20g tall low-tech

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 01:34 AM

Alright I am on a $142 budget here

And I want to setup a 20g tall tank. I already have the tank so that is not part of the cost. I have $142 to spend on lights, filtration, plants, and fish/inverts.
Foreground/Carpet Plant- Dwarf Hair Grass
Mid-Ground Plant- Java Fern and Java Moss or other Moss.
Background-
Hardscape- Large petrified wood
Substrate- ADA Amazonia?
CO2- No CO2 system but I will be dosing Excel
Light-
Here is basically what the layout is going to be in the tank for now:

What plants should I use for the background? What would be the best substrate? What light wattage would be best? Any other help would be much appreciated too!

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**frozenbarb** · 04-03-2007, 01:50 AM

I like it See how it goes o.O" ADa aquaSoil but you dont have enough for lights

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 02:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozenbarb

I like it See how it goes o.O" ADa aquaSoil but you dont have enough for lights

Hmm, how much do lights usually cost? Shouldn't be too expensive. I am mostly concerned about the bulbs themselves not the fixture. I can make the fixture from a $10 stock light I can buy at Home Depot (18").

**frozenbarb** · 04-03-2007, 02:39 AM

how long is the whole tank?

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 02:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozenbarb

how long is the whole tank?

Not sure, I have to get the actual measurements. I just remember that I did the math when I got it and it was about 27g. I'll go measure now and get back to you on that

EDIT: 20L"x24H"x10W"

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 02:55 AM

Excuse me, I don't know where I got 27g, it is actually a 20g tall tank

**frozenbarb** · 04-03-2007, 03:05 AM

i really like this light, i saw it at my fishstore and its very nice and bright, they had better grown with althernanthera then me, and they had no co2 or ferts

https://www82.safesecureweb.com/weba...T5&iorb=4 764

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 03:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozenbarb

i really like this light, i saw it at my fishstore and its very nice and bright, they had better grown with althernanthera then me, and they had no co2 or ferts

https://www82.safesecureweb.com/weba...T5&iorb=4 764

Looks really nice but is 14W really enough for this tank?

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 03:15 AM

Some old pictures of the tank I took when I found it.

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 03:16 AM

The petrified wood when I bought it.

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 03:23 AM

What's a cheap but efficient canister filter for a 20g high planted tank?

**frozenbarb** · 04-03-2007, 03:31 AM

its a double 14w light that used t-5 tubes so its 28 watts total

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frozenbarb

its a double 14w light that used t-5 tubes so its 28 watts total

Oh wow, that's good then

About 1.4 WPG. But is there a difference in wpg if the tank is tall? Does the light reach the plants at the bottom?

RESGuy · 04-03-2007, 03:39 AM

I think I am going to go with Eco-Complete as a substrate.

04-03-2007, 01:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	20g tall low-tech Alright I am on a $142 budget here And I want to setup a 20g tall tank. I already have the tank so that is not part of the cost. I have $142 to spend on lights, filtration, plants, and fish/inverts. Foreground/Carpet Plant- Dwarf Hair Grass Mid-Ground Plant- Java Fern and Java Moss or other Moss. Background- Hardscape- Large petrified wood Substrate- ADA Amazonia? CO2- No CO2 system but I will be dosing Excel Light- Here is basically what the layout is going to be in the tank for now: What plants should I use for the background? What would be the best substrate? What light wattage would be best? Any other help would be much appreciated too! __________________ -RESGuy RESGuy's RCS Journal 55g RES Turtle Tank 20 Gallon Tall Tank Paradise <- My site I have both AIM and MSN so message me when you like, I love talking with people that share the hobby! Last edited by RESGuy : 04-03-2007 at 03:40 AM.

04-03-2007, 01:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
frozenbarb Algae Grower uh oh... (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA NY Posts: 1,941	I like it See how it goes o.O" ADa aquaSoil but you dont have enough for lights __________________ Best Commerical ever =D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6A4...eature=related

04-03-2007, 02:39 AM	#4 (permalink)
frozenbarb Algae Grower uh oh... (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA NY Posts: 1,941	how long is the whole tank? __________________ Best Commerical ever =D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6A4...eature=related

04-03-2007, 02:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	Excuse me, I don't know where I got 27g, it is actually a 20g tall tank __________________ -RESGuy RESGuy's RCS Journal 55g RES Turtle Tank 20 Gallon Tall Tank Paradise <- My site I have both AIM and MSN so message me when you like, I love talking with people that share the hobby!

04-03-2007, 03:05 AM	#7 (permalink)
frozenbarb Algae Grower uh oh... (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA NY Posts: 1,941	i really like this light, i saw it at my fishstore and its very nice and bright, they had better grown with althernanthera then me, and they had no co2 or ferts https://www82.safesecureweb.com/weba...T5&iorb=4 764 __________________ Best Commerical ever =D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6A4...eature=related

04-03-2007, 03:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	Some old pictures of the tank I took when I found it. __________________ -RESGuy RESGuy's RCS Journal 55g RES Turtle Tank 20 Gallon Tall Tank Paradise <- My site I have both AIM and MSN so message me when you like, I love talking with people that share the hobby!

04-03-2007, 03:16 AM	#10 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	The petrified wood when I bought it. __________________ -RESGuy RESGuy's RCS Journal 55g RES Turtle Tank 20 Gallon Tall Tank Paradise <- My site I have both AIM and MSN so message me when you like, I love talking with people that share the hobby!

04-03-2007, 03:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	What's a cheap but efficient canister filter for a 20g high planted tank? __________________ -RESGuy RESGuy's RCS Journal 55g RES Turtle Tank 20 Gallon Tall Tank Paradise <- My site I have both AIM and MSN so message me when you like, I love talking with people that share the hobby!

04-03-2007, 03:31 AM	#12 (permalink)
frozenbarb Algae Grower uh oh... (View User Tanks) PTrader: (34) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: USA NY Posts: 1,941	its a double 14w light that used t-5 tubes so its 28 watts total __________________ Best Commerical ever =D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH6A4...eature=related

04-03-2007, 03:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
RESGuy Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Miami,FL Posts: 887	I think I am going to go with Eco-Complete as a substrate. __________________ -RESGuy RESGuy's RCS Journal 55g RES Turtle Tank 20 Gallon Tall Tank Paradise <- My site I have both AIM and MSN so message me when you like, I love talking with people that share the hobby!