lbacha's Emersed Setup (Lots of pics enjoy)

[lbacha]

Well I was running out of room in my tank and I really didn't want to set-up another tank in my aprtment so I went a different route and bought a cheap home depot rack and some lights and some nusery flats with humitity domes, I also have a rubbermaid container on the ground for some larger plants. Here is a pick of the overall set-up I will post some pics of the specific plants as I go.

[karatekid14]

Really cool! How many watts do you have over the "flats." I was thinking I would have 48w T5 over four "flats."

[lbacha]

Originally Posted by karatekid14

Really cool! How many watts do you have over the "flats." I was thinking I would have 48w T5 over four "flats."

The lights are standard 48" T8's from home depot with 2 x 32w 6500k bulbs

Len

[pandacory]

That's pretty neat. I think I have the same rack and lights. Are they set up on a recirculating hydro system?
What kind of subsrate are you using?

[lbacha]

They are actually just sitting in standing water I was going to build a tray to set them in so I can recirculate the water but I want to see how standing water works since I have seen other people do it that way and have good success.

My substrates vary I have one tray with some rare crypts I got and they are all grown in clay pots with aquasoil malaya, most of the other plants and the stem plants are all grown in rockwool cubes inserted into net pots. I have also just started planting some lagenandras in hydrocol clay balls.

Clay pots: (C. cordata "grabowski", C cordata "thailand", C stiolata, C noritoi, C zukalii & C usteriana x walkeri)


Mesh Pots (C wendtii tropica)


Hydroton: (Lagenandra nairii, Lagenandra thwaitesii & the C usteriana x walkeri-same as above)



I just add a couple drops of regular fertilizer to the water when I add it and i'm planning on water changes every 4 weeks if I can go that long. I really want the set-up to be as low maintenance as possible.

Currenly the water stays between 70-75' the humidity is 90-100% and the air temp is 75'.

My biggest concern right now is mold and fungus growing on the substrate since I don't mist the plants from above, if anything I may build a system that can submerse the plants if needed.

Len

[gordonrichards]

Not fair! Where did you get those awesome crypts?

[lbacha]

Originally Posted by gordonrichards

Not fair! Where did you get those awesome crypts?

Thanks, I got them (and the lagenandras) from looking4roselines he has some nice stuff.

Len

[lbacha]

Just added a nice size Lagenandra meeboldii "pink" it came from a submersed tank so the leaves are a little wilted but the rhizome is huge so it should bounce back nicely. I also got some new leaves on my C cordata "Thailand", C striolata and. C usteriana x walkeri. I guess they like their new home.

Len

[speedie408]

Good luck with your setup man. Hope to see some spathes from you soon.

About the shop lights... how come you didn't get the ones with the polished reflectors? I got them and they work great. Though instead of running 1 fixture, I'm running 2.

[lbacha]

Originally Posted by speedie408

Good luck with your setup man. Hope to see some spathes from you soon.

About the shop lights... how come you didn't get the ones with the polished reflectors? I got them and they work great. Though instead of running 1 fixture, I'm running 2.

I just grabbed cheap ones from home depot do they have ones with polished reflectors. I'm getting quotes on some custom tanks with front openings on them and plan on 4 bulbs over each if I go that route.

Len

[hydrophyte]

Those are some great plants that you have.

I have always done best with crypts planting them into substrate with real topsoil. I think that they prosper best with the organic matter and trace nutrients that are better-provided in topsoil.

[speedie408]

Originally Posted by lbacha

I just grabbed cheap ones from home depot do they have ones with polished reflectors. I'm getting quotes on some custom tanks with front openings on them and plan on 4 bulbs over each if I go that route.

Len

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lightin...ure-38673.html

Those are the ones I'm using. The reflectors aren't white, they're actually polished/chrome. The diamond plate adds a rugged touch too lol.

[lbacha]

I saw those, is the reflector worth the extra 10.00 per fixture. I'm wondering if some foil would be just as good for the ones I'm using. Hmm decisions, decisions..

Len

[lbacha]

Speaking of lights how long do most of you keep your lights on for your emerged setups, I currently have minion 12hrs but I'm thinking of going with 14 since algae isn't that big of a concern

[looking4roselines]

Very nice setups.

For the lighting, I have mine on for about 12 hours.