Hello planted tank members! I am currently working on my first aquarium which I plan on planting heavily in for red cherry shrimp and endlers. I plan on using this layout I made in ms paint for my tank layout with eco complete substrate. I have several questions that I hope wouldn't be too much trouble to answer.
- What should I use for my lighting? I have found many things online but as soon as I find something I think is informative it is contradicted on another website.
- What fertilizers should I dose with those plants?
- Opinions on filter that I'm looking at?
- Opinions on heater that I'm looking at?
Thanks in advance for anybody who gives me input, I can't wait to get started!
For fertilizers, there are various liquid or dry fertilizers you can put in the tank.
For lighting, it depends on how big your tank is and how much you want to spend. LED lights are more expensive up front, but you don't have to replace the bulbs every year. I use a T5HO 2 bulb fixture on my 29 gallon tank.
i know that filter is a great one, i have it. but make sure you get a bio bag to hold all the media in because the carbon that comes with it the bag its in dissolves like paper. it makes a mess.
A 20g long is fairly shallow, I think you could get away with a single T5H0. Check a hydroponics shop, its much cheaper than and LFS.
I'd also go slightly larger with the filter. Perhaps the 30. The flow is adjustable and if you still find it too much you can simply swap the impeller for one from a 20. This will also leave you with extra space for media
What are you guyses opinions on this for lighting? I have heard some good things about it but I really don't want to go overkill and have an algae farm for a tank.
What are you guyses opinions on this for lighting? I have heard some good things about it but I really don't want to go overkill and have an algae farm for a tank.
I had the 24" over my 20L shrimp tank and loved it. Keep in mind you will probably have to hang the light like i did. Theres a lot of cheap options out there to light a 20L, you can look through my journal and see the different things ive tried recently.
Ok I've settled on the 30 inch finnex fugeray for lighting. My one last question (please bare with me) is would I only need this and root tabs to provide my plants with all of the nutrients they need?
I too am setting up a 20g long that will be a moderate to heavy planted tank. Im also having a problem choosing the lighting. Since the 20g long is not very tall i am concerned with have too strong light and algae issues.
You could wait for the new Finnex Planted Plus to comes out next month. A guy I know (Dahlyvh) was the first to get a Planted Plus from Finnex before general release. He has the 24" Finnex PP on a 20 gal L and it was fine. In fact it wasn't nearly as bright as the Fugeray and I believe the PAR measurements provided by Lowe also indicated this. Dahlyvh eventually added also Fugeray to the tank as well since he wanted high light and runs Co2.
The 24" Zoo Med has no problems growing any plants. I honestly wish I didn't go with it because it was to much light for me. Its good now but I had to suspend the fixture above the tank.
How's the setup going? You might need some co2 with them light not to sure there. If you put a sponge in your intake some shrimp will hang there and munch there XD.
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