Thinking about a heavy planted 46 bowfront

johnlarson66

johnlarson66

These Pandas Rock
Sep 25, 2006
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Fayetteville, NC
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John Larson
I am thinking about setting up a heavily planted tank.

I have read a little bit, but I know I need to know more.

I want to stock it with the grass looking stuff. I really like tank #13 on the TOTM list and want to use it for inspiration or plain old copy it.

I hope to have a 46 gallon bowfront, I have a spot in the living room for it.

Besides the plants, I want to stock it with fancy guppies. I can keep the population under control by feeding them to my malwai tank if need be. So I am not too worried about them breeding and being overstocked.

If I keep it stocked with lots of guppies, do I need to concern myself with CO2?

As far as lighting. I am sure there are quite of few options to consider. Any and all input would be appreciated.

All my other tanks have plastic plants. Years back I spent a bunch of money on some plants and had no clue about doing anything special or different for the plants. Of course, they all died. The tank looked real cool the first few weeks. It was a 29 gallon with black gravel, black back ground, 12 or so different Petsmarts Plants and my convicts and pleco. Seemed like convicts like to dig up and/or eat plants.

Now I want to try again. I am going to keep reading...
 
Looks like they removed pic #13.

For grass like plants you're going to need a good amount of lights, a minimum of 2wpg of CF lights for your size tank. So you want a light fixture that will provide you with at least 100w of light. If you are a DIY type you can't go wrong with www.ahsupply.com, their kits are recommended by many. If you'd rather buy a prebuilt fixture, Coralife are popular and there are a couple of other brands out there.

Understand that the more light you have, the more CO2 and fertilizers are needed. With 2wpg, the CO2 generated by alot of guppies are nowhere near enough. For a tank your size, I highly suggest a pressurized CO2 system.
 
phanmc said:
Looks like they removed pic #13.

For grass like plants you're going to need a good amount of lights, a minimum of 2wpg of CF lights for your size tank. So you want a light fixture that will provide you with at least 100w of light. If you are a DIY type you can't go wrong with www.ahsupply.com, their kits are recommended by many. If you'd rather buy a prebuilt fixture, Coralife are popular and there are a couple of other brands out there.

Understand that the more light you have, the more CO2 and fertilizers are needed. With 2wpg, the CO2 generated by alot of guppies are nowhere near enough. For a tank your size, I highly suggest a pressurized CO2 system.
Click to expand...

It looks like #13 was from last months winner. It had lots of grass...

Is this item (on the link) a pressurized CO2 system? It uses a CO2 cylinder like from a paint gun.

http://www.petsolutions.com/CO2+Pro+System-I-30751070-I-C-13-C-.aspx

There is also this one, but I am unsure of what it uses for a co2 bottle.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9935&N=2004+113779
 
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Yes, that's a pressurized CO2 system, you just need to supply the CO2 canister and I wouldn't recommend a small paint gun canister for a tank your size.

Check out www.rexgrigg.com for more info on CO2 equipment and ferts. He also sells the CO2 equipment so ask him about them if you're serious about investing money into a heavily planted high light tank.
 
My 46g bow has a single 6700K 96W PC from AHsupply. I'm not even close to enough light for anything grassy (but I'm looking to try M. quadrifolia). I can grow Bacopa & Jungle Vals like there's no tomorrow, A. reineckii is doing OK so far. My Amazon sword is also doing very well. I have failed miserably at Cabomba in that tank, so there's my limit.

If you want Riccia, HC, dwarf hair grass, Ut. etc, you should start w/ 3 40W T5 bulbs & Tek reflectors or a pair of 65W PCs & reflector from AH supply. One of these combos might cut it, or you may have to add more.

46g Bows are deep, so 2wpg there is not as good as in a 20L (but it's better than 30g & 40g talls).
 
I also have the 96w AHSupply on my 46 gallon bow and can't grow grass at all. I can do most stems although some get leggy.
 
I think I will give up on the grass, for now and try the Vals and Swords, I have seen them and they look great.

I am going to get one of the CO2 systems. Still checking into the choices.

I just bought the tank on eBay and have it at the house already.

Here is the listing:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150127614081&rd=1&rd=1

I did not get his sand. I bought some Seachem Flourite and will use that. I bought 3 bags, but I think I needs another. Maybe this will be a slightly planted bowfront...
 
That is a pretty nice looking. Was This the stuff you were looking for. Dwarf Hairgrass. This is really easy to take care of. This CO2 tank the 5 gallon is just about right for that size of tank and it is cheap, if you are looking for a pressurized system.
 
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