Difficult Plants

fishscale · 07-21-2007, 03:27 PM

I am interested in growing several plants that are supposed to be pretty hard to grow. I am wondering if they are really as hard to grow as people say, or if it can be done given my equipment. I (plan to) have:

55 gallon tank
Emperor 400 Filter (probably with bio-wheels removed)
DIY CO2
220W of light (planning on doing a DIY fixture using AH Supply 55W retrofit kits)
SMS Charcoal with whatever is left of my eco-complete

Using the above, is it possible to grow Blyxa Japonica, Glosso (as patches in a carpet), Downoi, and HM (as a carpet)?

**hooha** · 07-21-2007, 04:22 PM

with 220w of light you should be able to grow those plants without difficulty.

That being said, you need a consistent fert program and consistent CO2, you may want to consider pressurized CO2 if you're going to go with that much lighting.

**bigstick120** · 07-21-2007, 05:13 PM

I have grown all of those in a 55 with half as much light, and a few "harder" to grow, I also have pressurized CO2 so Im sure that helps.

I agree with hooha, you really should go pressurized with that much light over a 55. 110 watss is plenty

fishscale · 07-21-2007, 05:16 PM

How much would you say a decent pressurized system would cost? I'm not broke yet...but I'd like to keep it that way.

**hooha** · 07-21-2007, 05:23 PM

Assuming you will not use a controller....

Regulator $100
Tubing $5
5lb CO2 tank $60-80 (get one locally that you can "swap" for refills)
diffusor (glass) $5-10
drop checker - $10 (or make your own)

Or...increase your DiY CO2 - over 2-3 years you'll spend that much anyway on yeast and sugar (and time...and potentially lost plants and frustration with algae issues).

Wö£fëñxXx · 07-21-2007, 07:06 PM

Adding to Hooha and Bigsticks wise advice that the DIY C02 will be your downfall with that much light, you will also need a better filter with good media.

fishscale · 07-21-2007, 08:16 PM

Hmmm...I don't think I have the money for all that right now. Should I change my light plans to match my CO2?

**bigstick120** · 07-21-2007, 08:34 PM

I personally would wait until I had the $ to do it right and how you want it. When half ass it you end up spending the $ later any way.

Add also to Craig, your HOB filter will out gas your already unstable CO2 as well.

Nightshop · 07-21-2007, 09:41 PM

Like Bigstick said, doing it right the first time is a much better choice than rushing everything. Save your money for the better equipment, it's worth it!

fishscale · 07-22-2007, 01:37 AM

I have the money, I just don't want to spend a lot

I've been getting most of my stuff second hand and it's been unimaginabley cheaper, but CO2 equipment is not really readily found second hand.

07-21-2007, 03:27 PM	#1
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	Difficult Plants I am interested in growing several plants that are supposed to be pretty hard to grow. I am wondering if they are really as hard to grow as people say, or if it can be done given my equipment. I (plan to) have: 55 gallon tank Emperor 400 Filter (probably with bio-wheels removed) DIY CO2 220W of light (planning on doing a DIY fixture using AH Supply 55W retrofit kits) SMS Charcoal with whatever is left of my eco-complete Using the above, is it possible to grow Blyxa Japonica, Glosso (as patches in a carpet), Downoi, and HM (as a carpet)? __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

07-21-2007, 04:22 PM	#2
hooha Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 973	with 220w of light you should be able to grow those plants without difficulty. That being said, you need a consistent fert program and consistent CO2, you may want to consider pressurized CO2 if you're going to go with that much lighting. __________________ Member of PAPAS and GPASI - Pittsburgh Area Planted Aquarium Society and Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

07-21-2007, 05:13 PM	#3
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (231/100%) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,122	I have grown all of those in a 55 with half as much light, and a few "harder" to grow, I also have pressurized CO2 so Im sure that helps. I agree with hooha, you really should go pressurized with that much light over a 55. 110 watss is plenty __________________ 55 gallon\| 29 Gallon\|ADA Cube\|58 Gallon My Photography site

07-21-2007, 05:16 PM	#4
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	How much would you say a decent pressurized system would cost? I'm not broke yet...but I'd like to keep it that way. __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

07-21-2007, 05:23 PM	#5
hooha Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (72/100%) Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 973	Assuming you will not use a controller.... Regulator $100 Tubing $5 5lb CO2 tank $60-80 (get one locally that you can "swap" for refills) diffusor (glass) $5-10 drop checker - $10 (or make your own) Or...increase your DiY CO2 - over 2-3 years you'll spend that much anyway on yeast and sugar (and time...and potentially lost plants and frustration with algae issues). __________________ Member of PAPAS and GPASI - Pittsburgh Area Planted Aquarium Society and Greater Pittsburgh Aquarium Society

07-21-2007, 07:06 PM	#6
Wö£fëñxXx Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (125/100%) Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: USA Posts: 3,037	Adding to Hooha and Bigsticks wise advice that the DIY C02 will be your downfall with that much light, you will also need a better filter with good media. __________________ *Craig*

07-21-2007, 08:16 PM	#7
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	Hmmm...I don't think I have the money for all that right now. Should I change my light plans to match my CO2? __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

07-21-2007, 08:34 PM	#8
bigstick120 Algae Eater (View User Tanks) PTrader: (231/100%) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,122	I personally would wait until I had the $ to do it right and how you want it. When half ass it you end up spending the $ later any way. Add also to Craig, your HOB filter will out gas your already unstable CO2 as well. __________________ 55 gallon\| 29 Gallon\|ADA Cube\|58 Gallon My Photography site

07-21-2007, 09:41 PM	#9
Nightshop Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: May 2006 Location: Morgan Hill, California Posts: 676	Like Bigstick said, doing it right the first time is a much better choice than rushing everything. Save your money for the better equipment, it's worth it! __________________ 50 Gallon - Aquasoil Amazonian, Powersand Special, 130 W 10,000k CF, ADA Fert's, Pressurized C02.

07-22-2007, 01:37 AM	#10
fishscale Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: New York, NY Posts: 3,895	I have the money, I just don't want to spend a lot I've been getting most of my stuff second hand and it's been unimaginabley cheaper, but CO2 equipment is not really readily found second hand. __________________ Eheim Pimp #254, Eheim Wolverine #1 55 Gallon Work in progress 10 Gallon Shrimp Tank 10 Gallon Planted QT 20 Gallon Shrimp Tank (Work in progress)

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