Planting a very tall tank

Gena575

Gena575

AC Members
Feb 7, 2006
94
0
0
I am in the process of setting up an oddly shaped 80 gallon tank. The dimensions are 36x18x30. I really would like live plants in the tank, but getting light to the bottom is going to be a problem, as is getting enough light over it. I don't want to fool with CO2 if I can help it as I'm a huge plant newbie. In my 10 I'm doing well with java fern, java moss, crypts and wisteria. Anyway. I was thinking of using pots for the plants so I can get the plants closer to the light. Something like a 6 inch potted crypt on top of an inverted 8 inch pot that I cut an opening in for a cave. Then maybe java moss around the seam between the two pots so it looks less like 2 stacked pots LOL! I've looked at various lighting options, but I'm not sure what the T values mean so I'm still researching that aspect. I suspect though that due to space and monetary concerns, 1wpg is about the max I'll be able to achieve. Anyone have any creative ideas to grow some very basic, very low light plants in this crazy tall tank?
 
You could terrace it and plant the upper terraces. I have seen some nice tanks that have little fake mountains in them, with gravel piled in the top of the "mountain" and that planted. Or, you could put a lot of big driftwood in there and attach java ferns etc. to the upper portions of the driftwood.
 
At 2.8wpg on my tank that is 24 inches deep, I haven't had that much trouble. The only real trouble you will have will be with ground cover.If you stick with stuff that will not revert to growing straight up when it doesn't have enough light, you should be fine, granted that you have around 3wpg or more. I would highly recommend going CO2 as well, it is really the only way to get a great aquascape.

My other suggestion would be to elevate! Use driftwood and rock to raise your planting surface, putting your plants closer to the light. There are a lot of bunch plants that make good background and grow well in medium light.

This is what I mean by elevating :http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/contest/index.php?action=showentry&id=51

I am about to do something like that in my 45 gallon, I am also increasing the lighting from 2.8wpg to 4.4wpg so that I can have some good success with the tough carpet plants.

However, something I think will be intersted (and if you want I will sketch out a scape plan for you) would be to have an elevated planting surface in the front, and a tumbling of cobbles in the front, which you could cover in moss, which would make it easier to grow in the low light.
 
My other suggestion would be to elevate! Use driftwood and rock to raise your planting surface, putting your plants closer to the light. There are a lot of bunch plants that make good background and grow well in medium light.
Click to expand...

That is kind of what I was thinking with the stacked pots idea...hmm that tank you posted is giving me all kinds of ideas. I wonder if I could create some sort of "cave" in the bottom with stacked slate. On top of that I could fashion a low flat planter type thing to grow a few crypts or anubias (thanks Kyle, I hadn't thought of them...I told you I was a newbie!). Lots of java moss to create a carpet type look and maybe some java fern towards the sides or some other frondy type plant. I plan to stock a single firemouth, some mollies or swords and some type of smaller pleco like a bristlenose. The firemouth would appreciate the cave area I think. I'm bad with drawing, but I can see it in my head LOL!

Jason, any clue where you've seen pictures of the "mountain" idea? Sounds interesting. I've seen ones where people put an airstone in a volcano shaped rock and the bubbles erupted from the volcano. A little less natural a look than I am hoping for, but fun anyway.
 
it is very feasable that you'd be able to get caves and still have a platform to grow on, you just have to get the slate right. This is the really quick thing I came up with with very limited resources, while on my lunch break:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y55/silverbeam/fish/aqa.jpg

You would really only scape one corner of the tank, and most of it would be really low maintanace. I think the sword should work. What is the wpg exactly? You can build the substrate up in the corner that you'd build on, by putting something down first that would help hold the gravel higher, they make little plastic grid like structures to do this. you could also use the slate, by covering a few pieces.
 
What is the wpg exactly?
Click to expand...

Depending on which set up I go with, maybe just under 1wpg. Finding lighting to fit my canopy is a huge pain. I think I can fit 2, 2 bulb 24 inch strips into the hood. So, that is 4 24 inch bulbs and I have seen them from 8w to 15w per bulb. So, the 8w are out, but 4 15w bulbs would give me 60w over 80 gallons. If anyone has any lighting resources that won't break the bank, I'd love links. I'm having fits with it!!
 
Lauren said:
www.ahsupply.com
www.aquatraders.com

You need more than 1wpg to grow anything, I'd aim for 3 myself. it is better to get too much than to have to re do it later and lose money in depreciation.
http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=266 this would give you 2.4wpg
Click to expand...

WOW!!! aquatraders.com has cheap lights. I just ordered my 36" coralife compact flousant for THREE times as much!! what's the catch? are those lights strips good quality? any user review? I am going to cancel my order if so
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom