Help with nano-tank!

[hadjici2]

Hello,

I have a 20L tank, 11W fluorescent lamp, DIY CO2, Seachem Flourite as substrate. I also have as fertilizers Seachem Flourish, Seachem Flourish Iron,Seachem Flourish Nitrogen, Seachem Flourish Phosphorus, Seachem Flourish Potassium and Seachem Flourish Excel.

My intentions are to make a healthy green tank with the main plant to be a carpet like plant like glosso or a hair grass or riccia or whatever.

1. Do you think 11W are enough for such plants? 2. If I stick with the 11W should I dose the above and use the DIY CO2?
3. Except from trace ements do you think I am missing anything?
4. Do you have any suggestions on how to aquascape this tank with the rescources that I have?
5. Do you have any suggestions on how to aquascape this tank with rescources that I don't have and what else will I need?

Thanks.

 

[phanmc]

1. I don't think an 11w NO Fluorescent bulb is enough to grow carpet plants with the exception of marsilea minuta and hemianthus callitrichoides. If you want to grow glosso or riccia, I recommend switching to a 13w or higher power compact fluorescent.

2. Even in a low light tank, additional dosing may be necessary if the plants exhibits unhealthy symptoms (yellowing, browning, curling, etc). CO2 will benefit low light tanks as well, so definately put that in.

3. I think you've pretty much covered all of your fertilizing needs.

4. Aquascaping is mostly personal preference. What's commonly recommended is to have a slope with more substrate in the back and less in the front, this creates an illusion of depth that makes your tank look deeper than it actually is. I also like to create little hills and valleys for an uneven look.

5. I like rocks and driftwood. For a small tank getting a nice piece of driftwood may be hard but rocks are easy enough to find at a rockery. Also get a nice pair of long tweezers and pruning scissors, you'll definately want them for planting and pruning glosso.