need suggestion pls. plants, lights

861 Views 6 Replies 3 Participants Last post by fern09, Jul 19, 2012

fern09

Discussion Starter · Jul 18, 2012

hi all,
after getting rid of my goldfish my tank still cycling....and running.

i decided to rescape little bit and add some plants but i'd like to hear any advice from you all.
my tank is 20gal which is 17high and i've about 4-5inches of play sand substrate.
my light is screw in 2X20watts 6500k cfl .

i'm planning to add narrow java fern, crypts for background and for the front either marsilea or dwarf sag.

do you think these plants will hv enough light.

i want to make green lush, with minimal seachem excel, less ferts possible tank.

i'll plan to keep around 10 fish like tetra or so at max...

any advice would greatly appreciated.

i've rootmedic liquid ferts, root tabs.

thanks

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Hoppy

· #2 · Jul 18, 2012 (Edited)

That much thickness of play sand is just begging for problems with anaerobic areas in the substrate. You might be able to get away with it if you used pool filter sand, which is coarser and more uniform. But, you don't need that much substrate - 3 inches is plenty.

I assume your CFL bulbs are in a standard aquarium light hood, screwed in in place of incandescent bulbs. And I assume you don't have much of a reflector in that light hood. If those assumptions are right, and you use 3 inches of substrate, you should get about 15-20 micromols of PAR, low light, but just barely so. If you made some reflectors for the bulbs, shaped like \_/ you would get about 30 micromols, which is much better low light.

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fern09

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 18, 2012

Hoppy said:
That much thickness of play sand is just begging for problems with anaerobic areas in the substrate. You might be able to get away with it if you used pool filter sand, which is coarser and more uniform. But, you don't need that much substrate - 3 inches is plenty.

I assume your CFL bulbs are in a standard aquarium light hood, screwed in in place of incandescent bulbs. And I assume you don't have much of a reflector in that light hood. If those assumptions are right, and you use 3 inches of substrate, you should get about 15-20 micromols of PAR, low light, but just barely so. If you made some reflectors for the bulbs, shaped like \_/ you would get about 30 micromols, which is much better low light.

thanks for your advice.
i created reflector by putting foil underneath like the shape you showed.
yes it is in standard aquarium light hood and they are daylight 6500k.

i want something like low/medium light so less ferts & less excel and less maintenance with able to grow like marsilea or hair grass if possible ifnot i'll put in dwarf sag.

what you think....would be great to hear.
thanks again.

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Hoppy

· #4 · Jul 18, 2012

With DIY CO2 you have a good chance of being able to grow those plants, but I suspect you will need to dose NPK and trace element mix, at around half or less of the amounts shown in http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21944

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fern09

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 18, 2012

Hoppy said:
With DIY CO2 you have a good chance of being able to grow those plants, but I suspect you will need to dose NPK and trace element mix, at around half or less of the amounts shown in http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21944

do you think with the light i've and no co2 would work.....

i'm just trying to make it low maintenance with low algae

if possible

so not too high light and co2...

whats ur recommendation for that.

thanks for all your help.

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exv152

· #6 · Jul 19, 2012

Personally I think it'll work, you won't get huge growth, but it's doable. Keep the co2 levels consistent, little water changes if any, low fish stock, ferts once a week or as needed, and it should work.

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fern09

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 19, 2012

exv152 said:
Personally I think it'll work, you won't get huge growth, but it's doable. Keep the co2 levels consistent, little water changes if any, low fish stock, ferts once a week or as needed, and it should work.

i'll be dosing excel only.
i'm not looking huge growth and prunning too much.

as long as i can keep nice growth and lush for my tank ......

if you think i need another light like coralife t5no or anyother, i can get it....
would be glad to hear.
thanks

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