Planted tank handling for you?

[RTR]

I'm just gathering info on how folks actually handle their tanks. Not what you think is best, or right, or wrong, but what you actually do.

If you have multiple tanks, respond on your favorite setup.

TIA for participating.

[carpguy]

I'm using an AH Supply 2x36 on my 30g (2.4 wpg) with pressurized CO2. I'm happy with it but wouldn't mind slightly brighter lights. I kind of regret not going with the 96w kit (3.2 wpg), but don't think I'd want to go much brighter than that.

I've been busy lately and let the gardening go for a few weeks. I just finished a 2 hour marathon and am having trouble standing up straight -- filled a 5 gallon bucket more than halfway with clippings (and hopefully excised the hygro I started with for good).

Moderate light with CO2 is plenty good for me.

[Matt W]

I just have a little 10 gallon planted. A DIY light setup (all parts from home depot) that puts two 18 inch t8's over the tank for a total of 30 watts.

DIY CO2 that I finally got a mix worked out that provides me with 25ppm CO2 :)

[Cearbhaill]

90 gallon with 110w of CF light, using Excel as well as other Flourish products.
One or two days a week I'll turn on the second set of 110w for a total of 220w for a couple of hours.

This has been set up for nearly three months now with zero algae and great plant growth. Photos and links to more info in my signature.

[Dabbler II]

120 Gal reef ready tank, 550 watts of CF lighting (DIY) Pressureized co2, awaiting my "red plants" to fully try out the system.:)

[mogurnda]

25 gallon tall, 55W + 13W CF, both with aquarium hobbyist reflectors. 13W morning and night, both lights on mid-day. Pressurized CO2. Algae under control, plants filling the tank.

[RTR]

Thanks folks - I really appreciate your taking the time to respond.

[Alex]

I have 55g with 2 wpg, 32g with 3.4 wpg, 30g with 2 wpg, 29g with 2 wpg, two 10g with 3 wpg, two 10g with 1.5 wpg, 5.5g with 4 wpg, 3g with 2 wpg and a 1g with 7 wpg and a 30w light above that.

Alex

[125gJoe]

I'm still having the dilemma of knowing true 'wpg'..

Compact Flourescents can be viewed differently on 'wpg'..

I voted - 2.5wpg + CO2 for planted tanks...

[RTR]

Joe - To me, the old (and shaky) rules of thumb on wpg were set from manufacturer fluorescent strip lights or DIY/commercial fluorescent hoods with poor to moderate reflectors. PC fluoros are brighter per watt, PC fluoros w/AHS reflectors or comparable are much brighter, but so are NOs with comparable reflectors. So that is self-correcting with individual usage.

I have never been comfortable comparing fluorescents (NO, PC, HO, VHO) with other light sources on a wpg basis - there are too many differences to make it that simple.

All JMHO & YMMV. ;)

[Gomer]

3.8 wpg: 2x55 AH (mixed 5000k and 6700k) on my 29g with DIY CO2 (soon to have an inline reactor with pressurized CO2)

3.8wpg (realistically about 1/2 that): 2x 19watt 6500k screw in compacts on my 10g. DIY CO2 and will use excel on that also soon.

[The Gipper]

120 gal (4x2x2)
2 x 175 W MH pendants, open top
DIY wet dry
Pressure CO2
Onyx Sand
Weekly additions of K, N, trace elements
5 Altum Angels, school of Red Phantoms, Gold White Clouds, SAE, Corydoras

[djlen]

40 gal. w/3.0 wpg(CF) and press. CO2
55 gal. w/1.5 wpg(NO) and press. CO2
55 gal. w/3.0 wpg(NO) and press. CO2
10 gal. w/1.5 wpg(NO) and DIY CO2
Most responsive - the first one
Most rewarding and easiest - the second one
Biggest pain in the butt - the third one - it's new and unsettled

A guy(person?) with the right idea IMO - Cearbhaill. Check out that tank!!! Nice growth and little worries.

I went into this planted business thinking "more" was better. I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that I can get as much satisfaction and half the headaches with "less".

Len

[Raithan Ellis]

My Planted Tanks

-110 gallon, No CO2, 196w T-12(6x36")
Vallisnaria, JavaMoss, JavaFern

-75 gallon, DIY CO2, 128w T-8(4x48")
Moneywort, Anubias, Vallisnaria, Rotala

-75 gallon, No CO2, 64w T-8(2x48")
JavaFern, JavaMoss, Duckweed

-30 gallon, Injected CO2, 110w CF
Baby Tears, Moneywort, Rotala, Vallisnaria, Ricca, JavaFern, Chain Sword, Anubias

-30 gallon, DIY CO2, 64w T-8(2x48")
Vallisnaria, Apongenton, Banana Plant

-10 gallon, Injected CO2, 64w T-8(2x48") and 65w CF (Yes, all at once.)
Purpose is for maintaing high-light plants, nutrient uptake testing, and algae experiments. ;) Currently contains 17 species.

[Slappy*McFish]

10 gallon tank - 3wpg(NO), 15w 5000k Philips Natural Color/ 15w 6500k CoralifeTrichromatic - DIY CO2 + Flourish Excel - Current plants = Cardamine Lyrata, Echinodorus Osiris(removed the Java Fern and C. wendtii).

55 gallon tank - 1.5wpg(NO), 40w 5000K Philips Natural Color/ 40w 6500K Philips Daylight Deluxe - Flourish Excel only - Current plants = Anubias barteri var. nana, Rotala rotundifolia(indica), Echinodorus rubin, Cryptocoryne wendtii(bronze), Microsorium pteropus(java fern).

*The 10 gallon got a major facelift and looks 10X better now. I removed the E. Osiris(s) from the 55g and added it to the 10g as they were receiving damage from unknown fishes in the 55g.