So I have an extra 10 gallon tank kicking around and I want to use it as a starter tank for plants to go into my 72 gallon. Right now I have the tank, sand, and lights. Im using 2 23w CFL bulbs for light. My 72 gallon has about 140 watts per gallon and it houses my discus. I dont want anything that will get taller than my tank or grows to fast for me to keep up with. Im not going to use Co2 but I will use ferts. Please suggest away. Also colors are good too.
Help me plant my tank.
- Thread starter MIKE D
- Start date
uhhhh, try those numbers again, 140 WPG? that means you have 10,080 watts total, ummm, yeah...... lol
I am a crypt lover, you can get greens and bronzes and they do well with low light. They also spread quickly and can get quite tall. Another plant that might do well is sagittaria subulata. Its a grassy tall plant that can do well in your light conditions, I have it in my 10g's and also my 29g (which is a tall tank). Anubias bartieri would look nice in your big tank as well, its a slow grower and very attractive. Of course there are always mosses and java fern that would do well in that lighting too.
What is considered Low light and high light? I'm looking at some plants that I found on plantgeek.net Hygrophila corymbosa 'compact', echinodorus cordifolius, barclaya longfoilia, nuphar japonica, alternanthera reineckii, eleocharis acicularis, lysimachia nummularia v. aurea. these were medium light plants. Im also checking out the plants you suggested msjinkzd.
I consider low-light up to about 2wpg, mid 2-3, high 3 and over...not sure if this is everyone's interpretation though.
IYO do you think the two 23w CFL bulbs that are 3000k can start medium light plants? I found a compact fluorescent retrofit lamp kit for my 72 gallon that has 4 65w lamps. (http://www.aquariumguys.com/48sunpaq.html) That should give me 3.5 wpg.
A kelvin rating of 6700-10K is better for plants. I think if you have 3.5 wpg and are not dosing co2 you will have some significant algae issues. I don't have experience with planted tanks about 2.5 wpg because I do not dose co2. Hopefully someone more experienced in that light range will chime in for ya.
Hey Mike, I just wanted to chime in here.
I've had a 29gl with a coralife fixture two 65w (one 6.7k one 10k ) CFs in it for about 3 years ( of course i change them out about every 9 months or so)that's about 4 watts per gallon. I have Eco complete substrate , some crypts , Java moss, Java ferns, and some Ludwigia Repens. Only dosed Flourish ( not regularly ) and that was it. So, I grew the most lovely, vibrant, flowing black beard algae anyone's ever laid eyes on!!! It grew on everything. And thats about all that grew.
Anyhow, point is , I was fairly ignorant to the whole planted tank thing, until recently. AC folks really helped to educate me.:grinyes:
I just wanted my tank to look like those display tanks at the lfs. That is why i bought it in the first place.:cry:
IME after adding flourish exel for about three weeks, using regular flourish as directed, and doing weekly water changes ( as I've always done ) My BBA has been sent into complete remission
. My plants started growing again ( just wait till i start my macro ferts ). I'm setting up my pressurized Co2 as i type this to lessen the need for exel. And i should receive my dry ferts in the mail any day now.:dance2:
So, to sum up, IME adding alot of lighting to a tank without Co2 and ubalance fert levels leads to agae problems just as everyone has said.
I've had a 29gl with a coralife fixture two 65w (one 6.7k one 10k ) CFs in it for about 3 years ( of course i change them out about every 9 months or so)that's about 4 watts per gallon. I have Eco complete substrate , some crypts , Java moss, Java ferns, and some Ludwigia Repens. Only dosed Flourish ( not regularly ) and that was it. So, I grew the most lovely, vibrant, flowing black beard algae anyone's ever laid eyes on!!! It grew on everything. And thats about all that grew.
Anyhow, point is , I was fairly ignorant to the whole planted tank thing, until recently. AC folks really helped to educate me.:grinyes:
I just wanted my tank to look like those display tanks at the lfs. That is why i bought it in the first place.:cry:
IME after adding flourish exel for about three weeks, using regular flourish as directed, and doing weekly water changes ( as I've always done ) My BBA has been sent into complete remission
. My plants started growing again ( just wait till i start my macro ferts ). I'm setting up my pressurized Co2 as i type this to lessen the need for exel. And i should receive my dry ferts in the mail any day now.:dance2:
So, to sum up, IME adding alot of lighting to a tank without Co2 and ubalance fert levels leads to agae problems just as everyone has said.