Time for Upgrades but what????

[tiffanyfink]

I'm thinking it's time for some up grades to the tank it's been running since Christmas ( my present). It's been fully cycled for quite a while.
I have a 55G FW tank that I want to plant and to say the least I can keep the plants alive but that's it.
I'm planning on purchasing 2 55Watt lights from AH supply to retro fit into my existing fixture if it doesn't fit that my hubby will build me something to fit them.
I've ordered a MarineLand C-360 that should be in tomorrow.
So what else should I change? I just have standard gravel that can be picked up at Walmart and was thinking of adding a layer of Flourite to it.
The only plant I have is a poor little Amazon Sword.

Any Suggestions????:wall:

 

[Fordtrannyman]

I'm thinking it's time for some up grades to the tank it's been running since Christmas ( my present). It's been fully cycled for quite a while.
I have a 55G FW tank that I want to plant and to say the least I can keep the plants alive but that's it.
I'm planning on purchasing 2 55Watt lights from AH supply to retro fit into my existing fixture if it doesn't fit that my hubby will build me something to fit them.
I've ordered a MarineLand C-360 that should be in tomorrow.
So what else should I change? I just have standard gravel that can be picked up at Walmart and was thinking of adding a layer of Flourite to it.
The only plant I have is a poor little Amazon Sword.

Any Suggestions????:wall:

Hi Tiff,
Good choice on the AH kits. They will get you the most bang for your buck.
A 2X55 should fit in a gutted 48" strip light. (I'm assuming you have a 55 long)
I do have two recommendations for you though.
The AH bulbs are no-name and they don't seem to hold their color spectrum long.
They're kinda yellow too.
So I would recommend a couple GE 9325K straight pin bulbs. Here is a really good price for them.
They're amazing bulbs. They do exceptionally well for your plants and really bring out the colors in fish.
Secondly-I would recommend your hubby go ahead and build a canopy and just mount them on the underside towards the rear (this helps dissipate heat) and gut out the standard flourescent and mount it in the front for foreground lighting. This helps add that little extra for foreground plants and eliminates shadowing as well.

I would want to change to a plant substrate as well.
Not only for plant health and a natural look.
But, I don't like puke gravel.

That C-360 should be more than enough flow. Good luck, sounds like fun.

 

[jones57742]

Tiff:

Substrate

Your substrate to which Ford alluded.

I believe that if your gravel is 3" in depth it should be OK for most easy to grow plants.

IMHO, laterite is your best option. You can mix it with 2" of your existing gravel and then overlay with 1" of 3/16" gravel. Please refer to the following for several options:
http://www.floridadriftwood.com/aquarium_plant_laterite_vs_flourite.htm


Filtration

I have limited experience with cannister filters but via a review of the product literature for MarineLand C-360 I believe that you should be in good shape here.

IMHO replacing the carbon bag with the ceramic rings would be appropriate.

Please note that you will probably be able to keep your existing filtration and add the MarineLand C-360 but if not you will need to somehow run the two filters concurrently for a minimum of 28 days.


Lighting

I have had limited experience with T5 VHO but have had much more experience with PC and MH.

As you are retrofitting would it be possible to retrofit with 3Ea 55W lamps. Two of the lamps would be 10000K and the other would be 7100K.

With this configuration your choice of plants will be greatly enhanced.


Fertilization

I used liquid fertilizers for quite a while but now use dry fertilizers which I recommend (they are much less expensive also). Please reference:
http://www.rexgrigg.com/index.html

TR

 

[tiffanyfink]

So, I've installed the Marineland C-360 and am amazed at how big it is!!! It barely fit in my cabinet. lol But my water is now crystal clear. :drool:
I've ordered the lights today as well as the bulbs.
Well see how it goes.

I have Flurish tabs in the substrate but I think I'll get some laterite either on-line or when I go down south at the end of the month. The substrate is already about 2.5"deep so with the addition it should be perfect.
I only use flourish at the moment but am reading up on the dry fertilizers. Some it is a little over my head at the moment.

So as for plants, I was thinking of some java moss to tied to my driftwood. I have an amazon sword, but what else is good for a newbie????
I have some very small camboba and some other floating stringy plant in the beta tanks. Should I move them back to the big tank???
Thanks for the help so far!!!!

 

[jones57742]

So as for plants, I was thinking of some java moss to tied to my driftwood. I have an amazon sword, but what else is good for a newbie????

The cabomba which you mentioned

Anubias barteri round leaf
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+810&pcatid=810

Corkscrew Vallisneria
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+1624&pcatid=1624

Wisteria
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+824&pcatid=824

I have also found that the following is easy to grow
Ceratopteris thalictroides - Water Sprite, Indian Fern
http://www.aquahobby.com/garden/e_cerato.php

I have some very small camboba and some other floating stringy plant in the beta tanks. Should I move them back to the big tank???

Keep in mind that 36 years have passed since I kept a beta but if the plants are healthy and growing as well as not bothering the beta then why not leave them where they are.

TR

 

[Fordtrannyman]

There are a lot of plants you can grow successfully in the 2.0wpg range.
In addition to what was already mentioned.
Any Anubias sp. or rhizome plant.
Some Crypts, Hygros, Echinodorus sp...You have a good starting range.
Here is link to look up plants by lighting requirements. You can go up to the medium light range.
http://plantgeek.net/plantguide_cat.php?category=1