Help with ecopico tank!

[lessandler]

Hello

I am new to this forum and planted tank in general. I have a fluval edge and chi each with one betta and some anubias and java ferns and Tahitian Moon black sand. But I would like to get one more (I hope the last!) tank and I only have space for a small tank. And I would like to grow a greater variety of plants.

Would this http://www.ecoxotic.com/led-aquarium.../eco-pico.html tank work to grow plants successfully? Do I need an additional LED strip or 2? I want to do a no CO2 setup and one where I do not have to do a great deal of maintenence in terms of trimming and pruning. And not have so much light that I will be struggling with algae problems. The sole inhabitant would be another betta.

Does anyone have any scape ideas or plant suggestions for this set up or successfully grown a nice scape in one?

Thank you for reading!!

[luke20037]

crypts are slow growing, low maintainance and low light levels too!

[demonr6]

Originally Posted by lessandler

But I would like to get one more (I hope the last!) tank and I only have space for a small tank.

I am going to tell you right now that you can throw that statement out the window. One last tank is a grand notion till you find one more last tank. And the next. It just keeps going.

[luke20037]

Originally Posted by demonr6

I am going to tell you right now that you can throw that statement out the window. One last tank is a grand notion till you find one more last tank. And the next. It just keeps going.

lol i said that after my first now got three!

[lessandler]

Thanks so much for your replies...and healthy doses of realism too

I think I will go with this tank. If I do crypts, anubias, and java fern, do I need the additional strip or will the extra strip just cause algae. Here are the specs for the first LED strip:

Light spectrum: 12K White & 460nm Actinic Blue
Total watts: 3 watts

I think if I got another it would be 3 more watts but just white since the blue is more for corals yes? Figured I would need this but my other plants are all LED (I replaced the halogens on the fluval edge) and do not fit within the 2 watts per gallon rule and seem to be doing okay. That rule doesn't necessary apply to LEDs yes?

Sorry I am totally new to this!

And what substrate or fertilization would one need for crypts?

Thanks again

[luke20037]

http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/fish/t...uminants/67391

this kind of light will work well for plants, this is an example obviously you aint gonna order form the uk! This has a pink tinge to the light.

Crypts are low demanding so if you used sand and a fertilizer like root medic, which are little tablets you bury in the sand, you will be doing great. Also I like to dose weekly a liquid fertilizer, the dose is dependant on size of tank, the info will be on the bottle when you buy it. An added extra, isntead of buying expnsive co2 system, daily dose liquid carbon, which does basically the same thing!

[trackhazard]

The eco pico led should be fine for low light plants. The only reason you would want to swap it out is if you didn't like the colors you get from it and wanted something warmer.

-Charlie

[lnstevens]

That is actually a really cool looking concept tank. I would like to see a journal when you get it.

[Sparky007]

I set one up about a month ago, I got two extra light strips with it, both all white. I have easy plants in it for now to cycle it and they are all growing like weeds. Definitely enough light. The filter that comes with it is a little small so I put a zoomed 501 on it as well. It's a fun tank. If I could figure out how to post pictures id put some up. Let us know what you decide to do. It would be good to have some more ecopico folks out there.