The Planted Tank Forum - View Single Post - Help with my first nano (56k, I feel your pain)

**random_alias** · 10-24-2005, 04:27 AM

It sounds like you have plenty of light. Are you dosing any ferts or Excel for carbon? I would not think light would be your problem.

I will try this 2.5 with 13w PC lighting, 1.5x manufacturer's recommended dosage of Excel and 1/2 the normal dosage of EI since that seems to be where Tom has suggested I start from. If I test and my nutrients are building up I may back down to 1/4 EI dosing, just speculation until I get some plants in there and see what happens. Only experience I've had has been with 55 gallon hi-tech.

If things don't move along, I may try upping the light. Honestly, for some reason, I seem to be totally oblivious to how much light a smaller tank needs. I never thought I'd go smaller than 55 gallons again so I haven't been paying attention.

I tried breaking up some rocks I had but they fracture into thin sheets so it isn't working. I boiled the wood chips and after a while finally got them to sink. I replanted them and filled the tank with water to keep them from drying out. I'll drain the water back down for planting when I get the plants. I think the wood chips will work, at least until I come across something better.

10-24-2005, 04:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
random_alias Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NC Posts: 728	It sounds like you have plenty of light. Are you dosing any ferts or Excel for carbon? I would not think light would be your problem. I will try this 2.5 with 13w PC lighting, 1.5x manufacturer's recommended dosage of Excel and 1/2 the normal dosage of EI since that seems to be where Tom has suggested I start from. If I test and my nutrients are building up I may back down to 1/4 EI dosing, just speculation until I get some plants in there and see what happens. Only experience I've had has been with 55 gallon hi-tech. If things don't move along, I may try upping the light. Honestly, for some reason, I seem to be totally oblivious to how much light a smaller tank needs. I never thought I'd go smaller than 55 gallons again so I haven't been paying attention. I tried breaking up some rocks I had but they fracture into thin sheets so it isn't working. I boiled the wood chips and after a while finally got them to sink. I replanted them and filled the tank with water to keep them from drying out. I'll drain the water back down for planting when I get the plants. I think the wood chips will work, at least until I come across something better. __________________ "Insanity: doing [or asking] the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."