33 Gallon, Planted: Light and CO2 Needs

Buju

Buju

AC Members
Oct 3, 2008
19
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0
Vancouver, BC
I've currently got a 33 gallon, moderately planted tank. Got some anubis, windelov tied to rock and wood. Some Java Fern. Some Penny wort and Vallisneria gigantea, hmm.. and miscellaneous other pieces of stuff.

Anyways, I'm doing great with algae control. I've got 2 Nutrafin Natural CO2 dispensers. I'm running an XP1. And have got 42 watts of basic coralife lighting. This is an established tank.

It's got a beautiful gold gourami, a weather loach, a small catfish, about 5 harlequin rasboras and 5 black phantom tetras.

I'd like to make this a heavily planted tank and am not sure how to do that. I need better lighting. I have a cheap coralife now with 2 T5 bulbs in it. Can I just get some better bulbs with higher wattage? Will I need to increase my CO2? Will I need to dose ferts?

Can you guys help me out with this? Looking to cut costs a bit if possible.

Thanks.
 
Mgamer dispenses good advice, but if you do decide that you want to go high-tech. Start with a pressurized Co2 setup first, upgrade lights last.
 
I would like to grow some more of the difficult plants and some moss. I can not afford pressurized CO2.

I'm thinking of upgrading my bulbs to higher watt bulbs. And I can easily add another natural CO2 dispenser. But, wondering what kind of problems I'll incur if I dont get enough CO2? Can I add Excel as a substitute with the existing CO2 dispensers I have.
 
You cant just put higher wattage bulbs in your fixture, it doesnt work like incandescent lighting.

And if you do upgrade your lighting fixture, it becomes more difficult with DIY CO2, since its not very stable, but Excel can help bridge the gaps a little. And if you push high enough light, you will also need to dose macro and micro fertilzers as well.

Basically read the sticky at the top of forums, should explain anything I missed.
 
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