Moving from artificial to planted..

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kmano8

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Jul 24, 2008
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I have a 20g artificial tank that I would like to plant. I have a substrate of pea-sized gravel and a 65w 10,000K/460nm actinic compact florescent (setting me at about 3wpg).

As far as fish, I have a 3" texas cichlid, 1.5" salvini cichlind and a 2" pleco.

What would the best way to get plants successfully growing in the tank with the least stress to fish? What plants are compatible with my cichlids? Do I need to change substrate? Is my light too strong? What about CO2 and fertilizer?

Thanks for all your help!
 
1- you would need to switch out your light bulb for one thats 6700-10000K
2- your tank is really over stocked, the texas cichlids get HUGE and need a tank of atleast 75-100g (depending on how many) and the salvini wouldnt mind the extra space as well. What kind of pleco is it??
3- your gravel is just fine to grow plants.
4- If you do have 3wpg over your tank i would really look into co2 and ferts. Even if its diy co2 and flourish ferts (simplest form of dosing)

Whats your filtration??
 
1. My bulb is 10000K
2. I'll have to plan on upgrading my tank as he grows
3. Great.. I don't need this fluorite stuff or anything?
4. Alright.
5. Filtration is a Penguin 100 (should I upgrade this?)
 
kmano8 said:
1. My bulb is 10000K
2. I'll have to plan on upgrading my tank as he grows
3. Great.. I don't need this fluorite stuff or anything?
4. Alright.
5. Filtration is a Penguin 100 (should I upgrade this?)
Click to expand...

You said your bulb was 10000k/actinic, which does nothing for a planted tank

Good that you are planning to upgrade. The texas cichlids get to about 12" +/-. Which pleco is it again??

Dont need any flourite, plants can grow fine with regular gravel.

Penguin 100 is very low for a 20g. You always want to overfiltrate. Plus if you go for diy co2 the biowheel will be gassing off the majority of the co2.
 
Bk828 said:
You said your bulb was 10000k/actinic, which does nothing for a planted tank

Good that you are planning to upgrade. The texas cichlids get to about 12" +/-. Which pleco is it again??

Dont need any flourite, plants can grow fine with regular gravel.

Penguin 100 is very low for a 20g. You always want to overfiltrate. Plus if you go for diy co2 the biowheel will be gassing off the majority of the co2.
Click to expand...

My bulb has both a 10000K flour and a 460nm actinic.

The pleco is a Candy Stripe.

Would the biowheel 150 or 200 do?
 
Biowheels suck IMO.

The pleco will eventually rip out your plants, and so will the cichlids. The cichlids will nip at them as well
 
kmano8 said:
My bulb has both a 10000K flour and a 460nm actinic.

The pleco is a Candy Stripe.

Would the biowheel 150 or 200 do?
Click to expand...

Actinic just means waste of watts and algae outbreak for a planted tank

The pleco also will do better in a larger tank. So basically your stock isnt 100% perfect for a planted tank, so expect to experience some issues.

I would steer away from biowheels and upgrade to either an AquaClear 50 or even a small canister filter.
 
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