New 55 gallon tank

[glcasper]

This is what I got so far:
- 55 g regular tank
- Plenty of Eco-complete (I ordered enough for a 75, but due to tight space I am setting my 55 instead)
- Rena xp3 filter
- Coralife aqualight (2x65w)
- all the other goodies, like heater, thermometer, etc (Basically I am ready to go except I am waiting for my cabinet)

My questions are: Will I absolutely need CO2 with this? I think I would have moderate light with this setup (right?) Could you recommend some plants to go with it? I would like some color variety if possible, and also something like a carpet on the foreground (I know most carpet type plants need high lights but I figured someone here may know something I don't!)

Thank you!

 

[Fordtrannyman]

Sounds like a good setup!
I would consider it medium lighting. I think anything above 1.5wpg needs C02 and Carbon supplementation. Along with a fertilization regime.
You can go here and search for plants by lighting requirements. Just know that tis is meant for a guide, the recommendations are not set in stone.

 

[glcasper]

Thanks. I didn't want to start with CO2 right away but I am looking into DIY systems and they don't look too bad. I'll post pictures as soon as I start the whole thing!

 

[Notophthalmus]

You never absolutely need CO2, it's just a booster for the plants and helps reduce algae in high-light, high-nutrient tanks; your plants will live and grow without it.

I would set it up without CO2 and let it run for a few months; if the plant growth is too low or the algae growth too high for you, you can set up CO2 then.

Good luck!

 

[Slappy*McFish]

I'm curious if adding more plants to an existing high light/high nutrient system without adding CO2 would help clear algae problems. The sheer volume of plants, even without CO2, would out-compete the algae...or would it?

 

[glcasper]

Thank you for your answers. I am sure once I start the tank I will have lots and lots of questions for you all! So I'll be back.

 

[RockysDad]

With a little over 2WPG and not wanting to use CO2 just yet, I would choose my plants carefully. Most low light plants will do well with this amount of light without CO2 but if you want to have more variety then CO2 would become nessasary. Java ferns, moss and Cryps would be your first choice. After that then you could try some others and see how they do. Go slow at first and try to find a balance between lighting and ferts. Not an easy thing to do but that is what separates the men from the boys...