How beautiful. I'll admit, I didn't think I'd like your low tech tank, but you've once again proved to us that high light isn't needed in creating a nice aquarium.
Jeff's Medium? Light High Tech 75
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Since I did a major rescape I thought I'd start a new thread and post a couple of pics. I've gone from 2x54 T5HO to 1x54 T5HO for the whole photoperiod. I had some issues with most of my dwarf lobelia and Stauro repens melting after adding all the wood and changing up the lighting. It turns out it wasn't due to the lighting change but the decrease in flow created by the wood. After noticing detritus collecting in areas of the tank I added a couple of Koralias and along with no more detritus collecting I also noticed the lobelia and repens making a quick recovery and an increased rate and fullness of growth in Stauro porto velho, E. vesuvius and the blyxa. I'm using an Archaea CO2 diffuser now. The mist is so fine it's hardly noticeable.
I'm really liking the tank. Maintenance is so much easier than the higher light stem-dominated tank I used to keep. Most weeks it's now just a water change and wipe down of the glass. No weekly major trims and I have a scape that's evolving weekly instead of daily.
Anyway, here are some pics that I'll preface with my usual "it looks much better in person, I'm no photographer". It does still need to fill in a bit and should as the lobelia and repens recover and the ferns continue their steady growth. Please excuse the reflections. We have quite a few windows and lamps, lol, in the living room.
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And one of my newest residents. One of a small handful of RCS survivors that managed to avoid my tetras when they were first added.
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I'm really liking the tank. Maintenance is so much easier than the higher light stem-dominated tank I used to keep. Most weeks it's now just a water change and wipe down of the glass. No weekly major trims and I have a scape that's evolving weekly instead of daily.
Anyway, here are some pics that I'll preface with my usual "it looks much better in person, I'm no photographer". It does still need to fill in a bit and should as the lobelia and repens recover and the ferns continue their steady growth. Please excuse the reflections. We have quite a few windows and lamps, lol, in the living room.
And one of my newest residents. One of a small handful of RCS survivors that managed to avoid my tetras when they were first added.
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Lovely Jeff!
(C'mon Sara, you know you're just dying to set up a low tech... :bounce
(C'mon Sara, you know you're just dying to set up a low tech... :bounce
I'm not sure I'd qualify it as low tech even though if you judged it by the less than 0.8 wpg I have it would be considered low tech. I'm sure many will disagree but after seeing the results now that I have the flow issue corrected, I wouldn't doubt that many plants that are considered high light would do well albeit at a slower growth rate. I even have pearling of the blyxa
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So how much brighter would T5HO be compared to double the wattage AHS supply compact flourescents? How much, how often, and what are you dosing?
I think I also need to get a bit more flow in my tank.
Again, great tank, and my goal is to have one that looks at least half that good.
I think I also need to get a bit more flow in my tank.
Again, great tank, and my goal is to have one that looks at least half that good.
I have no experience with AHS so I can't really make any comparison. My best suggestion would be to check out Hoppy's sticky on PAR values in the Lighting forum.So how much brighter would T5HO be compared to double the wattage AHS supply compact flourescents? How much, how often, and what are you dosing?
I think I also need to get a bit more flow in my tank.
Again, great tank, and my goal is to have one that looks at least half that good.
A lot of people talk about flow in planted tanks. Some seem to think it's not so important while others think it is. I now think having good flow is right at the top along with having and keeping good CO2 levels.
It's inert aquarium gravel. One of the CaribSea naturals to be more specific. If I ever do another tank or redo this one I'll probably give one of the plant specific substrates a try.
Show off! :redface: Laura - I am a closet low techy. Two of my tanks are without co2 and fertilizing.I even have pearling of the blyxa
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