Possibly adding plants...
- Thread starter Beeker
- Start date
How ambitious are you about growing plants? How much effort do you want to expend on your tank?
Two of your options are a shoplight over the tank for 80watts = 1watt/gal. or 2 of them for 2watt/gal. Or refit the present hoods with CF lighting for much more light with translates into more work, and the necessity for CO2 and probably re-working your filtration.
You can go with what you've got with the shop light(s), but be limited on selection of plants and no need for CO2......also slow growth. But they will grow.
The choices you make now will affect the tank's needs and look.
Len
Two of your options are a shoplight over the tank for 80watts = 1watt/gal. or 2 of them for 2watt/gal. Or refit the present hoods with CF lighting for much more light with translates into more work, and the necessity for CO2 and probably re-working your filtration.
You can go with what you've got with the shop light(s), but be limited on selection of plants and no need for CO2......also slow growth. But they will grow.
The choices you make now will affect the tank's needs and look.
Len
Not necessarily. What I meant was if you want to use CO2 with HOB filters, you're going to have to put in more CO2 to get the same ppm as you would get with a filter that causes less surface disturbance - I didn't mean you absolutely need to inject CO2.Beeker said:
Have you thought about whether you want a high or lower maintenance tank? Len's got a good point - what you do in terms of filters and CO2 depends on the lighting you choose and how much work you want to do.
IME PC lighting, CO2 and fertilization (not to mention the plants, a new canister filter and specialized substrate) can be expensive, and translate into a lot of work to maintain the tank. I knew what I was getting into; I wanted a high-maintenance tank, but not everyone is the same! Using your current filters, a bit less light and no CO2 will give you a more low-maintenance tank. Once you decide if you want high or lower maintenance, that should help you with decisions about lighting, CO2 and filtration.
I've been thinking of going with the easiest plants since I am totally new to plants. I am shopping around for a new hood, I know I denfinitely need a new one. It isn't really ambition for plants, it is me trying to make my fish as happy as possible. If I don't do CO2 injection will I have to change my filters?
djlen said:
Now that you know you basically want low-maintenance, the other decisions are easier
I'd say:
- Stick with your current filters
- You don't want to add too much light to the tank (over-lighting without CO2 can create algae problems) - aim for 1.5 - 2WPG.
- Choose plants with lower light requirements, like Java fern, Java moss, Anubias, etc.
- If you find later that you're experiencing issues with algae, or the plants aren't growing, adjust things as needed.
I just got my new strip light today and set it up. I'm excited to get started on improving my large tank and to begin setting up my small tank. This is the strip light I bought from "That Pet Place."
Place-a-Lite Refl. Oak Fluor. 48" (Perfecto)
Place-a-Lite reflectors are the perfect lighting fixtures for all aquariums. Complete with long-lasting fluorescent bulb, this fixture features high-quality construction and oak wood-grain finish detail.
Other features include: injection molded--made of high impact polystyrene, good for fresh or saltwater, fits all brand of tanks, vented for heat dissipation, water resistant rubber boot protects switch from corrosion, the inside is a shiny reflective material. Must be used with a glass or acrylic top.
Comes with one T-10 (1.5" diameter) 48" bulb.
**A T-12 sized lamp will also work with this fixture**
Size:
48" x 4.5" x 2.75" high.
Warranty:
Fixture has a 90 day warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
I also ordered the heaters for both tanks. I got the Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 300 Watt Heater for my 75 gal. tank and the Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 50 Watt Heater for my 10 gal tank from Big Al's.
Thank you all for your help.
Place-a-Lite Refl. Oak Fluor. 48" (Perfecto)
Place-a-Lite reflectors are the perfect lighting fixtures for all aquariums. Complete with long-lasting fluorescent bulb, this fixture features high-quality construction and oak wood-grain finish detail.
Other features include: injection molded--made of high impact polystyrene, good for fresh or saltwater, fits all brand of tanks, vented for heat dissipation, water resistant rubber boot protects switch from corrosion, the inside is a shiny reflective material. Must be used with a glass or acrylic top.
Comes with one T-10 (1.5" diameter) 48" bulb.
**A T-12 sized lamp will also work with this fixture**
Size:
48" x 4.5" x 2.75" high.
Warranty:
Fixture has a 90 day warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.
I also ordered the heaters for both tanks. I got the Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 300 Watt Heater for my 75 gal. tank and the Aquarium Systems Visi-Therm 50 Watt Heater for my 10 gal tank from Big Al's.
Thank you all for your help.
I just got the heaters today and set them up. I will be adding the plants soon! I'm getting giddy! I also cleaned out the 10 gallon tank and set it up. I'm going to start cycling it. I think what I'll do is when I change the water in the big tank I'll add some to my 10 gal. Would that do the trick?
Last edited:
I had to take the heater out of my 75 gal tank because my Comets were getting sick. I also ended up getting one of those Aqualight Compact Flourescent lights by Coralife. I like it. My fish like it too. I'm just waiting to get the Flourite in so I can put the live plants in. The store has it on order for me. Slowly but surely.
