New planted tank
- Thread starter zeltora88
- Start date
First, you must enough enough CO2 to support so many plants. Sufficient CO2 levels can be derived from many small fish or a few big ones and/or CO2 injection devices.
Second, you should have good lighting -- for a 55 gal tank -- probably need atleast 120 watts of compact flourescent lighting running 8 hrs per day.
Third, you must have good substrate - not just glass marbles or gravel. I use Flourite in my planted 75 gal tank -- works well and supplies nutrients to the plant roots.
You'll find some plants do well, some don't. I have hundreds of little snails in my tank, and although some people think they are a nuissance, the help keep algae from growing on the leaves, not to mention the glass and other rocks and ornaments I have in their. Good luck with you planted tank.
Second, you should have good lighting -- for a 55 gal tank -- probably need atleast 120 watts of compact flourescent lighting running 8 hrs per day.
Third, you must have good substrate - not just glass marbles or gravel. I use Flourite in my planted 75 gal tank -- works well and supplies nutrients to the plant roots.
You'll find some plants do well, some don't. I have hundreds of little snails in my tank, and although some people think they are a nuissance, the help keep algae from growing on the leaves, not to mention the glass and other rocks and ornaments I have in their. Good luck with you planted tank.
What kinds of plants have you ordered? What kind of lighting do you have?
CO2 is always helpful,but not necessary depending on your lighitng.
Gravel or sand is fine for substrate,or you can use something that has nutrients for plants in it like Flourite,or Eco Complete.
CO2 is always helpful,but not necessary depending on your lighitng.
Gravel or sand is fine for substrate,or you can use something that has nutrients for plants in it like Flourite,or Eco Complete.
so far i have a stock consisting of this
4 Angelfish
2 Iridescent sharks
2 Yoyo loaches
4 Cory Cats
1 Pleco
4 Black Neon Tetras
4 White skirt tetras
4 Perstella tetras
4 Bleeding Heart Tetras
4 Diamond Tetras
4 Fantail Sepre Tetras
4 Red and Blue Columbian Tetras
2 German Rams
a 120 V 40 W 60 hz florescent bulb
5 Wisteria (Bunch)
3 Anubias Barteri (P)
5 Red Wendtii Crypt
20 Contortion Val (Bunch)
6 Diandra (Bunch)
2 Radican Sword (P)
i already have an amazon sword and 4 other plants in there that i cannot identify
4 Angelfish
2 Iridescent sharks
2 Yoyo loaches
4 Cory Cats
1 Pleco
4 Black Neon Tetras
4 White skirt tetras
4 Perstella tetras
4 Bleeding Heart Tetras
4 Diamond Tetras
4 Fantail Sepre Tetras
4 Red and Blue Columbian Tetras
2 German Rams
a 120 V 40 W 60 hz florescent bulb
5 Wisteria (Bunch)
3 Anubias Barteri (P)
5 Red Wendtii Crypt
20 Contortion Val (Bunch)
6 Diandra (Bunch)
2 Radican Sword (P)
i already have an amazon sword and 4 other plants in there that i cannot identify
I would think that you would need to up your watts a bit.With only 40 watts,that is less than 1 watt per gallon(WPG). Even though it seems like most of your plants are low light,I would still try to get something of at least 1wpg. The vals can be touchy IME.And my make it in lowlight,and may not.
Yes, more light would be good. We have 4 hi output lights, 55w each I think, and that seems to be adequate. 40 w may be too low for some of those plants. Try some fertilizer tabs to start them out. Some will probably seem to "melt" at first, but will send out new shoots.
Good luck, I am sure your tank will look awesome and the plants should really improve your fishes quality of life!
Good luck, I am sure your tank will look awesome and the plants should really improve your fishes quality of life!
40W would be really low. I'd recommend getting T5HO (HO = high output). You won't need as much light as a NO (Normal output) light so it kinda saves you some money.
For an inespensive upgrade on lighting, you can get a 4ft (i'm assuming you have a garden variety 4 ft 55g) shop light with T8 lights. 32w a peice (2 bulbs so 64w) and be sure to get the daylight bulbs that are 6500k. That k rating is what matters a good deal with plants. You can have 100w over a 10 gallon tank but if the spectrum isn't the right range, it does jack squat. The shop light and bulbs can be had for right around $20 at wal mart or lowes. This set up is what I have over my 55 and I grow everything you do (except for the diandra...never heard of it)