Setting up a 150g mostly planted tank.

A

asincero

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Jan 16, 2006
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I kept a 30g planted tank a few years ago, and had moderate success keeping the plants alive. I'm now ready to dive back into the hobby, but this time it'll be a 150 gallon monster!

The specs for the tank are going to be the following:

Tank dimensions: 72" wide by 18 1/2" with a height of 25"
Lighting: 1 4x96watt Bright Kit from http://www.ahsupply.com
Substrate: 4" worth of AquariumPlants.com's own brand of substrate (http://www.aquariumplants.com/Freshwater_Aquarium_Plant_Substrate_p/ss.htm)
CO2: AquariumPlants.com's Ultimate CO2 System (http://www.aquariumplants.com/product_p/pr4026.htm)
Filtration: 2 Rena XP3 Filters
Heating: 2 200 watt Jager Heaters

With my old 30g tank, I used to fertilize with Excel. I guess I'll be doing the same with this tank.

One of the things I want for this tank is a nice carpet of dwarf hairgrass running along the substrate. Will I be able to do it with this tank? 4x96watts isn't exactly 3WPG, so I'm a little concerned about that. 3WPG would be 450watts for a tank this size, and I have been unable to find a lighting system that puts out that kind of wattage that didn't cost an arm and a leg, never mind the electricity bill that kind of wattage is gonna produce.
 
Excel is really just a carbon substitute. If you're going with a pressurized system it isn't all that needed, especially since dosing that size tank is more expensive.

Look into dry ferts.

www.aquariumfertilizer.com
 
Would you say my planned lighting setup would be sufficient to attain a carpet of dwarf hairgrass or should I shop some more for a lighting system that'll give me the 3WPG?
 
Hey I would love to be some help. First off, here are some great sites to get you started. Lighting: Aquatraders.com. Get everything for cheap cheap cheap!!!! I got my 130 watt CF fixture for $55!! Not gonna be beat! Next for supplies: Kensfish.com has it all!! For a great price. Just got some ferts. I would have to agree with jpappy that you won't need excel. On kensfish.com, get your seachem ferts. Check out this site for your daily regimine (works wonders for me!!! 2+ inches on my rotala and swords a week!) http://www.seachem.com/support/PlantDoseChart.pdf

A carpet will easily grow with what you have, you don't need extra light but at aquatraders, it won't cost you an arm and a leg. I would ask ACRandall or msjinkzd for hairgrass, great prices and they have a lot of it for a decent price ( a 6x2 from randall for $12 shipped).

Remember to test weekly! Good luck!
 
PAL said:
Hey I would love to be some help. First off, here are some great sites to get you started. Lighting: Aquatraders.com. Get everything for cheap cheap cheap!!!! I got my 130 watt CF fixture for $55!!
Click to expand...

Wow! You weren't kidding when you said cheap. I can get a 192W PC light fixture for $80.00, or two for $160.00. And apparently it even comes with a bulb. At ahsupply.com, it's $330 (not including s/h) for the kit and the bulbs, and I'd still have to build the enclosure.
 
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