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Re: Algae and light timing



Don Matakis wrote in part about a study done by researchers from
Germany

> Give plants and fish a " midday peace ". Here is a tried and proven
> rhythm: In the morning at least 4 - 5 hours light. Then a dark break
> of 2 - 4 hours. (get a cheap timer) Afterwards at least 4 to 7 hours
> light. During the dark break the aquarium should not be completely
> darkened (indirect light of from windows or a lamp, a few feet away
> in distance). The light times should amount to always at least 4
> hours. Shorter phases are not sufficiently used by the plants. In
> contrast to the general opinion we determined there are no negative
> effects, neither on fish, nor on plants. Probably because of strong
> light reductions, e.g. by thunderstorms, where in the Tropics they
> are relatively frequent. 
> 
> Algae do not like this " lunch time " obviously. Whether that is
> because of the fact that the " primitive " algae are less flexible
> than the " modern " aquarium plants, or whether an improvement in
> oxidations - / reduction of equilibrium plays the main role, is not
> clarified yet. Against algae this method works astonishingly well.
> (in the first days after the conversion you should measure the CO2
> regularly and adapt the CO2 accordingly. Usually less CO2 is needed).
>  Read about algae on the Tropica site, that is a good companion piece
> to this info!

I have at least two questions:

There is little algae in the thunderstormy tropics?  

Does the reduction in the need for CO2 mean there is less algae around
using or that the plants are photosynthesizing less?

Scott H.

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