Hey there everyone
So my next project is going to be rescaping my 125 gallon. I've been playing with ideas and want the hardscape to look something like this
but more spread out with varied types of anubias for foreground and midground and Java fern as a background growing out from behind the hardscape. Kinda like this
terrible representation of what I have in my head but working with my cell just won't do it justice. I've done planted tanks in the past with success but never really dosed ferts.
For lighting I'll be using 2 4' dual bulb t8 shop lights(diamond plate with very good reflectors) and 2 20" dual bulb t5ho fixtures to fill in the gaps on the 6' tank.
Pool filter sand for substrate.
In order to have these plants fill in and have lush growth what will I need to dose?
I have a pressurized co2 setup. Will these plants need it?
For the narrow leaf java fern I would look at Microsorum pteropus 'Narrow' or Microsorum pteropus 'Phillipine' (I think that Microsorum pteropus 'Needle Leaf' may be too narrow).
For the Anubias either Anubias barteri 'Nana' or if you want really small leaves Anubias barteri nana 'Petite'.
Neither plant species requires CO2 but light CO2 will promote faster growth and healthier plants. That is "a lot" of light you are planning on using; if you are planning on having that much light and such slow growing plats it is likely algae will become a major issue . If you decide to cut back on the light substantially then these species are slow growers you could go with Seachem Flourish 3X per week and likely have no deficiency issues.
30 gallon with Microsorum pteropus 'Windelov' and 'Trident'
If you could supply 10-15ppm of CO2 to any planted tank, plants will enjoy it.
As Seattle_Aquarist said that may be a lot of light.
I though am not fond of just dosing Flourish Comprehensive.
You could mix a nitrate free batch of PPS-Pro and just dose your tank to keep 1ppm of PO4 and be done with it.
Unless your NO3 is low you could mix the regular batch with KNO3.
If it is a standard 125 gallon it is about 23.4" high; allowing 3" for substrate then about 21" from light to substrate. For the plants I listed medium/low light PAR=60 or less) is adequate for good growth, more than that will just encourage algae. The plants will be attached to your hardscape so figure about 12" +/- 6" from the light. According to the attached chart your two lamp T8 fixture will provide approximately PAR=50 at the substrate level and PAR=100 at 12" depth....one fixture should be sufficient. I would use 'Daylight' type bulbs in your fixture (approximately K=6500) and start with a shortened photoperiod...maybe 5 hours maximum....increase photoperiod by 1/2 every week until algae become an issue then back down the time. Remember to change your bulbs every 12 months because the output drops about 30% or more (although it may not be visible to you).
Mine is mainly Java fern 'Windelov' and Anubias (both the normal and petite). They may be described as slow growers in the rate at which their leaves develop but if you're talking about reproducing or throwing out new leaves, they definitely aren't slow. I get new leaves like every week.
I know because even though I look at the tank a lot daily, I swear I haven't seen certain leaves before. :-D
Bump: I'm dosing E.I. by the way. Today's the 7th day so it's still too early to tell although the straight leafed ones seem to have grown a bit because they're at the surface now and I've filled the tank higher than before during the water change yesterday!
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