10g transformed into 29g, 6/6/08

[@marko@]

the tank will look good once you get the microsword in there, it really is screaming out for a foreground planting.

[Bk828]

looking good, though i would move that branch on the left and place it more on an angle, at the moment it seems 2 vertical.
Not sure if i missed it but whats the lighting on the 29g?? I had microswords before and they are very tough to keep.

[@marko@]

really? i never got mine to carpet, but it never died either. its still in my tank shoved into an out-of-the-way spot growing slowly.

[James From Cali]

Originally Posted by Bk828

looking good, though i would move that branch on the left and place it more on an angle, at the moment it seems 2 vertical.
Not sure if i missed it but whats the lighting on the 29g?? I had microswords before and they are very tough to keep.

I will post a pic in a moment for ya. My bulb says 17 watt.

Originally Posted by @marko@

the tank will look good once you get the microsword in there, it really is screaming out for a foreground planting.

Originally Posted by @marko@

really? i never got mine to carpet, but it never died either. its still in my tank shoved into an out-of-the-way spot growing slowly.

That is the only thing that would seem problematic is the slow growth but if I could get it to grow then it would prove that it is not as light demanding as said. If not then I would get some UG(cant remember the name off hand).

[James From Cali]

Argentine sword that I want to make my amain plant centerpiece.


Bk828, I had been trying to change that and I had done that today. Here is the new hardscape placement.


Marko, thanks for staying tuned in.

[Bk828]

much better, will look great covered in moss. My experience with microsword was in a 10g with 2.8wpg. It did grow slightly but the growth was very very very slow, for you to get a carpet out of it you are just better off getting 20 or so pots of it and just filling it in inch by inch. In the end i got rid of it because it couldnt over compete the green spot algae. On many boards people have trouble keeping and actually making the microswords thrive and grow into a carpet. Especially you got only 17w over a 29g thats just above .5wpg which is nothing at all. If you want to grow a larger variety of the plants then i would suggest a possible retrofit with the screw in cfl.

[@marko@]

wait wait wait, you only have .5wpg in that 29gal? are you planning on adding more?

my microsword is barely sending out runners in my 20L which has 3.25wpg and a 6.5wpg noon burst for 3 hours. and when i say bearly i mean 1 or 2 plantlets a month.

[Bk828]

^^ yup yupp

I suggest you try some other lower light plant. Dwarf clover is good with low light, but then again it is .5wpg. Up your lighting to atleast 1.5wpg+ and then you will be in better plant growing shape.

[lauraleellbp]

A 29gal is a TALL tank- you definitely need more than 0.5 wpg. Especially if you want to grow any kind of foreground plant.

I'm probably going to get this fixture for my 29gal once I convert it to a planted tank, it's actually on sale right now: http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...lestriplight30

[fshfanatic]

I was getting pretty good growth with my 30" 1X65 Coralife fixture. But changed to a 1X96 Coralife fixture and stuff is really taking of in my 29.

The 1X65 30" needs a new bulb, ( and it has the legs as well ) but if you are interested I would let it go cheap. I am $30 short on what I need for my new filter, so $30 Shipped.

[Bk828]

Originally Posted by lauraleellbp

A 29gal is a TALL tank- you definitely need more than 0.5 wpg. Especially if you want to grow any kind of foreground plant.

I'm probably going to get this fixture for my 29gal once I convert it to a planted tank, it's actually on sale right now: http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...lestriplight30

That fixture you linked is pretty much a waste since it will only put you at 1.2wpg ... I would try the 1x65 or 1x96 fixture as stated above. It will give you more of a variety on the plants to grow without any issues.

[lauraleellbp]

James originally started out this project with the goal of testing out low-light plants. That goal may have changed, but if not, IMO 1.2 wpg of T5 lighting would be perfect to continue along the same lines

[Bk828]

oopps sorry if thats so then yee.. That light for that price is pretty good. Plus it has that pink bulb, which from my experience does wonders for plant growth.

[@marko@]

Originally Posted by Bk828

That fixture you linked is pretty much a waste since it will only put you at 1.2wpg ... I would try the 1x65 or 1x96 fixture as stated above. It will give you more of a variety on the plants to grow without any issues.

1x65 wouldnt be enough. in my 20L (which is the same footprint but not as tall) i have 1x65 for the whole day, but the fixture comes with 2x65 and the other is for a 3 hour noon burst. so a 96 would be good if use the whole day. if the difference isnt that much in price, i would reccomend the 96w.

[Bk828]

Originally Posted by @marko@

1x65 wouldnt be enough. in my 20L (which is the same footprint but not as tall) i have 1x65 for the whole day, but the fixture comes with 2x65 and the other is for a 3 hour noon burst. so a 96 would be good if use the whole day. if the difference isnt that much in price, i would reccomend the 96w.

True but once again as previously stated we are not sure if the OP wants to keep it low light or move to medium.