Some advice please

[stjb5]

I currently have a 100g tub style tank. I am running an Rena Filstar XP3 filter(which I love). I am running 2 watts/gal of light. I am using gravel with laterite on the bottom 1/3 of the subtrate (4 inches total) and use liquid fertilizer. I put in a very large driftwood scene which I intend to grow moss and java on. I am going more for a south american biotope look so I already have a lot of swords and cobomba(even though they say it requires bright light I had success in my 55 tub with just 80 watts total). I also have ludwigia planted. My question is two fold. The first question is about foreground plants. I am looking for a species that will carpet form and would best suite the look and parameters of my setup. The second question is about CO2. Since I am only running 2 watts/gal of light, will my plants really benefit from the CO2 injection or would the CO2 be waisted? If I only needed a small amount of CO2 will the yeast setup be enough or should I go with the pro setup anyway. Any advice about these topics and other plants I could add would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[stjb5]

Bump, Please.

 

[djlen]

CO2 will help in any case. Just becomes more necessary in higher lighting.
With DIY CO2 you will probably only be able to get somewhere in the the 8 - 12 ppm range, but it will help. You will work hard to get that level with DIY.
Whether or not to go with pressurized depends on what your goals are for the tank.
More and steady flow will push the plants harder, but the lighting will then be your limiting factor.

Len

 

[carpguy]

Most low carpeting foreground plants like light. Just for starters, they're all the way down at the bottom and are getting beat by everything higher up.

Tropica says that H. callitrichoides is a fast growing carpety-type plant that will do OK with modest light. You might give that a go. Haven't tried it myself, but it is on the list.

Glosso is a higher light venture.

H. micranthemoides tends to grow up in lower light conditions and to spread in a carpety fashion at higher light.

I didn't have much luck with Marsilea at 2.7wpg. Nice plant but slow growing and didn't really root in my substrate. Kept getting pulled up and floating around all the time.

And ditto what Len said on the CO2.

(And Len, lots of people are going to the Superbowl… they're just not all leaving with rings )

 

[stjb5]

Thank you for the input. I have since bought a pressurized CO2 system and got the diffusor and the ph monitor in but the regulator etc. is still on back order. I think I am going to go with the plant carpguy brought up. Heck I'll give anything a chance once.

From: A steelers fan rooting for the Eagles to kick some "you know what."

 

[carpguy]

My 2.7 wpg tank improved immediately and significantly after I added pressurized . I think you'll be happy with it.

I forgot e.tenellus until I saw it go by. Another plant I haven't tried. Tropica lists both light and difficulty as medium but also says "… A true ''lawn'' effect is only achieved at high light intensities, so you must make sure larger plants do not overshadow the plant. " Something else to consider.

From a congenital Giants :sad fan who is as surprised as anyone to find myself backing the AFC team. But my friend is from Boston and the Eagles are NFC East. Who replaces a good coach with a guy with a 50/50 record coming off three losing seasons?? :mad2

 

[djlen]

I have 2 - 55s and at one time used an 80watt shop light over one of them. As you know, they are 20" tall and 80watts of NO lighting will not be conducive to growing very many 'carpet' type plants. Just to low. I would try E. tenellus and see what happens. If it wasn't so **** cold I'd send you some red tenellus, but it's not very expensive so give it a shot.
Your best bets are the old standbys for low light.....Crypts., Anubia and Java Fern. I know they will grow in that tank, at that wattage.

Thanks for the rooting interest. They say the Eagles don't have a shot. Same thing they said about the Red Sox last fall. I guess we'll find out in a few days.

Carpguy, I knew your were congenial, but didn't know you were a Giants fan. I guess it is possible to be both...........shocker.

Len

 

[carpguy]

Yeah I know,
:OT:

Thanks for the rooting interest. They say the Eagles don't have a shot. Same thing they said about the Red Sox last fall. I guess we'll find out in a few days.

Carpguy, I knew your were congenial, but didn't know you were a Giants fan. I guess it is possible to be both...........shocker.

Len

So maybe I meant congenital.

But congenial too, no doubt. And if I had to pull for someone else in the division… well, at least they're not the other two. (Who put the Cowboys and the Redskins in the same division?)

And if Boston wins both in the same year Carpgirl will be insufferable. And she doesn't even like sports. And it'd be nice to see McNabb win the big one after that Limbaugh bit last year. He always seemed like a decent sort.

But the game really isn't any fun if you try to stay on the fence.

Good luck. On any given Sunday…