help plz

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 02:29 AM

i know this probably gets asked a lot but i am new to this forum so here goes.

i have a 29g and want to do a low tech planted aquarium. currently, i have a fluval 205 for filtration, a 100w heater, 40lbs of eco-complete and a overpowering coralife 65w x 2 lunar aqua light which puts me at 4.48 watts per gallon. even if i turn one off that's still 2.24 watts per gallon and i've read that that's too much for a low tech set up.

i would really appreciate it if you guys could point me in the right direction as to what i need to get this tank going. just a few hours ago i thought that i was good with the lighting until i found this site and now it looks like i am just going to grow algae with the light that i have or need co2 which really isn't something i want to get into.

SpeedEuphoria · 11-02-2008, 02:41 AM

If you want to use the light you have, you need to have it hang above the tank, like 3-6" above it to reduce intensity. I personally like having mine hung as I can move it out of the way easy(hang it higher).

Co2 is not really bad at all, the startup cost is the only thing, other that that its cheap.

If you dont have any ferts, then wait awhile to get plants, till the tank has been going for like 3months.

So setup the filter/heater, then do a fishless cycle. Complete that and add fish, then add plants.

Leave the light off during the fishless cycle.

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 03:07 AM

it looks like the highest i could get it is about 5" above top of the tank. it's mounted inside a canopy. so if i go with a simple do it yourself co2 and only run 1 of the two lights am i going to have a problem w/algae?

oh, by the way, i am going to get ferts(fertalizers?), i just don't know what to get yet, lol.

**epicfish** · 11-02-2008, 03:10 AM

It's very hard to get consistent levels of CO2 in a 29g tank. You'll need at least two 2L bottles. And a staggered swap every week or every other week.

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 03:35 AM

i'm very new at this so please forgive me here, if i'm not running very much light, that should equate to needing less co2, right?

**epicfish** · 11-02-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpunk78

i'm very new at this so please forgive me here, if i'm not running very much light, that should equate to needing less co2, right?

No. CO2 is usually the limiting factor in growth with many tanks, so it's best to use the optimal amount of CO2, even in a low light tank.

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 03:50 AM

ok, so what would an optimum set up be for a low tech 29g planted aquarium?

W-Oz · 11-02-2008, 05:42 PM

Grow without CO2 and only use half of your lights. Put some medium/low light plants in your tank, like right now right now, and let them establish themselves.

The only things you need to establish a low tech planted tank are a good substrate, lights, heater, and something to move the water around. Since you have all of these just start going to town.

For more info, visit Chuck's Planted Aquarium Pages. You don't specifically need the CO2, it can help sure, but you don't need it.

**epicfish** · 11-02-2008, 05:46 PM

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...igh-light.html

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...ess-light.html

Give these threads and links contained within a good read through. Yes, they're heavy with the science, but they'll help you greatly in putting together a successful setup for yourself.

And IMO, CO2 is a vital nutrient and would be in the top three list of equipment I'd purchase for my tank.

SpeedEuphoria · 11-02-2008, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W-Oz

Put some medium/low light plants in your tank, like right now right now, and let them establish themselves.

I highly disagree with this, there will be no ferts/fuel for the plants.

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedEuphoria

I highly disagree with this, there will be no ferts/fuel for the plants.

hey man, you can't just spit that out there w/o offering a solution, lol.

edit - this is where i'm at so far, just turn on the light so the cloud could be seen, just filled it like an hour ago... you can almost see my wood.

anyway, i will be off the the lfs here pretty soon for what ever it is that i need to start with(ferts/fuel/bio-spira)

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 07:23 PM

bump! i'm getting impatient here lolz

**epicfish** · 11-02-2008, 07:24 PM

What do you want us to tell you?

Buy plants.
Buy NPK ferts.
Buy CO2 system.

That's what your lighting will require you to do. If you want to risk it:

Buy plants.
Buy Excel.
Hope.

**oldpunk78** · 11-02-2008, 07:49 PM

no, forget the lighting.... i mean i know i need to start getting co2 and nutrients involved.

what ferts do you guys recommend? so far it looks like i see excel and flurish used, i'm still looking into a co2 system. right now i'm just going to use the soda bottle method until i can save up for a good set up. i figure by the time it has cycled i can be in business.

**epicfish** · 11-02-2008, 07:57 PM

www.aquariumfertilizer.com

Get the NPK + micro pack. Save some money.

And then dose Seachem Excel to keep the algae at bay in the mean time. The micro will replace Flourish.

11-02-2008, 02:29 AM	#1
oldpunk78 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (102/100%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 4,476	help plz i know this probably gets asked a lot but i am new to this forum so here goes. i have a 29g and want to do a low tech planted aquarium. currently, i have a fluval 205 for filtration, a 100w heater, 40lbs of eco-complete and a overpowering coralife 65w x 2 lunar aqua light which puts me at 4.48 watts per gallon. even if i turn one off that's still 2.24 watts per gallon and i've read that that's too much for a low tech set up. i would really appreciate it if you guys could point me in the right direction as to what i need to get this tank going. just a few hours ago i thought that i was good with the lighting until i found this site and now it looks like i am just going to grow algae with the light that i have or need co2 which really isn't something i want to get into.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-02-2008, 03:07 AM	#3
oldpunk78 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (102/100%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 4,476	it looks like the highest i could get it is about 5" above top of the tank. it's mounted inside a canopy. so if i go with a simple do it yourself co2 and only run 1 of the two lights am i going to have a problem w/algae? oh, by the way, i am going to get ferts(fertalizers?), i just don't know what to get yet, lol.

11-02-2008, 03:10 AM	#4
epicfish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (266/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,417	It's very hard to get consistent levels of CO2 in a 29g tank. You'll need at least two 2L bottles. And a staggered swap every week or every other week.

11-02-2008, 03:35 AM	#5
oldpunk78 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (102/100%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 4,476	i'm very new at this so please forgive me here, if i'm not running very much light, that should equate to needing less co2, right?

11-02-2008, 03:50 AM	#7
oldpunk78 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (102/100%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 4,476	ok, so what would an optimum set up be for a low tech 29g planted aquarium?

11-02-2008, 05:42 PM	#8
W-Oz Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Redwood Coast, Nor*Cal Posts: 33	Grow without CO2 and only use half of your lights. Put some medium/low light plants in your tank, like right now right now, and let them establish themselves. The only things you need to establish a low tech planted tank are a good substrate, lights, heater, and something to move the water around. Since you have all of these just start going to town. For more info, visit Chuck's Planted Aquarium Pages. You don't specifically need the CO2, it can help sure, but you don't need it.

11-02-2008, 05:46 PM	#9
epicfish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (266/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,417	http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...igh-light.html http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/li...ess-light.html Give these threads and links contained within a good read through. Yes, they're heavy with the science, but they'll help you greatly in putting together a successful setup for yourself. And IMO, CO2 is a vital nutrient and would be in the top three list of equipment I'd purchase for my tank.

11-02-2008, 07:23 PM	#12
oldpunk78 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (102/100%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 4,476	bump! i'm getting impatient here lolz

11-02-2008, 07:24 PM	#13
epicfish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (266/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,417	What do you want us to tell you? Buy plants. Buy NPK ferts. Buy CO2 system. That's what your lighting will require you to do. If you want to risk it: Buy plants. Buy Excel. Hope.

11-02-2008, 07:49 PM	#14
oldpunk78 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (102/100%) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 4,476	no, forget the lighting.... i mean i know i need to start getting co2 and nutrients involved. what ferts do you guys recommend? so far it looks like i see excel and flurish used, i'm still looking into a co2 system. right now i'm just going to use the soda bottle method until i can save up for a good set up. i figure by the time it has cycled i can be in business.

11-02-2008, 07:57 PM	#15
epicfish Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (266/100%) Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northern California Posts: 9,417	www.aquariumfertilizer.com Get the NPK + micro pack. Save some money. And then dose Seachem Excel to keep the algae at bay in the mean time. The micro will replace Flourish.