30-Gallon "Stocking" Plan/Suggestions

[TPIRman]

Hi all,

I'm planning to put together a 30-gallon tank soon, and I'd like for it to be well-planted. I'll have 2 watts per gallon from an All-Glass twin-tube strip light (4 x 15-watts), and I won't be injecting CO2 for now -- using Flourish Excel instead. I know it's not as good, but I'm not quite ready to enter the world of CO2 quite yet. The substrate will be Flourite, and my water has fairly neutral pH, somewhat soft.

Given those parameters, I've put together this preliminary planting plan. But it is hard for me to visualize, so I'm wondering if it seems like too much/too little, etc. Maybe I've chosen some plants that require more light? Maybe I've chosen a bad mix of plants? Any input you could give would be greatly appreciated. I plan to order the plants from aquabotanic.com.

Here is what's on my tentative list right now -- I'm not married to any of it, nor do I need to order it tomorrow, etc., so don't hold back.

2 - Echinodorus tenellus (bunches)
2 - Anubias nana
2 - "Petite" Anubias nana
2 - Cryptocoryne willisii
1 - Cryptocoryne wendtii
1 - Java fern (bunch)
2 - Rotala indica (bunches)
1 - Bacopa caroliniana (bunch)
2 - Egeria najans (bunches)
2 - Cryptocoryne ciliata
3 - Cryptocoryne balansae

I'll also have a piece of bogwood (for the Java fern) and a couple small rocks. Let me know what you think -- aesthetically, plant health-wise, etc. I really appreciate your suggestions.

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[djlen]

Sounds like a good mix. The C. Ciliata may require more light than you are supplying, but try it anyway. It may work for you.
Consider buying a bit more of the C. Balansae as it is very slow growing and will take a while to fill in.

Boil the bog wood before introducing it to get rid of excess tannins and kill off any critters that may be on it.

Start thinking in terms of ferts and N and P test kits.
Consult the sticky on nutrients for ideas on what many of us use.

Len

 

[TPIRman]

Thanks for your note, Len. I really like the C. balansae, so I'm glad to add more of it. I'll be picking up Seachem test kits for the requisite macros. And thank you for the pointer to the "informal FAQ" on ferts -- actually, that post, the Skeptical Aquarist and the Krib have been my bible for the past couple weeks or so of planning! I don't know what I would do without all the online aquarium resources.

Another quick question, if you don't mind: as far as lighting, I'd like to use GE bulbs because they're cheap and, from what I've read, perform just as well as the exorbitant specialty aquarium lights. GE currently makes three models of 15W bulbs that seem appropriate for a FW planted tank:

Aqua Rays Fresh/SW 9325K
Spectra Rays Full-Spectrum 5000K
Aqua Rays Freshwater 4400K

I was thinking 2 of the Full-Spectrum bulbs in combination with 2 of the Fresh/SW, but I wonder if the 9325K would be too much. I'd like for the tank to have a tannic color (via Sera Morena or peat in the filter, not sure which yet), but maybe the 9325K would interfere with that?

Perhaps 2 Full-Spectrum with 2 FW would be better -- or just 4 Full-Spectrum. Let me know what you think if you have a moment, and thanks again.

-John

 

[Richer]

Of the three bulbs that you've listed, I'd go with the 5000k bulb. You'll find that the lower the K rating, the more yellow the light will look. The high the K rating, the more blue the light will look.

I currently run four 55watt bulbs rated at 6700k on my 70 gallon.

HTH
-Richer

 

[djlen]

Agree with Richer on the choice, but would add that Lowes(at least the one I haunt) has a Phillips 5600K tube that would probably be comparable to the GE you're looking at, price-wise. I use them and at that kelvin rating and like the look.
5000K will be slightly more yellow so if that's what you want(sounds like it is), go with the GE's. The plants won't give a heck, one way or the other.

Len

 

[Starry]

I was thinking exactly what Len said, you need more of the C. balansae. Get at least 5, and plant them near each other (I don't mean choking each other, but not at opposite sides of the tank either). And, pick a spot you like and don't move them! In my experience, they take long to get settled and die back when moved, more so than other Crypts. They're also prone to melting, but leaving them untouched should help. Very pretty plant though, one of my favourites.

Also, the A. nana "petit," how big is a bunch from AB exactly? They're very very small, and take a long time to fill in, so the more you start with the better. Unless you just want them as an accent on driftwood or somehting like that.

The E. tenellus grows quite fast, so you may be ok with just a few (I started with only 3 tiny plantlets and they covered my foreground even before some of the other plants got settled).

I would also suggest Ludwigia repens for you tank. You could use a bit more colour, and this plant grows very fast, and looks stunning when healthy. But keep up the potassium dosing, IME it's very sensitive to K deficiency (small black holes in leaves). Limnophila sessiliflora is another one of my favourites, fast growing and very pretty.

 

[TPIRman]

I've attached AB's picture of about how big their A. nana "petite" tends to be. At $8.20 a plant, I was figuring I would stick with just a couple of these while I'm still in the novice stage. I planned to put them around my small rocks to create a little garden off to the left side of the tank. I think it will look pretty neat.

Thanks for the tip on the E. tenellus -- I was wondering how fast they would spread out. L. repens looks great, and I wanted to incorporate it, but AB said that it requires "high" light and CO2 dosing. If you think it will work, though, I would love to give it a try!

-John

 

[Captain Hook]

L repens will do fine in your setup. Not sure how red it will look, I haven't been able to get mine very red. I am currently growing it in less than 1 watt per gallon!

 

[Starry]

Originally posted by TPIRman
I've attached AB's picture of about how big their A. nana "petite" tends to be. At $8.20 a plant, I was figuring I would stick with just a couple of these while I'm still in the novice stage. I planned to put them around my small rocks to create a little garden off to the left side of the tank. I think it will look pretty neat.

Thanks for the tip on the E. tenellus -- I was wondering how fast they would spread out. L. repens looks great, and I wanted to incorporate it, but AB said that it requires "high" light and CO2 dosing. If you think it will work, though, I would love to give it a try!

-John

I think the Ludwigia will be fine, as long as your are dosing enough traces and macros. Not very demanding in terms of light/CO2, although both would help a lot. You'll find yourself adding CO2 soon, don't worry As for the redness, it tends to get redder with low nitrates (I keep mine around 5-7ppm, I don't think there's a reason to have more than that). In any case, it's not an expensive plant, so give it a try if you really like it.
That is quite a lot of A. nana, you shouldn't buy too much at that price. Don't expect it to spread a lot though.