06/30/2012, 01:26 PM	#5
dputt88 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Michigan Posts: 102	i will do my best to update in a month, but just looking at the growth i already have im starting to think i may have a jungle on my hands in the future lol.