The Puffer Forum

What bulbs should I use and what should my light schedule be? What would be the ideal wattage for a 80g with no C02.

I have been using flourite in my 29 and it works great, but will be pricy to get enough for a 80g, any suggestions on substrate? Would a few bags of fluorite and the rest sand work?

IME Flourite does not mix well with sand. Over time the varied particle sizes will sort out. It can be mixed 50-50 with the finest natural gravels.

You are trying to set a tank which IMHO and IME will be extremely difficult to manage. Very strong light and no routine supplements is asking for algae problems. Over 300 watts on 80 gallons is high light and requires CO2 and full supplements. Google EI, Estimative Index, on managing such tanks with lots of routine testing.

HTH

RTR wrote:IME Flourite does not mix well with sand. Over time the varied particle sizes will sort out. It can be mixed 50-50 with the finest natural gravels.

You are trying to set a tank which IMHO and IME will be extremely difficult to manage. Very strong light and no routine supplements is asking for algae problems. Over 300 watts on 80 gallons is high light and requires CO2 and full supplements. Google EI, Estimative Index, on managing such tanks with lots of routine testing.

HTH

Thanks, Ill see if I can find a small size gravel.

I guess I wasn't clear on the lighting question. I don't plan on using all the lights in the hood, I know that will be too much. The question I should of asked is, how many of the bulbs should I have on? Would just two of the T5s be fine for lower light plants? I can run 2, 4 or all 6. The T5s are sunlight supply ballasts with miro4 reflectors.

Thanks for EI. Instead of daily dosing, would it be better to set up a drip line to slowly does over the week? I have a 1 gallon drip system that I used to dose kalkwasser.