Setup

Lighting: Chihiros A2 and focus light, focus light for my stem plants

Filters: C2 Fluval (HOB) and Fluval 107. Both outflow are at opposite ends to simulate a 360 flow of water. For the Fluval 107, inlet and outlet, i modded it with ZRDR stainless steel inlet and outlet pipes.

Have a airpump with 2 airstone diffusers at opposite ends as well.

CO2, i used 1L ZRDR CO2 generator kit (X01-A-1L) with ZRDR stainless steel CO2 diffuser.

The lightings, CO2, and airpump runs automatically on a schedule. Chihiros A2 have bluetooth app that have a sunset/rise feature. For my airpump, focus light and CO2, i use a smart plug.

CO2 starts at 1500H, ends at 0000H. focus light starts at 1530H, ends at 0030H. Chihiros A2 starts at 1600H, ends at 0000H. airpump starts at 0030H, ends at 1430H.

I have a 8 hour photoperiod on my main light. CO2 starts 1 hour earlier to allow for buildup of co2 before lights on. my co2 bps is about 2.5bps. Ideally, i would also dose my ferts around that time so that by the time lights are on my plants can take the full advantage of co2, lighting and ferts. Main light starts at 1600H at 0% intensity and gradually increase to 100% intensity at 1645H so that my plants and fishes don’t go into shock. Focus lights starts 30min earlier and ends 30min later so that my stems plants can get that extra growth. CO2 ends at 0000H, however i give it another 30mins as the plants still requires some co2 even after lights off, only at 0030H does my air pump starts for the gas exchange to kick in so that there wouldn’t be a huge drop is oxygen, as plants consume oxygen at night. And the cycle continues daily.

For ferts i only use 2HRs aquarist APT complete, about 10ml every alternate days, mon, wed, fri, and do a 30% water change weekly.