Hi all, I am thinking of doing live plants in my tank. I am doing a DIY light with 2 40 watt lights T12 size with 8 blue LED for moonlight, as a reflector I am mounting a mirror on the enclosure, can I do low light plants with that set up? Also I would like to do sand for substrate (Quikerete medium sand) I know I need peet moss and something else layed under the sand I just do not know how much?
new to plants
- Thread starter jasperfish
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is this the 55 gal? you dont need peet moss and sand is fine. go for 2-3 inch min. for the reflector i think white is better.
Ok I will go with the gloss white it will be a lot easier than cutting a mirrir anyway. What type of plants can I keep with the low light?
At that lighting you should be able to have java fern, java moss, crypts, some vals, anacharis, and I've had luck with rotala indica. Erp forgot about anubias plants also. Well, some of the sword plants seem to do decent in lower light set ups.
Your plants will love you for a very thin layer of peat moss and perhaps some laterlite under the sand. And if you can get it mulm from an established tank.
One of the smartest people in the aquatic plant area, Tom Barr, suggests doing the above. I've done it will all but my first tank and it makes a huge difference.
One of the smartest people in the aquatic plant area, Tom Barr, suggests doing the above. I've done it will all but my first tank and it makes a huge difference.
That sounds like a good amount of plants to start with and if all goes well with them maybe I will upgrade my light and add some Co2 for more variety. Rex I read on your sight about the peet and laterlite on the bottom, who much of the laterlite should I use?
Ok thanks for all the advice it really helped. Rex I loved your web site it has a tone of advice on plants nice job, it is very helpful to us newbes and us nownothings.