I want to get serious (questions)

[Lauren]

I've started to plant my tank, and i like the practice a lot, but there is a lot I need to know. Please bare with me. I know I could search for the answers, but I would sort of like a tailored response.

set up:

20g with stock (probably 15w) lighting

questions:

lighting: I know I need more. But how much? I'm debating high light. Honestly, how much would that cost for me to do? What is the upkeep involved?

fertilizer: should I go CO2, or is the liquid fertilizer I use enough? I'm going to get some under gravel fertilizer as well, since I have normal gravel. What tests are needed to make sure my plants are getting enough nutrients?

plant options: if I stay low light, what are some plants I should look for, I have noticed that there isn't much selection for low light plants.

Planting on rocks: at my fish store there are a lot of anubias nana planted in gaps between rocks, with the roots exposed. I like this look, if I were to do this, what are my chances of success? I have one that I tried with, but I noticed it starting to wither, so I relocated it to the gravel.

[Must4ng s4lly]

Lauren,
BTW what is that a pic of??? (the avatar) I am really curious......) As far as plants, I grow mine with the liquid plant food ( just twice a month feedings after tank cleaning) and Mostly my mulm thats built up with all the fish. However, when I clean my tank, I always completely clean around and under the plants and put em back where they were in the gravel.... they are fine. I am sorry I can't help with the lighting.

[Grandmastr]

i just made a 40 watt hood for my 20 gallon from home depot

pick up a 24 inch dual channel strip
make a hood or somethign to hold the lights over hte tank
and go to lowes for plant flourscent bulbs

cost me 30 bucks for everything

if u stay wit stock light

stay wit water lettuce
java moss
java fern
possible anarachris
hygdro maybe

dont use c02 in low light, only when u have alot of light

definatly get some liquid ferlitzer dont go for anything else ,the other stuff usually rots in the tank

[Lauren]

tuna sushi, I'd say rainbow tuna, but I dont' know for sure :)

thanks for the info so far. If I was good with my hands, I would attempt to make a hood myself, but I am not. :( so I'd probably have to buy one.

[promethean_sprk]

My 20 has a sheet of plexiglass on the top with a 2 bulb 24" flourescent fixture on it. That's enough light for me to grow:

Swords
C. Wendtii
H. Difformis
Anacharis
Hornwart
L. Repens
Cabomba

That tank has no CO2 and houses 6 mollies+babies, 2 cories and maybe a couple ottos. Oh, also about 1000 MTS, some ramshorn and pond snails.

I left the plexiglass off for a while and the difformis grew out of the tank about 1 foot.

The plants grow like gangbusters in there. I use it as a nursery for my 55g, plants that are small or weak get to grow out in the 20.

[TKOS]

I would try and aim for at least 2 watts of normal output flourescent light at the least. Anything above 3 wpg though and you will have to consider CO2.

Check out the website for AH supply. They sell retrofitted kits of whole hoods for a resonable price.

[Lauren]

if I were to get a 25-40watt bulb would I need a new hood to house it in?

[TKOS]

Flourescent ballasts can only take the bulb made for them. So yours can only take a 15 watt. Others won't fit.

[Uncle Bete]

for the most of us, the put only light with ballast part is true, but...

And I wish I could find the place(forum) again but I haven't been able to come across it so far. (was around a yr ago when i was reading it).

These guys were into plants big time. I think they wanted to be able to sit there and watch them grow!
>>>>>>>DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME! YOU MIGHT BURN THE HOUSE DOWN!<<<<<<<<<

They were taking, if I remember right, a ballast from somewhere like home depot that was for 2 - 40 wt. bulbs. And hooking all four wires to 1 - 15 wt bulb or it might have been 2-15's in series. They were getting something like 60wts over there 10 gal. tanks lol for about $20.

cool huh

[CHINABOY1021]

Uncle Bete is talking about ODNO. Over driving normal output.

it means using electronic ballats that run 4 bulbs, but connecting the wires to 2 bulbs or even 1 bulb(for 4 x the power into 1 bulb).

[Lauren]

My boyfriend's dad is an electrician who has taught him a bit of the trade, so he's confident he can work this retrofit out for me. I did a search, but I couldn't find any diy instructions. Can anyone tell me exactly what I would need to do this? I assume this would need a new bulb as well, right?

[CHINABOY1021]

here's a thread with good diagrams. note the first diagrams are some what incorrect and was corrected by a pro in later post.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4205&highlight=

here is the info about ODNO:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=194

[Uncle Bete]

yea, like chinaboy said
Thanks :D