Okay, this post should maybe go in the newbie section...but I'll start here. I recently relocated my cichlids, and using my 55gal as a community tank now. I have angels as a center piece in there. I'm trying to get rid of the plastic plants and go with all live plants. The problem is; that I know very little about aquarium plants. Yesterday I picked up two types of vallisneria, some moneywort, an amazon sword, and something that I have no idea what is, but it's pretty. I'm thinking I got hosed on the sword...I'm thinking it's a peace lily. I'm curious how to tell the difference? Also, the lfs said that "in an established tank, there shouldn't be much need for fertilizer and such". Is this true? I read the sticky about fertilizers and co2 and it only confused me. Can someone break it down into real simple terms for me? Also, I really don't want to spend much more money than I already have (except for buying more plants). So if there is a way to get around buying more equipment, that would be great. I can handle buying fertilizers and other inexpensive additives if need be. But I don't even know if I need them.
New plants.
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Well, you came to the right place, there are some very knowledgeable people on here. Frankly, I'm not one of them, but I've learned a lot and maybe I can help to clarify a bit and some of those with more experience can follow up on details and more in depth knowledge from their experience.
Basically what your LFS was saying was that in an established tank, your fish will likely be providing ample NO3 and the food PO4. This may or may not be true depending on your fish load and tap water.
The amount of light and the types of plants that you have will determine whether or not you "need" supplemental CO2. My personal view is that as long as you have your nutrients under control, adding a little probably won't hurt.
Every tank is unique and this is what really sold me on PMDD, well, the fact that I'm poor and cheap doesn't hurt either. But I also like the ability to tweak the amounts of each compound. If you want to save some time searching and don't mind spending a little more, you can pick up all the dry chemicals you need at a hydroponics shop. I say spending a bit more, but it's only really by weight. You can probably find a lifetime supply of KNO3 for $5-10, but at a tablespoon per 300mL, you may be just as happy spending $5 on a year's supply and having a smaller container to store.
IMO, NO3 and PO4 test kits are a must. You can't really be certain whether you do or do not need extra ferts if you don't measure what's already there.
Basically what your LFS was saying was that in an established tank, your fish will likely be providing ample NO3 and the food PO4. This may or may not be true depending on your fish load and tap water.
The amount of light and the types of plants that you have will determine whether or not you "need" supplemental CO2. My personal view is that as long as you have your nutrients under control, adding a little probably won't hurt.
Every tank is unique and this is what really sold me on PMDD, well, the fact that I'm poor and cheap doesn't hurt either. But I also like the ability to tweak the amounts of each compound. If you want to save some time searching and don't mind spending a little more, you can pick up all the dry chemicals you need at a hydroponics shop. I say spending a bit more, but it's only really by weight. You can probably find a lifetime supply of KNO3 for $5-10, but at a tablespoon per 300mL, you may be just as happy spending $5 on a year's supply and having a smaller container to store.
IMO, NO3 and PO4 test kits are a must. You can't really be certain whether you do or do not need extra ferts if you don't measure what's already there.
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Here's as simple as it gets.....your LFS gave you a line of crap. All planted tanks will benefit from fertilization and CO2.
What kind of lighting do you have over the tank? If it's the twin 15 or 20 watt fixtures that usually come with them, you will need to upgrade or stick with very low light plants. So there's expenditure #1.
So tell us what that situation is, and also what you hope to accomplish with the tank, and we'll tell you the myriad of other ways in which you can spend even MORE money.
It really depends on how much time and effort you want to put into it as to how much of anything else you will need.
If you just want a "nice" tank, you can go with a low/moderately lit situation with a minimum of maintenance and fertilization. But, IMO to grow even low light plants you need a ratio of 1.5/2 watts/gal.
Len
What kind of lighting do you have over the tank? If it's the twin 15 or 20 watt fixtures that usually come with them, you will need to upgrade or stick with very low light plants. So there's expenditure #1.
So tell us what that situation is, and also what you hope to accomplish with the tank, and we'll tell you the myriad of other ways in which you can spend even MORE money.
It really depends on how much time and effort you want to put into it as to how much of anything else you will need.
If you just want a "nice" tank, you can go with a low/moderately lit situation with a minimum of maintenance and fertilization. But, IMO to grow even low light plants you need a ratio of 1.5/2 watts/gal.
Len
I'm not sure of the wattage on the lights...they came with the tank. I'm assuming 15w (for a total of 30w). What is the formula for figuring out watts per gallon? Watts divided by gallons? The tank currently gets approx. 15-18 hours of light per day.
As for KNO3 and ferts, is there a product that has them all in one? That would be super. If not, what is the names of the individual products that I will need? Powder or liquid? (I'm sucha newb when it comes to plants)
Anyway, I just want low maint. plants, but ones that will look healthy and 'full'. From what i've read, the vallisneria, moneywort, and swords are pretty easy plants, which is what I need. I have all the time in the world to invest in this tank, but limited on funding at the moment.
The water here is pretty soft which i understand is a good thing for plants? Around 4-5 gh.
As for KNO3 and ferts, is there a product that has them all in one? That would be super. If not, what is the names of the individual products that I will need? Powder or liquid? (I'm sucha newb when it comes to plants)
Anyway, I just want low maint. plants, but ones that will look healthy and 'full'. From what i've read, the vallisneria, moneywort, and swords are pretty easy plants, which is what I need. I have all the time in the world to invest in this tank, but limited on funding at the moment.
The water here is pretty soft which i understand is a good thing for plants? Around 4-5 gh.
Oh, also, it's a pretty well stocked tank. (some would say over-stocked) So maybe there is enough nutrients?
Anyway, inhabitants include:
Two angels (medium sized)
Two pictus cats (medium sized)
A paradise fish (so far he isn't too nippy, but when he gets there, he's got a new home to go too as well)
A corydora
A gold seam pleco
A chineese algea eater (getting big now, might have to move him soon also)
An oto
A lot of algea eaters in there, but thus far it's been a good balance. The tank gets too much light (at least with plastic plants) so the algea grows nicely and all the 'suckers' get plenty to eat. I also throw in bottom feeder discs and such on occasion.
Anyway, inhabitants include:
Two angels (medium sized)
Two pictus cats (medium sized)
A paradise fish (so far he isn't too nippy, but when he gets there, he's got a new home to go too as well)
A corydora
A gold seam pleco
A chineese algea eater (getting big now, might have to move him soon also)
An oto
A lot of algea eaters in there, but thus far it's been a good balance. The tank gets too much light (at least with plastic plants) so the algea grows nicely and all the 'suckers' get plenty to eat. I also throw in bottom feeder discs and such on occasion.
Okay, I picked up some flourish comprehensive plant supplement. While I was there, I was checking out some of the co2 stuff they had. I found these "fizz tabs" but I am dubious about them. For one, they're expensive. And two, they have to be put in constantly. This doesn't really fit my needs/wants. I'll be picking up new light bulbs today. So I guess the only thing left is co2. I'm looking for some ideas on an inexpensive way to get co2 into the water. They had some kind of 'thing' that looked like it hung over the back of the tank...I didn't pay much attention to it, but it said something about co2. It was only 35 dollars, so maybe that might be a way to go. I'll have to actually look at it though and determin what it is. Any ideas and/or opinions would be very helpful.
P.S. thanks so much for the help so far
P.S. thanks so much for the help so far
just do a co2 diy setup.take a 2 l pop bottle, cut a smole hole in the cap and silicone in a peice of airline.after it has set up, run the airline to your filter intake.then disolve 1 cup sugar in warm water, add some yeast, and fill bottle above label.tighten lid and your done.
just make sure to keep checking your ph, it will drop quickly.
gl
mark
just make sure to keep checking your ph, it will drop quickly.
gl
mark
If you have a 30 gal. tank and 30watts over it you have 1 watt/gal. etc. Sounds like you have just over .5 watts/gal. which isn't going to lead to much success with plants.
Despite Two Tank's 'hallucination', the general rule of thumb is that for low lights plants, especially in a relatively deep tank such as a 55, a minimum of 1.5 watts would be advisable. I have two 55's and for quite a while I lit one of them with a shop light that gave 80watts. Even with CO2 injection, Anubia, Java Fern and some Crypts. grew for me, but painfully slow and without much color.
One of the main factors in lighting ratio is the depth that the light must penetrate. 19" is a long way for NO fluorescent to penetrate. IMO, you would have a better shot with 110 compact fluorescent and injecting some CO2.
Depending on your filtration, one or two 2liter bottles of DIY would also benefit your plants and wouldn't set you back an arm and a leg to set up.
The individual nutrients are not difficult to obtain and not expensive. There are guidelines that many of us start off with and then change the dosages depending on the response from the plants.
Len
Despite Two Tank's 'hallucination', the general rule of thumb is that for low lights plants, especially in a relatively deep tank such as a 55, a minimum of 1.5 watts would be advisable. I have two 55's and for quite a while I lit one of them with a shop light that gave 80watts. Even with CO2 injection, Anubia, Java Fern and some Crypts. grew for me, but painfully slow and without much color.
One of the main factors in lighting ratio is the depth that the light must penetrate. 19" is a long way for NO fluorescent to penetrate. IMO, you would have a better shot with 110 compact fluorescent and injecting some CO2.
Depending on your filtration, one or two 2liter bottles of DIY would also benefit your plants and wouldn't set you back an arm and a leg to set up.
The individual nutrients are not difficult to obtain and not expensive. There are guidelines that many of us start off with and then change the dosages depending on the response from the plants.
Len
Something I forgot to mention....
A good alternative to Compact Fluorescent lighting for a 48" 55 gal. tank is a combination of two 48" shop lights that can be easily clamped together giving you 160 watts. or a 3:1 watts/gal. ratio.
I bought two of them at Lowe's for $8 a piece, and added the tubes and they do a great job on one of my 55's.
They aren't beautiful, but they are very functional.
Something to consider if you're cash-flow challenged as many of us are.
Len
A good alternative to Compact Fluorescent lighting for a 48" 55 gal. tank is a combination of two 48" shop lights that can be easily clamped together giving you 160 watts. or a 3:1 watts/gal. ratio.
I bought two of them at Lowe's for $8 a piece, and added the tubes and they do a great job on one of my 55's.
They aren't beautiful, but they are very functional.
Something to consider if you're cash-flow challenged as many of us are.
Len