first off, i would like to know how much some of you think it would cost to set one up (a 55g). im not talking about with the plants, just how much for substrate decent lights and plant foods will cost. i want to use onyx sand or flourite, how many bags should i use and which one would you suggest? i dont want to spend 100's of $ on lights... and what are some good plant foods you would recomend for me to start off? i have some a. ulvaceus (the packaged dry bulbs from walmart) and a ringerini sword (or something) and it will probably only be those plants for a while until i can find a good place to get plants from (we dont have a lfs) cuz i live in a small town...
some q's about how to set up a planted aquarium
- Thread starter K_S_W_I_S_S
- Start date
What are the dimensions of your tank? If it is four feet across at the top, then I would encourage you to buy the cheaper four foot flourescent shop light fixtures that go on sale at your LBS (Local Building Supply store). Then you can buy those 4' plant and aquarium bulbs that are only about $5.00 US or less.
Do you want a slow growing low maintenence, low light tank? Go for two - four foot bulbs (fixture about $15.00) . Want faster growth? go for four - four foot bulbs with CO2. If you go CO2, you will probably want to save money and go with the DIY CO2 (about $5.00) at first, then graduate to the pressurised CO2 (about $120.00) when you can afford it.
Anything else?
HTH
Do you want a slow growing low maintenence, low light tank? Go for two - four foot bulbs (fixture about $15.00) . Want faster growth? go for four - four foot bulbs with CO2. If you go CO2, you will probably want to save money and go with the DIY CO2 (about $5.00) at first, then graduate to the pressurised CO2 (about $120.00) when you can afford it.
Anything else?
HTH
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I agree with Matak on the lighting. It's what I use in my low light 55 and works great. And you can get some excellent tubes to go into it as well.
Flourite is about $15 a 15lb. bag. My rule of thumb is one pound of substrate per gallon. So you'll need 4 bags. You do the math......
I believe that Onyx is comparable in price to Flourite, so it's a matter of personal preference.
It's hard to tell you how much plant foods will cost. There are so many variables, and ways you can go.
Len
Flourite is about $15 a 15lb. bag. My rule of thumb is one pound of substrate per gallon. So you'll need 4 bags. You do the math......
I believe that Onyx is comparable in price to Flourite, so it's a matter of personal preference.
It's hard to tell you how much plant foods will cost. There are so many variables, and ways you can go.
Len
Onyx sand is a great choice. I bought 7 bags for my 72g and only used 6. It is great. For your tank, I would recommend getting 6 bags, you will only need 5, but 6 if you want to have one area higher than the other or something like that.
I would also go to home depot and get a 2 bulb shoplight. I got one about a month and a half ago for about $16, and I went back yesterday and got another one for less than $7. As for the bulbs, I wouldn't recommend getting the "aquarium" bulbs as there is no information on them and they cost more. They are the same as the other bulbs, but since they say "aquarium", people assume that they should buy them. I have two 5000K(natural daylight) and two 6500K(daylight delux) bulbs for a total of about $15.
About the food, you don't need any, they just help the plants along, but again, they are not a necessity. I would recommend using carbon dioxide for them. People have CO2 systems that cost a few hundred, but other people like me have do it yourself CO2. All it is is a two liter bottle with water, yeast, baking soda, and sugar. This is how it is done. Fill a 2 liter bottle half way with warm water. Add 1- 1&1/2 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of yeast, and a pinch of baking soda. Shake is up. Get some air tubing and make a hole in the middle of the bottle cap the width of the tubing. Insert the tub about an inch or so in the cap and seal it with super glue on both sides. Wait for the glue to dry. On the other end of the tube, put an air stone and put it in your tank by the bottom. Put the cap on the bottle and wait for the bubbles to start comming up. This will last for about two weeks.
I would also go to home depot and get a 2 bulb shoplight. I got one about a month and a half ago for about $16, and I went back yesterday and got another one for less than $7. As for the bulbs, I wouldn't recommend getting the "aquarium" bulbs as there is no information on them and they cost more. They are the same as the other bulbs, but since they say "aquarium", people assume that they should buy them. I have two 5000K(natural daylight) and two 6500K(daylight delux) bulbs for a total of about $15.
About the food, you don't need any, they just help the plants along, but again, they are not a necessity. I would recommend using carbon dioxide for them. People have CO2 systems that cost a few hundred, but other people like me have do it yourself CO2. All it is is a two liter bottle with water, yeast, baking soda, and sugar. This is how it is done. Fill a 2 liter bottle half way with warm water. Add 1- 1&1/2 cups of sugar, 1 teaspoon of yeast, and a pinch of baking soda. Shake is up. Get some air tubing and make a hole in the middle of the bottle cap the width of the tubing. Insert the tub about an inch or so in the cap and seal it with super glue on both sides. Wait for the glue to dry. On the other end of the tube, put an air stone and put it in your tank by the bottom. Put the cap on the bottle and wait for the bubbles to start comming up. This will last for about two weeks.
i already have a diy co2 system, and i have 1 4 ft shop light, and i can barely fit two on my tank.... maybe i can take the fixture apart and make the lights sit right next to each other....
If you figure out how to take the shop lights apart and put them back so they sit next to each other please let me know!
My dad knows about all the electrical stuff but is too busy and lives an hour away so i have to figure it out on my own....
Spunky
My dad knows about all the electrical stuff but is too busy and lives an hour away so i have to figure it out on my own....
Spunky
my dad know just about everything about electronics too... its not the electronics that needs to be messed with, just taht i need to figure out what i can put all of the equipment on... like a peice of wood or something.... i need to find something i can fit 8 bubls and 4 ballasts on... any ideas??? im also gonna post this in diy....
Posting in DIY will net you some real good advice. I made a DIY light hood that hinges on the tank and has 4 flourescent bulbs and two compact screw-in flourescent bulbs, all in a one foot by three foot hood! It is amazing what you can do yourself and it is rewarding too. Be sure to leave yourself lots of time to accomplish this task, it always takes longer than you think.
All you have to do is open up the shoplight and remove the ballast and wiring. Then all that has to be in the hood are the bulbs, endcaps and ballast. Mount the ballast somewhere near the back and pick up a few lamp-clips to hold your bulbs in place.
If you don't really want to mess with taking apart the shoplights (which is fairly easy) or still have trouble fitting enough bulbs in the hood. you could always pick up a HO or VHO ballast from HD so you wouldn't have to use as many bulbs.
If you don't really want to mess with taking apart the shoplights (which is fairly easy) or still have trouble fitting enough bulbs in the hood. you could always pick up a HO or VHO ballast from HD so you wouldn't have to use as many bulbs.