Help with my set up please!

H

Homebrewhead

AC Members
Jan 19, 2005
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Hello all!

I'm a first time Tank owner and received it as a gift.

I have a 50 gallon tank that measures 29'' wide x 17 inches deep. Ht?

I have a Bio Wheel 330 Filter and a 200 watt non submersible heater.

I have an air pump fed to a fake rock and a Pirate! (for the kids).

My light is a 30'' 20 watt flourescent. Don't know anything else on it.

I want to do a planted tank. I'm reading that you should do a CO2 hookup and increase the lights. I have 4 plants now, don'y know what they are. I'll provide after I research.

I have gravel in now, I think I want to install Flourite?

What is the brightest light I should do short of having to inject CO2?

Is there an Aquadic Blue print available for my size tank?

I saw on another site someone had his layout available to look at.

Fish wise I have 3 Marbled AngelFish, 5 Xray Tetras, 6 neon Tetras, 3 Otos catfish, and 4 guppies I think? haha

I have Flourish, Flourish Excel and Flourish Tabs on order.

I picked up Fleet Enema and am trying to find Spectracide Stump Remover.

I'm a little overwhelmed right now trying to figure this out.

I see alot of reading in my future!

Sorry for the long post, I'll check back asap.

Thanks!

Joe
 
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Homebrewhead said:
Hello all!

I'm a first time Tank owner and received it as a gift.

I have a 50 gallon tank that measures 29'' wide x 17 inches deep. Ht?

I have a Bio Wheel 330 Filter and a 200 watt non submersible heater.

I have an air pump fed to a fake rock and a Pirate! (for the kids).

My light is a 30'' 20 watt flourescent. Don't know anything else on it.

I want to do a planted tank. I'm reading that you should do a CO2 hookup and increase the lights. I have 4 plants now, don'y know what they are. I'll provide after I research.

I have gravel in now, I think I want to install Flourite?

What is the brightest light I should do short of having to inject CO2?

Is there an Aquadic Blue print available for my size tank?

I saw on another site someone had his layout available to look at.

Fish wise I have 3 Marbled AngelFish, 5 Xray Tetras, 6 neon Tetras, 3 Otos catfish, and 4 guppies I think? haha

I have Flourish, Flourish Excel and Flourish Tabs on order.

I picked up Fleet Enema and am trying to find Spectracide Stump Remover.

I'm a little overwhelmed right now trying to figure this out.

I see alot of reading in my future!

Sorry for the long post, I'll check back asap.

Thanks!

Joe
Click to expand...


First off, 20 watts will let you grom almost nothing in a 55 gallon, and chances are what ever you have in there will die after a short period. As for the cut off point for lighting and C02? Id say anything above 2 watts per gallon may need C02, but it all depends. Some people (very few) run 2.5 watts per gallon, without C02 and experience no algae, but most do. So imo, id say after 2 watts, add C02. As for fertilising, it depends on how many plants and lighting you have, not too mention if youl be having C02.

Also if your doing a planted tank, you should have a iron rich substrate either 100% or mixed with ordinary gravel. One such substrate would be Seachem flourite. Its an excellent root feeding, iron rich gravel substrate. How much gravel do you currenlty have in your tank in inches?
 
Welcome to AC, Joe.
Here is a good place to start reading:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm
There is much practical information on this site. I suggest you put it on your 'favorites' menu so you can refer to it down the road.
I'm a little unsure of the size of your tank. You say it's a 50 gal. Can you measure and get back to us on the length, width(front to back) and height so that we'll know what we're dealing with.
You will need to upgrade your lighting if you want to seriously pursue a planted tank.
How high the lighting will need to be depends on how much time and effort you are willing to spend on the tank. I would suggest a minimum of 2watts/gal. if you go with compact fluorescent and 3watts/gal. of regular NO lighting.
Low light aquariums require less upkeep, and are more forgiving than medium or high light tanks. Therefore, IMO low/medium tanks are a good place to start.
I also would suggest that you not fertilize with anything until you upgrade your lighting. The plants do not need extra nutrients at this time. You would be causing more problems than solving them with extra nutrients.

Len
 
You'll definitely need to bump up the wattage of your lighting to probably something like 100 to 150. Would be hard to recommend a specific light without exact tank measurements.

As far as ferts go make your next order thru Greg Watson
He has everything you need at much better prices. Check Walmart for the stump remover. Thats where I found mine (before I knew about Greg Watson).
 
djlen said:
Welcome to AC, Joe.
You say it's a 50 gal. Can you measure and get back to us on the length, width(front to back) and height so that we'll know what we're dealing with.
Len
Click to expand...


The Tank is square, not a rectangle. I have a nook and that's where we wanted to put a tank, sort of out of the way.

The width of the Tank is roughly 30'' wide, 18'' Deep, 21'' ht. I was told it was a 50 gallon tank.


My current light is a Tube Light, 2 prong flourescent 20 watt.

On Big Al's I saw some lights, but the wattage wasn't listed on some. I don't know what I'm buying!!!!

Thanks!
 
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Karnaaj said:
You'll definitely need to bump up the wattage of your lighting to probably something like 100 to 150. Would be hard to recommend a specific light without exact tank measurements.

As far as ferts go make your next order thru Greg Watson
He has everything you need at much better prices. Check Walmart for the stump remover. Thats where I found mine (before I knew about Greg Watson).
Click to expand...


My light is a 30'' Flourescent 2 prong 20 watt tube .

I'm looking for a 30" 100 watt Tube for good plant growth and fish illumination.

Thanks for the Walmart info.

I have Greg Watson saved for future reference. I just bought some ferts from Big Al's to hold me over until I get the homemade ferts figured out.

I've added Nu-Salt, diluted 2x's this week along with 4 drops of Fleet.

I'll stop until I get a stonger light.

Thanks
 
I suggest a re-fit kit from: www.ahsupply.com/
If you go there and look, you will find a phone number. Give the inside dimensions of your tank's hood to Kim(the guy who will answer the phone) and he will advise you as to what he's got based on your needs.
You need to have lighting that will penetrate the 21" depth.
IMO, a 2 x 55 (CF) light kit would be a nice choice if it will fit the structure. It will give you a low/med. light environment, in which you will be able to grow many different varieties of plants.
With that level of light you will not necessarily need CO2 to maintain the plants, and a light dosing of nutrients is all that will be required.

Len
 
djlen said:
I suggest a re-fit kit from: www.ahsupply.com/
If you go there and look, you will find a phone number. Give the inside dimensions of your tank's hood to Kim(the guy who will answer the phone) and he will advise you as to what he's got based on your needs.
You need to have lighting that will penetrate the 21" depth.
IMO, a 2 x 55 (CF) light kit would be a nice choice if it will fit the structure. It will give you a low/med. light environment, in which you will be able to grow many different varieties of plants.
With that level of light you will not necessarily need CO2 to maintain the plants, and a light dosing of nutrients is all that will be required.

Len
Click to expand...

Thanks for the Link!

I'm not sure if I want/can to do this re-Kit right now because of finances.

I'm thinking of just replacing my bulb right now and do the re-kit later in a few months.

What do you think of this bulb? It has 8500K light output.

http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=23613;category_id=1849;pcid1=1843;pcid2=

Your guy has light output at 5-10K EACH! I'd be at a 10K min versus a 8700K with Big Als.

The re-kits are pretty cool once I read up on them. Maybe I'll change my mind before you respond! haha

Thanks again for your help.
 
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I just spoke to Dan at Big Al's and he said I should go with something close to what DJlen suggested!

I guess great minds think alike!

Maybe I'll bite the bullet and upgrade my existing hood to a 2x55 CF.


OKAY, the light issue is resolved.

What about swapping out the substate material???

ANy help is mucho appreciated!

Thanks.
 
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