[Pwilson]

Hello all im new to this site. well im a new poster to this site ive been around a lil bit. Im not new to nanos though I have a 2 gal jar that i keep guppys and shrimp in with plant clipings but i think i would like to try my first aquascape. Now to me an aquascape is a tank that focuses on the tank not so much the inhabitants they are more secondary, and are picked to compliment the plants in the tank.

Anyway my main question is about lighting.(you prolly get those alot)
I want to build a tank that is approx. 12x12x12 which would equal to be a little more then 6 gal. I was checking drsfostersmith.com and i found a 12" coralife light that was 2x18 watt bulbs( .Compact Fluorescent Aquarium Lighting: Coralife Aqualight Double Compact Fluorescent Strip Lights ) Will 6 WPG be enough to keep high light demanding plants.

THANKS
PW

 

[James From Cali]

Yes 6 watts is more than enough for High Light Plants. 5wpg should be the minimum high light.

 

[Pwilson]

Great now to the fun part, components, and construction.
and of course plant selection and substrate and all that fun stuff

I think i wanna do something iwagumi esc... but maybe not.. hmmm o the possiblities. I know i want a carpet foreground like HC or ricca then maybe some hairgrass for the back dun no. Any suggestions

THANKS

PW

 

[James From Cali]

I think some nice red hued plants like Rotal, Ludwiga, Sunset Hygro for the back(not all) with some Riccia carpet. Some driftwood covered in moss and Java Fern or anubias. And some Crypts and some hairgrass for the mid ground.

 

[badren]

Uh if your going to have that much you need press. co2, I would cut that to 3.5-4 wpg, maybe even less especially if you don't supplement co2. You don't want your first aquascape to be an algaescape.

 

[Pwilson]

Now you think that i will have to have CO2. What if i were tto just dose excel.
I dont no ive only keep low light plants before. But if i do need co2 is there a cheap system youcan reccomend

THANKS

PW

 

[Solstice]

^ +1 And have your ferts inline before you turn the light on.

 

[Pwilson]

Im sorry i dont understand your post solstice

PW

 

[Solstice]

Have your fertilizers ready too. Your plants will need ferts.

Most people around here use Greg Watson's ferts to dose the EI method (EI in 21 Days).

Rex's site has more info on ferts too. www.rexgrigg.com

 

[Pwilson]

O thanks for clarifying that for me

PW

 

[James From Cali]

You can setup a DIY CO2 but with higher lighting I suggest pressurized. It will be alot better in the long wrong.

 

[Digsy]

I have 4 watts per gallon over my 12g and I've had really good results using the Nutrafin Co2 system (costs about $20 online) and supplement with Flourish Excel. Combining both methods has made it pretty cheap and easy for me to maintain an algae free scape with great plant growth.

 

[Pwilson]

First off i want to say "HOLY MOLY your 12gal is gorgeious, so lush"
The nutrafin system appears to be doing its job so i think ill give it a try. Do the packets last a long time? How often do you replace them and are the replacements expensive?

Now that we have the co2 and lights lets look at what plants would be best
I like HC and riccia which one would be easier to grow also whats a good backround plant i think i want hairgrass in the midground. but i dont know any suggestions

THANKS

PW

 

[Digsy]

Thanks for the compliment! I've been very pleased with the results of the Nutrafin system. I switch out the contents of the canister on the 1st of every month, just to be sure. There are some DIY mixtures that can be found on here that are quite a bit cheaper but, I'm pretty lazy and just pay the $8 for about 3 months worth of Nutrafin packets. :smile:

 

[Pwilson]

Great.
I noticed on rex's website that 50/50 lights werent good for planted tanks is this true?

THANKS
PW

 

[dufus]

yes, plants don't ned actinic lighting, so it's wasted light that algae can use.

 

[Pwilson]

Hmmmmmm..... O RLY?
Those are the bulbs that come with that kit so do recommend that i get a different light hood? If so which one?

THANKS

PW

 

[Solstice]

You can still get the hood, just replace the bulb with a 6700k or similar bulb.

 

[Pwilson]

I was looking in the lighting section and found a poster with a similar problem there was plenty of links there for different bulbs i could get but they were either 10000k or 6500k are these ok to use

THANKS

PW

 

[Pwilson]

Sorry for the repost but i alson found a 7100K bulb that i could use to would this also be good

THANKS

PW