Is the default lighting on this tank good enough for macro?

Stomatopods17

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I have a 2.5 gallon Fluval spec and I was wondering if the lighting is good for growing macro. I set this thing up for something that sadly didn't make it very long and wanted to try converting it into a macro algae tank to make nutrients more manageable.

In particular I bought Dragon's tongue, Palm Tree Caulerpa, and Caulerpa Mexicana, and plan on halimeda eventually.

I do have a back up light in a kessil A80 tuna sun, but I wanted to see if the current light is good enough because the tank, without any heater, and with the default light off stays at 79 degrees surprisingly. If I have to use the tuna sun what height/settings is recommended for this? I don't intend on growing anything but macro and maybe i'd give something soft like xenia a chance.

What kind of issues down the road should I expect trying a macro tank this small? I plan on having nutrient heavy animals in this (harlequin shrimp species setup is the goal post currently) but PH is my main concern.
 

vetteguy53081

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use both. The stock light may not be enough or switch to the kessil
 

macrouk

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Plenty of examples of people growing macros in these tanks including myself - I assume it’s the Marine version? In my case the light is a bit much for a low energy system and I get excess algae on the glass if I run it full power with the blues.
 
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Stomatopods17

Stomatopods17

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Plenty of examples of people growing macros in these tanks including myself - I assume it’s the Marine version? In my case the light is a bit much for a low energy system and I get excess algae on the glass if I run it full power with the blues.

I'm not aware of any marine version but the light is indeed this

1687768916502.png

1687769070950.png


(Also I need to correct myself, my kessil is a H80 tuna flora not an a80, just checked its box i had it about 6 months and never used it lol)

If this would be enough for stuff like dragon's tongue that'd be wonderful as I like the white light look better, I assume the kessil would look too purple at the right settings. Or would I have to use the blue setting?

If I were to use the kessil I'm assuming grow setting, 10" high, 100% intensity is the way to go? Its a display tank with no fuge intended (in other words my Ph is going to suffer).
 

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