My New 20g long (56k)

Alex95 · 09-19-2011, 01:20 AM

I have been looking at all of your journals on here and I thought I would start one. I got the 20g long at petco $ per gallon sale. The first tank I had was a 10g with blue gravel and a couple plants from petco. BTW, the only truly aquatic plants in petco are the amazon swords and the bulbs in packages. Im planning on going medium to heavy planted tank.

With this tank I plan on putting more effort and cash into it.
My plans include:
-Eco-complete or other similar substrate
-HOB filter (no place for canister)
-2 to 3 watts per gallon light
- glass cover
-pressurized co2

Would this setup be good? What light would you recommend (I was thinking t5 maybe)?

2in10 · 09-19-2011, 01:23 AM

Good start, those bulbs are hit and miss at best too. A 2 bulb T5NO or T8 fixture will give you plenty of light.

londonloco · 09-19-2011, 01:58 AM

+1 on the two bulb T5NO, a 20g long is only 13" high...plenty of light.

Alex95 · 09-19-2011, 03:18 AM

What filter would you recommend? I want something quiet and to give good flow but not too expensive.
Any certain brands for lights you recommend? Something cheap but does the job.

londonloco · 09-19-2011, 03:19 AM

On both my 20g longs I have xP1's....they keep the water crystal clear.

the planter · 09-19-2011, 03:21 AM

an aquaclear HOB.

Alex95 · 09-19-2011, 07:22 PM

I can't do the xp1 because I don't have a place to put it. The aquaclear sounds good. Should I get the 50 or 70? Any cheaper places to get them?

**Eldachleich** · 09-19-2011, 07:31 PM

I love my aquaclear. I would go with the 50 but thats me...
Also felt I should add that my petco has only aquatic plants... Just saying.. they arent all bad lol...

londonloco · 09-19-2011, 07:32 PM

I'd get the ac50 from here:

http://www.amazon.com/AquaClear-50-P...6460684&sr=8-1

Amazon has been almost giving them away for some months now. The AC70's are only 34.50$....

Alex95 · 09-19-2011, 07:52 PM

How is the flow difference with the 50 and 70?
What about lights?

**SJInverts** · 09-19-2011, 07:57 PM

I just setup my 20g long yesterday. Petco sale as well. I am running a AC20 and I am using a dual T5 NO(normal output) fixture. If you are planning on doing T5 NO, the fixture in the link below is a good one.

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/209809/product.web

Alex95 · 09-19-2011, 08:11 PM

Anyone else use that light? Is It good?

2in10 · 09-19-2011, 08:15 PM

I haven't used one but the brand is a good solid one. You should have no problems with the light. Bulbs should be fine too.

Alex95 · 09-19-2011, 11:25 PM

Well I just placed my order for the ac50. It should get here in about a week.
Could I go with more light if i have co2 or would that cause more algea?

2in10 · 09-19-2011, 11:58 PM

If you increase the CO2 you can increase the light. It all depends on how much work you wish to do.

09-19-2011, 01:20 AM	#1
Alex95 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39	My New 20g long (56k) I have been looking at all of your journals on here and I thought I would start one. I got the 20g long at petco $ per gallon sale. The first tank I had was a 10g with blue gravel and a couple plants from petco. BTW, the only truly aquatic plants in petco are the amazon swords and the bulbs in packages. Im planning on going medium to heavy planted tank. With this tank I plan on putting more effort and cash into it. My plans include: -Eco-complete or other similar substrate -HOB filter (no place for canister) -2 to 3 watts per gallon light - glass cover -pressurized co2 Would this setup be good? What light would you recommend (I was thinking t5 maybe)? Last edited by Alex95; 09-27-2011 at 01:51 AM..

09-19-2011, 01:23 AM	#2
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	Good start, those bulbs are hit and miss at best too. A 2 bulb T5NO or T8 fixture will give you plenty of light. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

09-19-2011, 03:21 AM	#6
the planter Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: az Posts: 214	an aquaclear HOB. __________________ FISH.. its a lifestyle not an addiction. Breeding guppies since '05

09-19-2011, 08:15 PM	#13
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	I haven't used one but the brand is a good solid one. You should have no problems with the light. Bulbs should be fine too. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

09-19-2011, 11:58 PM	#15
2in10 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sparks, NV Posts: 2,585	If you increase the CO2 you can increase the light. It all depends on how much work you wish to do. __________________ *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part duex* *2in10's 75 Gallon Jungle part 1* 8 Gallon Biocube Canon Pimp Club #041

09-19-2011, 01:58 AM	#3
londonloco Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: virginia, usa Posts: 615	+1 on the two bulb T5NO, a 20g long is only 13" high...plenty of light.

09-19-2011, 03:18 AM	#4
Alex95 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39	What filter would you recommend? I want something quiet and to give good flow but not too expensive. Any certain brands for lights you recommend? Something cheap but does the job.

09-19-2011, 03:19 AM	#5
londonloco Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: virginia, usa Posts: 615	On both my 20g longs I have xP1's....they keep the water crystal clear.

09-19-2011, 07:22 PM	#7
Alex95 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39	I can't do the xp1 because I don't have a place to put it. The aquaclear sounds good. Should I get the 50 or 70? Any cheaper places to get them?

09-19-2011, 07:31 PM	#8
Eldachleich Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Aliso Viejo, California Posts: 1,680	I love my aquaclear. I would go with the 50 but thats me... Also felt I should add that my petco has only aquatic plants... Just saying.. they arent all bad lol...

09-19-2011, 07:32 PM	#9
londonloco Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: virginia, usa Posts: 615	I'd get the ac50 from here: http://www.amazon.com/AquaClear-50-P...6460684&sr=8-1 Amazon has been almost giving them away for some months now. The AC70's are only 34.50$....

09-19-2011, 07:52 PM	#10
Alex95 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39	How is the flow difference with the 50 and 70? What about lights?

09-19-2011, 07:57 PM	#11
SJInverts Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (24/100%) Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 215	I just setup my 20g long yesterday. Petco sale as well. I am running a AC20 and I am using a dual T5 NO(normal output) fixture. If you are planning on doing T5 NO, the fixture in the link below is a good one. http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/209809/product.web

09-19-2011, 08:11 PM	#12
Alex95 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39	Anyone else use that light? Is It good?

09-19-2011, 11:25 PM	#14
Alex95 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 39	Well I just placed my order for the ac50. It should get here in about a week. Could I go with more light if i have co2 or would that cause more algea?

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